This document discusses best practices in business writing and communication. Effective communication is essential for strong business relationships and is a core business competency. Barriers like non-assertive behavior can interfere with effective communication, but identifying barriers and applying countermeasures allows people to communicate effectively. Business communication must be accurate, reliable, and align with corporate policies like mission and vision statements. It also discusses the differences between formal and informal communication and channels of communication like written, verbal, electronic, and visual.

1. Running head: BEST PRACTICES IN BUSINESS WRITING AND
Best Practices in Business Writing and Communications
Jaymie Brain
ORG 536 – Contemporary Business Writing and Communication
Colorado State University – Global Campus
Dr. Robert Olszewski
November 17, 2013
1

2. BEST PRACTICES IN BUSINESS WRITING AND
2
Business Writing and
Communications
Best practices to communicate
effectively
Effective communication is essential to strong business
relationships. The ability to accurately convey and transmit a
message is a core business competency and as with any
By identifying barriers
and applying
countermeasures,
people can
communicate
effectively.
competency, the skill must be developed and honed over the
course of one’s career. Effective communication is the
exchange of information to successfully produce a desired
intent or result. Barriers interfere with the ability to effectively
communicate by blocking, altering, or distorting the
information.
Shannon’s Communication Model demonstrates barriers as
influencing factors which break down the continuous

3. BEST PRACTICES IN BUSINESS WRITING AND
3
communications loop. By identifying barriers and applying
countermeasures individuals can effectively communicate.
Several examples of barriers include non-assertive behavior,
task-preoccupation, anger or frustration, personal bias, and
diversity.
Communication is transmitted via one of four general
channels: written, verbal, electronic, or visual / in-person and is
originated by teams, committee members, subject matter
experts, and/or individuals. Business communication must be
accurate, reliable, and align with corporate policies including
mission statements, vision statements, and code of conduct.
Corporate communication is disseminated both external and
internal to a company or organization. Failure to align internal
and external communications with corporate governance
documents may result in misalignment of messages. In order to
Business communication
must be accurate,
reliable, and align with
corporate policies
prevent misalignment between formal and informal
communications, the corporate workforce needs to be apprised
of corporate governance documents.
including mission
Formal and informal communications, while generally
statements, vision
associated with external and internal communication, vary in
statements, and code of
terms of content and composition. Formal communication has
conduct.
supported arguments, the main point is fully evolved, review of
the information is thorough, emotions are kept to a minimum,

4. BEST PRACTICES IN BUSINESS WRITING AND
4
and the document is generally written in third person. In
contrast, informal communications are generally exploratory,
speculative, writer-based, emotional, and written in first person
narrative. Formal or informal communication may be intended
for internal or external distribution.
Effective and ethical business communication
Professionalism in the workplace
Intercultural business communication
Writing tips for the business professional
The use of electronic messages and digital media for business communication
Positive and negative messages
Business presentations
Business reports, plans and proposals
• Who is the audience?
• What do they already know about the material?
• What do you want them to learn by the end of the lecture?
• Where will the presentation take place and under what conditions?
Now that you’ve had a chance to learn about designing slides, let’s talk
about what to do once you’ve finished putting your presentation slides
together, you’ve got your computer plugged into the projector, and all
eyes are on you in the classroom.

5. BEST PRACTICES IN BUSINESS WRITING AND
5
References
Condron, F. (2012).The 30 best business practices of all time.Profit, 31(2), 33.
Coster, H. (2010, May 3). Ten tips for better business writing. Forbes. Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/2010/05/03/better-business-writing-leadership-careers-tips.html
DeKay, S. H. (2011). Doing what’s right: Communicating business ethics. Business
Communication Quarterly, 74(3), 287-288. doi:10.1177/1080569911413813
Guffrey, M.E. & Loewy, D. (2012).Essentials of business communicaton, 9th edition. Mason,
Ohio: Cengage Learning.
Johnson, J., Donohue, W. A., Atkin, C. K., & Johnson, S. (1994). Differences between formal
and informal communication channels.Journal of Business Communication, 31(2), 111122.
Fitchard, K. (2007). Shannon’s specter.Telephony, 248(9), 32-36.
Koury, F. (2011). PUT IT IN WRITING. Smart Business Indianapolis, 8(7), 4.
Matthews, M. (2008, March). ARA are a great way to showcase best practice. Chartered
Accountants Journal.
Polito, J. M. (2013). Effective Communication during difficult conversations.Neurodiagnostic
Journal,53(2), 142-152.

6. BEST PRACTICES IN BUSINESS WRITING AND
Stone, D., Patton, B., &Heen, P. (2010).Difficult conversations: How to discuss what matters
most. New York, NY: Penguin Books.
Varner, I. I. (2000). The theoretical foundation for intercultural business communication: A
conceptual model. Journal of Business Communication, 37(1), 39-57.
Yates, K. (2008). Becoming an ROI builder: Delivering effective employee
communication.Employment Relations Today (Wiley), 35(1), 19-23.
doi:10.1002/ert.20184
6