Business Writingfor

International Executives

Capstone

by

Brian Robertson

MIST 8

Instructional ProblemExecutives come from abroad to work in the US

English is a second language

Challenge in communicating in writing

Writing skills are essential for business

Target AudienceMid-to-late career managers

Speak and write English

Need to write understandable documents

Solution

Introductory course on basic business writing skills

Taught online as e-learning modules

Considerations to Address

Email etiquette

Jargon/cliches

Problem areas/stylistic differences between US and Asian cultures

Levels of formalities

Types of DocumentsInteroffice memos

Job offer letters

Introductory letters

Good news letters

Bad news letters

Lesson Approach

Scenario-based

Role playing

Decision trees

Selected response/constructed response

Design/Development

ILM design is in progress

Gagne’s nine events of instruction

Currently collecting/processing content

Tentative ILM design is on following slides

TechnologiesMoodle

SCORM

Automation of assessment solutions

Captivate

HTML5/Flash

ILM Slide Mock-Ups

Introduction Email Etiquette Scenarios Quiz

Lesson 1: Email Etiquette

Lesson 2: Writing Good News Messages

Lesson 3: Writing Bad News Messages

Lesson 4: Writing Introductory Memos

Lesson 5: Writing Interoffice Memos

Home

Email Etiquette

Scenario

Scenario

Scenario

Quiz

Introduction Email Etiquette Scenarios Quiz

Lesson 1: Email Etiquette

Email is the most common form of written communication in the workplace.

Following are some guidelines for writing workplace emails of varying formalities:

Broadcast emailsJokesTone

Sidebar: It is poor form to use texting shorthand, jargon, and emoticons in formal workplace writing.

Home

Email Etiquette

Scenario

Scenario

Scenario

Quiz

Introduction Email Etiquette Scenarios Quiz

Scenario 1: You are a mid-level manager who needs to solicit feedback from a subordinate about another worker in the office. Pick a scenario below and follow the decision tree:

Send a broadcast email to the entire department

Send an email to the worker and cc the other worker in question

Send a private email to the worker

Home

Email Etiquette

Scenario

Scenario

Scenario

Quiz

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