Axia College Material Appendix H

Business Writing Portfolio Shedella Cook XCOM/285 Essentials of Managerial Communication Axia College

Capstone Checkpoint: Reflection Reflecting back on the techniques and various writing skills gained throughout this course will have me prepared for future courses and in my future careers. Learning the functions of managerial communications, and the trends of communication in business have given me a head start in areas that most people may not have if they didnt take a course like xcom 285. Business writing is very important in the workforce, and knowing the different types of using effective messages can have a great impact on your audience. Being prepared for using technology communication can increase ways to communication in the work place. Learning to use business writing effectively has also given me strategies to facilitate cross-cultural communication, while being able to identify the advantages and disadvantages of electronic communications. Although there are different steps in business writing than in academic writing, I feel that this course has given me appropriate and various lessons to be prepared for what the real business work world will bring. I can use the lessons on how to foster positive individual and group communication, which is needed when working with a group of people or just one on one. Knowing how to deliver effective reports and presentations including oral is another business writing technique that will help me in the future. This course has given me knowledge on workplace polices regarding communication in employees privacy and laws on ethics, and has show me techniques to apply to improve and demonstrate my various skills in business writing.

1. Organize your material. 4. Proofread your material before you submit. 6. Submit your final draft.

5. Edit your text. 3. Write your paper. Business writing Flowchart 2. Consider your audience.

E-mail Etiquette week 5 XCOM 285

E-mail OneTo: TomSubject line: Talent ReallocationTom,This e-mail is in reference to the two employees who are going to be terminated Friday. We have determined that they are Nicole Stone and Lorenzo Torres. As we discussed yesterday, their performances are not on par with those of other employees in the accounting department; interventions with these employees have not been successful in helping them improve their performance. Lets plan to meet with them individually in the conference room between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.Thanks,Andrea | Responses to questions 1 and 2. * I did not notice any content or formatting errors. * I believe that this email is inappropriate for a workplace setting, because the email states that they discussed the actions the day before, so Tom should have only received an email about the meeting with the two individuals. | Rewrite e-mail if necessaryE-mail OneTo: TomSubject line: Meeting in conference room This email is just a reminder of the meeting we had yesterday to individually meet with employees Nicole Stone and Lorenzo Torres in the accounting department about their lack of performance within the department. We will meet in the conference room between 3:00 and 4:00 pm. Thanks, Andrea |

E-mail TwoTo: ManagerSubject line: doc u wantedDear Manager,Attached to this email is the doc you wanted with the info on that lake project. I hope everything in it is str8 and the way U want it!!!! BTW, did you see Last Comic Standing last night? I was totally ROFL at the bald dude!! :-}B Cool,Employee X | Responses to questions 1 and 2 * The subject line is not appropriate, the content is not formatted correctly, and the grammar is incorrect * This email content is in appropriate because the subject is not fully described, using short letter answers, and mentioning other subjects not related to the topic | Rewrite e-mail if necessaryE-mail TwoTo: The ManagerSubject line: Located the doctor that you requiredAttached to this email is the information in the doctor that

you were seeking with the lake project information. If you need anything else please email me, thanks. Employee X |

E-mail ThreeTo: Cubicle NeighborSubject line: COURTESYDear Cubicle Neighbor,I really do not appreciate it when you talk loudly on the phone. It is hard for me to think straight and get my work done. YOU ARE NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYONE ELSE AROUND HERE!!!!! You should be more considerate of the fact that we are in an open workspace. THANKS for what I assume will be an improvement that is NEEDED.Your neighbor | Responses to questions 1 and 2 * The subject starts off negative and the content is aggressive and offensive * This is not appropriate for the workplace setting because its rude and may cause more problems between the employees. | Rewrite e-mail if necessaryE-mail ThreeTo: All employees Subject line: Improving our workspace When working in a small space environment there will be times when we need to be considered and have courtesy for our cubicle neighbors. We all have to share the open work space and when making important calls should maintain a low tone to be considerate of others doing their work. This improvement is important in order for our team environement to work and be a success with have to work together. Thanks for your time and have a great day. Your neighbor |

E-mail FourTo: All company employeesSubject line: URGENTYour reply needed TODAYEmployees,About 25% of you have not let me know whether or not you plan to attend the company cookout Saturday. We have to provide the caterer with a final number TODAY, so I need those of you who have not let me know to e-mail me ASAP and tell me if you are coming and how many family members you are bringing. This is urgent, so please dont delay in responding.Thanks,CarolDirector | Responses to questions 1 and 2 * I dont see any content or formatting errors * This email is appropriate for the workplace setting because its to the point, there are no negative information and it s contains information for all the employees to understand. | Rewrite e-mail if necessaryE-mail FourTo: Subject line: |

Shedella Cook-Public relation Manager 123 Main St. Lima, OH 45801

[ April 30, 2010 ]

Dear Valued customers: We appreciate your business and hope that you continue to shop with us at your locate clothing store, but in order to adjust to the rising gas prices and to save money on store operations, we will now allow employees to work fewer days a week. The store will now be closed on Sundays. Monday through Saturday the store will open an hour later and close an hour earlier. Currently no stores will be closing, but no new ones will be opening at this time. We appreciate your business and hope the changes will not affect your relationship to do business in our store. We look forward to still taken care of your clothing needs and are sorry for any convenience that it make cause.

Sincerely, Shedella Cook Public Relation Manager

To:

Store Manager Changes in store operations

Subject:

Beginning immediately the clothing stores will now be closed on Sunday. With the rise of gas prices and the effort to save money on the store operations we will be allowing employees to work fewer days a week. Monday through Saturday the stores will be opening an hour later and close an hour earlier. Full-time employees including managers will now have a four day 10 hour workweeks and part-time employees will consolidate hours into 1-, 2-, or 3 day workweeks, depending on how many hours a week that is worked. There will be no stores closing, but as a result there will also be no new stores opening at this time. If you have any questions or concern please dont hesitate to get in contact with me. Thanks for your time.

