Straight Talk: Written Communication for Career Success

Timm (management, Brigham Young University) and management consultant Bienvenu have developed an innovative system that enables anyone to write effective reports, memos, business letters or proposals. With many examples, they guide the student through a step by step program that results in clear, concise and appropriate writing. Going beyond other programs that only emphasize content, the authors consider the context of the message and the reaction of the recipients. In this computer age, they give tips on presentation enhancements with graphics, font changes and bullet points. The final chapter will endear them to every grammarian. In a non-judgmental way, Timm and Bienvenu cover some of the most common errors in grammar and punctuation. Their five-step program, with suggestions for practice activities, is both helpful to those who are terrified of writing and those who need a refresher course. The techniques they propose apply to business communication but would be useful to those who write government documents, package directions, new reports, even holiday newsletters, in short, anyone who wants to communicate through writing. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Paul R. Timm Is Professor of Organizational Leadership and Strategy at Brigham Young University

Sherron Bienvenu, Ph.D. Has taught for 22 years at Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business in Atlanta. In addition, she has been a visiting professor of Management Communication in the International MBA Program at the Helsinki School of Economics (Finland).