Discussion Questions and Answers: 1. Balancing Sustainability and Transparency: Companies like H&M can avoid greenwashing by focusing on specific and verifiable claims about their sustainability initiatives. This includes providing data, using clear language, and avoiding vague terms like "eco-friendly" without explanation. Transparency is key. Companies should disclose their entire environmental footprint, not just highlight selective […]
Category Archives: Resources for Instructors
Elevate Your Business Communication Instruction: Effective Strategies for Success
As a business communication instructor, shaping future professionals requires a dynamic approach that fosters both knowledge and practical skills. Here are key strategies to become a more effective instructor and empower your students, supported by research references: 1. Tailor your communication to your audience. Understand your students' backgrounds, learning styles, and career aspirations. Adapt your […]
Lost in Rome, Ignored at Home: CEO Finally Answers After Online Shaming Storm
ANSWERS TO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How can CEOs effectively communicate with frustrated customers during a crisis, balancing personal engagement with the risk of appearing inauthentic or staged? Balancing act: CEOs need to find a middle ground between: Authentic empathy: Showing genuine understanding and concern for the customer's situation. Transparency and accountability: Acknowledging mistakes and outlining […]
A Personal Note from Court Bovee and John Thill
Subject: The Thrill of Business Communication in a Dynamic World Exciting times lie ahead for business communication educators! Current events constantly offer real-world examples that can motivate and energize students, propelling them towards even greater success. We understand the challenge of incorporating real-world scenarios into your curriculum. That's why in upcoming posts, I'll be providing a […]
Cardi B, Kim K, and the Price of Poor Disclosure: A Business Communication Lesson
ANSWERS: Here's a breakdown of the questions and how to approach answers, considering some ethical complexities involved: Question 1: Does pairing health-focused products with popular influencers create a false sense of scientific legitimacy or medical endorsement? Yes, it often can. Many influencers don't have qualifications in health, nutrition, or medicine. Their popularity arises from other […]
Generative AI in the Business Communication Curriculum: Where Do We Go From Here?
As we’ve been tracking the development of intelligent communication technologies in our recent editions, augmented and automated writing systems have been the most intriguing innovation of them all. ChatGPT received most of the attention when OpenAI unleashed it on a mostly unsuspecting world last fall, but several hundred companies are now developing tools that promise […]
30 Ways the Business Communication Course Can Help Your Students
This list has been one of the most popular posts we have ever published. Since we just updated and expanded the list, we thought this would be a great time to repost it. We like to think there is no other college course that offers as many personal and professional benefits as a well-rounded business […]
Free Video for Classroom Use: Communication Ethics: How to Make Good Choices When Your Choices Aren’t Clear
Here is the sixth video in our new series that addresses a variety of specific communication challenges and offers practical advice that students can apply now in their coursework and take with them on the job. This video gives students a four-step decision model to guide them in making ethical communication choices. Instructor version (concludes […]
Free Video for Classroom Use: The Five Zones of Professional Etiquette
Here is the fifth video in our new series that addresses a variety of specific communication challenges and offers practical advice that students can apply now in their coursework and take with them on the job. This video helps students adapt their behavior to the five zones of professional etiquette: in the workplace, online, on the […]
Free Video for Classroom Use: Balancing Emotional and Logical Appeals for Persuasive Messages
Here is the fourth video in our new series that addresses a variety of specific communication challenges and offers practical advice that students can apply now in their coursework and take with them on the job. This video helps students understand how to find the optimum balance of emotional and logical appeals when crafting persuasive messages. […]