In a business environment, there are many different internal audiences with whom you may communicate, including various departments, different levels of management, and groups with different levels of technical expertise. There are also external audiences, including customers and contractors. Within these audiences, you will also need to consider differences in group dynamics, such as culture.
In your initial post, identify one audience that you may communicate with for business purposes. Then discuss the following questions about this audience:
Part A:
- Does this audience have technical expertise? If so, what is their level of expertise?
- How diverse is this audience? Note at least one common difference in the dynamics of this group.
- Are there any language considerations that need to be made when communicating with this audience?
- What are the audience’s expectations?
- Imagine that you are writing an email to a member of this audience. How would you go about crafting that communication? What would you include and exclude? What communications decisions would you make?
Part B:Offer additional analysis or insight into the expertise, diversity, language, and expectations of your peers’ audiences. Consider whether the considerations detailed would lead to an effective email communication with the noted audience.
Resources:
Textbook: Technical Communication: Process and Product, Chapter 5
As you read, pay particular attention to the differences in audiences, and the key components of an audience to keep in mind when crafting communications to them.
Article: Purdue OWL: Rhetorical Awareness and User-Centered Design opens in new window
The Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) is an excellent source of information and guidelines concerning all forms of writing, including professional technical writing. In this article, pay particular attention to the concepts of user-centered design.
Reading: What Is Plain Language? opens in new window
The Plain Language Action and Information Network provides a description of plain language and explains why a communicator might consider using plain language in a communication.
