Business Communication: Theory & Application

This text is titled Business Communication: Theory & Application as it provides a healthy balance of business and organizational communication theory and research as well as practical application.  You will notice some chapters are more theory-driven (Chapters 2 and 3) and other chapters offer suggestions, best practices, and even additional resources in the form of visual communication templates and examples (Chapters 8, 10, & 11).  Through both theory and application this text is intended to instruct readers on how to engage as competent communicators in the workplace and that is exactly where Chapter 1 begins by providing overarching definitions and models of communication and communication competence.  Regardless of what kind of business communication context you are interacting within, the end goal is to be effective, appropriate, and ethical with your communication practices.  Each chapter within this textbook is designed to teach you this concept within a variety of contexts that include: 

• Various forms of organizational authority, structure, and systems (and related communication flows)
• Interpersonal communication at work
• Diverse workspaces
• Nonverbal communication at work
• Workplace conflict
• Listening in the workplace
• Technology-mediated communication in the workplace
• Small group communication in work contexts
• Rhetorical communication (both written and spoken), and
• Interviewing contexts at work