Shedella Cook Public Relation Manager

| Clothing store chain Memo To: All employees

From: Shedella Cook-Public relation manager Date: [ 5/29/2010 ] Re: Changes in store operations

How to Use This Memo Template Employees will now be allowed to work fewer days a week, due to the rise in gas prices and the effort to save money on the stores operations. We will now be closed on Sundays. Monday through Saturday the store will be opening an hour later and closing an hour earlier. There are no stores closing, but there also will be no new stores opening at this time. Full-time employees including managers will have fourday ten hour workweeks and part-time employees will consolidate hours into one, two, or three day workweeks depending on how many hours a week they work. We appreciate all of your hard work and hope this changes does not affect your ability to work within the organization, we want to makes sure that every employee is happy and will continue to work for the store. These changes will take effect immediately, any employees that has any question or concerns can get in contact with me and I will happily explain any problems that rise. We look forward to the changes and hope you do to.

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In the benefits department, we have notice that the company has had a very profitable year and is looking to expand the employee benefits. Adding tuition reimbursement for the bachelors degrees in business and communication will

benefit the company, financial cost is not the concern because the company has already approved a budget for expansion. Tuition reimbursement is a great benefit that any employee would praise about. These kinds of offers can give employees that boost of confidence to maintain a higher education while giving their job performance a hundred percent. The program will show workers a learning mentality, give employees the opportunity to broadcast their talents and get better promotion in the future. The benefits department decided that the tuition reimbursement will actually help our company and the employees that work hard for the business. An average employee will contribute around $3,000 towards their tuition, according to the National Center of Educational. For the benefits of employees a tax law states that up to the year 2010, $5,250 can be contributed tax free. This can reduce the companys tax liability while giving workers the chance to get promotions and grow within the company. The following tuition reimbursement aspect should be considered for our bachelor degree program: Professional opportunities and learning mentality: The professional opportunities that a bachelor degree can offer an employee a way to move up in the company and can give employers the chance to promote education, And the learning mentality which gives our employees that way to gain new skills and climb the ladder under the work ethics and learning tools that our workspace environment offers. Having a bachelor degree often obtained a career opportunity that most will not have by not going to college. By giving our workers a chance to grow within the company gives our business the potential to keep the employees that work hard and wants to go to the next level. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), having a bachelor degree can open up a lot of job opportunity for employees and would benefit from further education and skills to help promote any organization. In case we would risk the worker not be able to continue employment for more than three years in the company the reimbursement will not be offered, unless a certain length of employment is documented and proven. This is to reinsure that no other employer receive the benefits after working within our company, this can be prevent and will be carefully focus on when considering candidates. The position within the company will also be a priority when determining employers that deserve to be a part of the tuition reimbursements program, this give certain position to grow with the company. The workers that are willing to give their job performance a education boost to move up will also out shine the ones that are just in the program for a pay check. People with a bachelor degree can often have high school or elementary teacher careers, social worker career, recreational therapist, market research analyst, or a real estate appraiser. According to the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) people with bachelors degrees have a chance to make at least $290,000 more in their life time, than someone without the college degree and that is after you minus the time and effort it took to earn the degree and the

education cost. Sometimes bachelors degrees can get up a higher salary, even is the position doesnt require a degree in that field. A bachelor degree can earn $59,635 per year, where as a worker with a high school degree will earn $33, 609 per year, according to the U.S Census Bureau. The following chart for instance shows the average weekly salary for 2009 of people over 25 with and without earning a bachelor degree: Gender | High School Graduate Degree Holder | Both sexes | $621 Women | $545 | $720 | $624 | $1,194 | Associate's Degree Holder | $1,026 | $905| | | | Bachelor's

Men | $715| $824

To retain employees that have the skills to move to position that offers entry level positions to have senior experiences. By offering higher education within our company we will also provide some employees a life experience, and a skill for other resumes. It encourages our team to improve themselves, obtain practical information and valuable knowledge. This gives workers a chance to be open to promotions and other assets useful skills in any workplace. The beneficial abilities that employees can obtain include; creative thinking skills, communication skills, analytical skills, writing skills, and critical thinking skills. There will be standard requirements to participant in the tuition reimbursement program; there will be a set form and other following rules to qualify for the benefits in the service. Continuing education is a very important career move and shows dedication not only to you but for the company that you are or will be working for. Companies offering these kinds of benefits have been known to profit because of hard working, competitive driven and that are intending to stay with the company while being educated or has education. The best benefit to the company is that we can stop the tuition reimbursement at anytime, if we feel or have evidence that the program is not working out with a certain employee we have the right to not want to proceed business with that particular client. But having this type of program not only gives our employees money to further their education, it also gives this company a staff that provides quality assets to the organization. The program will give the business an edge that most dont offer but will show sustainability and loyalty. Determining who will qualifies will be on senior associate terms, policies, and outlines, however there will be intense background search on employment history to give an idea of drive and dedication to work performance, and prior school attendances. There will be budget guidelines that will be followed every year, a set amount of money will be available for those workers that can get into the program. Using an office manager to create

the forms, setting up accounts, and creation reports for bookkeeping procedures will be a great resource within the company. Plus designing and implementing how much percentage to give back, and the grade point average an employee will have or must have obtain will also play roles in considering whom will qualify for the programs and its offers.

References:

National Center of Educational Statistics The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) www.bls.gov