Consider the following situation and choose the most appropriate communication channel.

Your staff uses expense accounts for job-related travel. The accounting department has changed the way such expenses are handled. You need to inform your staff about the new process for reimbursement. How can you explain the new process in a way they will be able to refer to later?

You should use:

A blog

A face-to-face group meeting

A memo

A letter

Technology and competition continue to accelerate the pace of business; thus, business writers switch to increasingly faster means of communication. Consider the following scenario, and determine if a faster communication channel would be more appropriate.

Marco is on the phone with a client. He needs to get his boss’s approval for an immediate change in the client’s contract. Marco writes his boss an e-mail.

Marco has chosen the correct channel.

Marco should put his request for approval in a memo.

Marco should send an instant message.

In order to craft effective business messages, beginning writers should follow the writing process closely. The first step in this process is to analyze the purpose and audience of the message.

Which of the following are among the primary purposes for sending business messages? Check all that apply.

To entertain

To build your network

To persuade

To inform

To promote goodwill