Recently, I read an article on The New Yorker website entitled “Personal Best.” The author, an expert surgeon, debates whether or not he should have a coach. He asserts that pop singers and pro athletes have coaches, so why shouldn’t surgeons or teachers? His article started a cavalcade of thoughts in my mind – all which pointed to helping our customers teaching the Business Communication courses be rock stars in the classroom! I have the pleasure of working with some of the best thought leaders in the Business Communication course. I reached out to some of our authors, and asked them to share their best pieces of advice and their favorite classroom assignments. Think of them as your personal coaches. Over the next few weeks, I’ll feature an assignment from one of our Business Communication authors. If you try an assignment, and it works well, tell us about it by posting in the Discussion Center. Enjoy!
Author: Courtland Bovee, Grossmont College, co-author of Business Communication Today 11e, Excellence in Business Communication 9e, Business Communication Essentials 5e
Courtland’s Tip
Electronic communication and social media are so pervasive in business today that they need to be thoroughly integrated in the business communication course and in the textbook that’s adopted. Just as significant, the fundamental changes wrought by new media need to be integrated throughout the course and textbook as well – including the way social media are changing the communication process, compositional modes, relationships between senders and receivers, collaborative writing, oral presentations, job searches, and more.
Courtland’s Favorite Assignment
Visit the Facebook pages of six companies in several industries. How do the companies make use of their Wall? Do any of the companies use Wall posts to promote their products? Have any customers posted complaints about the company on its Wall? If so, how well did the company respond? Compare the material on the Info tabs. Which company has the most compelling information? How about the use of custom tabs; which company does the best job of using this Facebook feature? Using whatever medium your instructor requests, write a brief analysis of each company’s Facebook presence (no more than two pages), citing specific elements from each company’s pages and support from the text’s chapter on electronic communication and social media.