Chapter 5 - Creating Effective Business Messages

Catherine is developing a business message about a green initiative that her company is hoping to launch. In the process of creating the business message, she studies the background of employees and considers their needs and priorities. This action belongs to which step of the AIM planning process?

Audience analysis

Values

Enduring beliefs and ideals that individuals hold.

What is most likely to lower a persons credibility?

Exaggeration of facts

What should be a goal of a business communication?

Express the message in a way that respects others.

Which step is typically included in the planning stage of writing an effective business message?

Gathering the right information to address a business issue

What is the most likely impact of slanting facts?

It reduces the credibility of a business message.

Amira is preparing a report about a plant wave of layoffs at the plant where she works. She wants to use the inductive method. How should Amira structure the report?

Lay out the supporting reasons and careful order and then state the primary message.

Which step is most likely to be included in the writing stage of developing an effective business message?

Making my message clear and concise

While analyzing the advantages of orientation programs for new employees, Carson learns that these programs can make new employees more comfortable in their jobs and us help them focus on their work. This, in turn, increases employee fission C and reduces the likelihood that they will quit their jobs. Which statement should Carson avoid making to ensure he doesn't lower his credibility?

Orientation programs will stop new employees from quitting their jobs.

Which step is typically included in the reviewing stage of developing an effective business message?

Proofreading the message

Priorities

Ranking or assigning importance to things, such as projects, goals, and tasks. Priorities tend to shift more often than values.

Positions

Stance is that you take based on a set of conclusions.

Productivity at the Wisconsin branch of Big Box Manufacturing Has decreased significantly over the last 12 months. Aaron the branch manager, research is the problem and find that many employees are spending significant time on social media while at work. He wants to construct a report for the companies leader ship team, using deductive approach. How should Aaron structure the report?

State the primary message, layout supporting reasons, and conclude with a call to action.

Facts

Statements that can be relied on with a fair amount of certainty (most things are not absolutely certain in the business world) and can be observed objectively.

Tone

The overall evaluation the reader perceives the writer to have toward the reader in the message content.

While examining the pros and cons of introducing a smoking-cessation program for the employees of Lite Lead Manufacturing. Susan does extensive research and learns that the pros far outnumber the cons. She decides to recommend that the company implement the program. Which statement will increase the positivity of her proposition?

The smoking cessation program would lead to reduce healthcare costs and employee sick days.

Which statement is most likely to be true about excellent business writers?

They spend a significant amount of time reviewing their work.

Lizzo perceives that the writer respects the reader and feels concerned about the content of the message. Lizzo's perception relates to the writers

Tone

Which suggestion should be followed to build a well reasoned business position?

Use strong analogies.

Joe Works as a managing editor. It is very important to him to maintain the quality of his work. He has set a very high standard for his team. Joe's high ideals are referred to as

Values

Donald is developing a business message that he hopes will convince his colleagues to keep common areas clean. He wants to focus on employees shared efforts, interests, and problems. Which voice should Donald use?

We-voice

To break out of the reputation of an inexperienced newcomer, you should

ask your boss for ideas about improving your professional reputation.

One tip for building well-reasoned business positions is to

avoid faulty cause/effect claims.

Using diplomatic language is important because it

avoids implying an adversarial relationship.

direct/deductive approach

begin by stating the primary message, which is typically a position or recommendation, then they lay out the supporting reasons, conclude w/ a call to action.

The deductive approach is also known as the _________ approach.

direct

Statements that can be relied on with a fair amount of certainty and can be observed objectively are known as

facts

In the course of creating an effective business message, excellent business thinkers are most likely to

identify and articulate key questions and problems.

indirect/inductive approach

provide supporting reasons first followed by the primary message.

The inductive approach to writing a business argument

provides the supporting reasons first before the primary message.

Conclusions

statements that are reasoned or deduced based on facts.

The priorities of a Messages targeted audience

tend to shift more often than values.

Meta-messages

the overall but often underlying messages people take away from a communication or group of communications.

Analyzing a business problem typically involves

uncovering relevant facts.