States that although credit-bearing videotaped college courses ("telecourses") are a recent concept, the market is large and potentially lucrative. Points out increasing pressure on college administrators and communication educators to develop videotaped business communication and management instruction. Concludes that by identifying and…

Provides some background on the use of magical language in technical contexts, gives examples of magical discourse in technology advertisements and newsmagazine articles, and proposes a technical communication pedagogy of media analysis. Notes that the proposed pedagogy involves students conducting diagnostic critiques of media texts and affords…

Asserting that deconstruction, a postmodern technique, brings marginalized voices into the mainstream and allows for a more diverse perspective, this article puts forth postmodern theory as a way to teach critical thinking skills to MBA students. Applies the framework to the International Monetary Fund to exemplify its power to critically examine…

Considers how public relation's search for a unifying theory may be fulfilled through application of Alasdair MacIntyre's concept of a "practice," a very specific and value-laden concept. Explores what it would mean to be a public relations practice in MacIntyre's concept of the term and argues that such an approach to public relations…

Considers how business writing class instructors generally assign reports that require source notations in a specific format. Discusses developing questions to be asked with middle or senior level managers at several different businesses. Presents a discussion of the interview results. Provides strong support for requiring students to reference…

Professional communicators are often called upon to announce changes at places of business and to implement them in a timely fashion. One approach that works (and minimizes confusion) is to plan carefully to achieve three key objectives: Understanding, Support, and Action (USA). To promote understanding, those who have decided on the change should…

Reviews the growth of business and technical communication courses as college courses in universities. Documents the move to "professional" communication in English departments. Explains why technical communication dominates "professional" communication. Argues that faculty who teach business communication in business schools…

Responds to communication scholars' increasing call for scholarship that yields meaningful responses to contemporary problems, thereby enriching public and private discourse and practice. Proposes the theory of the firm as one important frame for analysis, for it confronts key organizational questions at the heart of corporate scandal. (SG)

Notes that one of the most important contexts for ethical decision-making is the nature and operation of "contemporary capitalisms." Suggests that rather than issuing a call for teaching business ethics, the author emphasizes the need for more ethical business teaching. (SG)

Discusses possible problems encountered in teaching a course in organizational assessment. Describes several strategies for coping with these problems. (MM)

Describes how "feedback memos" promote written feedback between the instructor and students in a business communication course. (MM)

Explores why researchers have been drawn to genre-based research. Notes that this approach to studying professional communication offers a way of understanding the role of texts in the social ordering of communication in organizations by drawing attention to patterns of repetition and variation in the habits of workplace professionals. (SC)

Discusses how communication audits serve well as educational tools for both student auditors and employees of organizations. Describes how teachers need to gain access to organizations, especially through internal audit departments; negotiate the exchange of essentially free audit findings for a learning experience and research data; and secure…

In recent years the perceived value and interest in participating in study abroad programs among college students has been increasing. Faculty who endeavor to develop study abroad programs face many challenges, particularly at smaller universities where resources may be very limited. This article offers recommendations to help faculty of regional…

Most people dread sitting down to write, but the job becomes easier when certain writing strategies are followed. Most bad writing results from a lack of planning, not a lack of writing skills. Before determining the main point of a piece of writing, the writer should determine the purpose and audience. First, determine what needs to be achieved…