Business Communication Today

Fourteenth Edition, Global Edition

Chapter 4
Planning Business
Messages

Dr. Mansour Lotayif

Professor of Business
Administration
ASU 2021
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Learning Objectives (1 of 2)
4.1 Describe the three-step writing process.
4.2 Explain why it’s important to analyze a communication
situation in order to define your purpose and profile your
audience before writing a message.
4.3 Discuss information-gathering options for simple
messages, and identify three attributes of quality
information.

Copyright © 2018 Pearson Education, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Learning Objectives (2 of 2)
4.4 List the factors to consider when choosing the most
appropriate medium for a message.
4.5 Explain why good organization is important to both you
and your audience, and list the tasks involved in
organizing a message.

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Figure 4.1 The Three-Step Writing Process

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Planning Business Messages

1. Analyze the Situation

2. Gather the Information
3. Select the Best Combination
4. Organize the Information

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Writing Business Messages
• Adapt to Your Audience
– Sensitivity
– Relationship skills
– Appropriate writing style
• Compose Your Message
– Choosing strong words
– Creating effective sentences
– Developing coherent paragraphs

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Completing Business Messages
• Revise
• Produce
• Proofread
• Distribute

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Optimizing Your Writing Time
• Planning = 50%
• Writing = 25%
• Completing = 25%

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