Communication for Business and the Professions

The current trend in organizations is toward participative management. Nonsupervisory personnel take on organizational tasks formerly assigned to supervisors, managers, and higher-level executives; managers and supervisors become facilitators rather than order givers. As this trend continues, all levels of the organization need the effective communication traditionally attributed to positions of leadership. As in previous editions, Andrews and Baird write in a clear, accessible style. They distill relevant theory and research on the structures and functions of communication in organizations and offer communication strategies and skills vital to diverse organizational contexts. For the eighth edition, they have updated examples and added new information on a variety of topics, including civic engagement, effective writing, nonverbal communication, cross-cultural communication, multinational business and ethics, telecommuting and virtual work teams, posting resumes on the Internet, pressure and stress in the workplace, study circles as a vehicle for managing conflict, and gender and leadership in groups. At the end of each chapter, questions for discussion tap critical-thinking skills, exercises promote research and exploration, and case applications challenge readers to analyze real-world situations and implement effective communication strategies. Not-for-sale instructor resource material available to college and university faculty only; contact publisher directly.