Essentials of Business Communication, 12th Student Edition

IN-DEPTH REVISIONS AND CURRENT COVERAGE ARE DRIVEN BY THE AUTHORS' METICULOUS, CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH. Most of the authoritative publications consulted and cited in this edition are no more than one to three years old. The authors support their own first-hand business and consulting experiences with research drawn from reviewing thousands of trusted sources. Extensively rewritten and updated coverage extends well beyond other books' "cosmetic" changes to reflect the most relevant, emerging trends and practices in business communication today.

PURPOSEFUL DISCUSSION OF TECHNOLOGY EMPHASIZES ITS USE AS COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN THE WORKPLACE. As today's workplace increases its reliance on technology, students must learn to use the latest tools to communicate professionally. Discussions of the Internet, social media and communication technology consistently appear within the context of workplace practices. Technology is addressed in a larger content so students can view advancements as an informed businessperson and citizen as they prepare for the fast-changing, digital-era labor market.

EMPHASIS ON GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS STRENGTHENS STUDENTS' SKILLS. Today's employers value strong writing and speaking skills yet few texts even cover grammar and mechanics. This edition is different with new or updated grammar/mechanics checkups in each chapter and copious review exercises that help students review and practice important literacy skills. This edition also offers a complete Grammar/Mechanics Handbook in Appendix D with 14 additional review exercises.

COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS AND ENGAGING MATERIAL ENRICH DISCUSSIONS AND LECTURES. All of the instructor resources accompanying this edition are designed to lighten the burden for busy instructors, like you. This edition's expanded MindTap online learning resources provide auto-graded homework and chapter quizzes as well as numerous other teaching and learning resources.

UPDATED AWARD-WINNING APPROACH BALANCES TIMELINESS AND TIMELESSNESS. This edition distills relevant trends that shape business communication while continuing to provide proven pedagogy that emphasizes the development of your students’ skills. This authoritative, practical learning system, designed for busy instructors like you, is easy from which to teach with the latest instructor resources including course outlines, lecture notes, grading rubrics, sample syllabi and enhanced PowerPoint® lecture slides.

GREATER FOCUS ON DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY FUTURE-PROOFS YOUR STUDENTS' PROFESSIONAL SKILL SETS. This edition addresses AI, automation, the sharing economy and the rise of remote and hybrid work with the COVID-19 pandemic. New coverage addresses emerging "buzzwords," such as coronacation, WFH and Zooming, treating them as teachable opportunities to activate critical-thinking skills. Students also study the dark side of technology as they examine privacy and security concerns, cyberbullying, deepfakes and disinformation.

NEW! EXAMINES PRACTICES DRAWN FROM THE AUTHORS’ PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND SUPPORTED BY CURRENT RESEARCH. New content is back by research from hundreds of reputable, timely sources. For example, extended coverage addresses the growth of enterprise messaging, such as Slack and Slack etiquette. New coverage of business’ social media use now includes guidelines and advice on how students can build their personal brands and guard their reputations.

NEW! REFLECTS TODAY'S DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE. All examples throughout this edition use nonbinary and gender-neutral pronouns to reflect current efforts to make workplaces more inclusive, respectful and welcoming to all workers.

UPDATES INTRODUCE THEORIES OF PERSUASION BY PROMINENT THINKERS. In the age of Internet hoaxes, fake news and disinformation, thinkers such as Richard M. Perloff and Robert B. Cialdini help students not only become better persuaders, but also evolve into informed consumers. This edition discusses the controversial practice of retargeting, including varying viewpoints and business interests. Additional coverage analyzes the social media savvy of a boutique small business, Eat Naked Kitchen, to illustrate contemporary multi-channel campaigns designed to achieve brand engagement.

REVISED EMPLOYMENT CHAPTERS (CHS. 13, 14) GUIDE STUDENTS THROUGH AI-ENABLED APPLICANT TRACKING AND MAXIMIZING THE RANK OF THEIR RÉSUMÉS. This edition focuses even more on LinkedIn as a key social media site for job hunting and networking. New content addressed the wide use of video interviewing, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with new detailed tips on how to ace a video job interview. New coverage also examines the future likelihood of AI screening of applicants by reading body language and nonverbal cues.

UPDATED GRAMMAR AND EDITING EXERCISES AND LEARNING FEATURES KEEP PRACTICE CURRENT AND ENGAGING. The authors have replaced all or most of this edition's Grammar/Mechanics Checkups, Editing Challenges and Review Exercises as well as Office Insider and Workplace in Focus features with fresh, enriching content.