What Every Engineer Should Know about Business Communication

ISBN-13: 9780849383960 / Angielski / Miękka / 2008 / 208 str.

John X. Wang

Opis

Engineers must possess a range of business communication skills that enable them to effectively communicate the purpose and relevance of their idea, process, or technical design. This unique business communication text is packed with practical advice that will improve your ability to

• Market ideas
• Write proposals
• Generate enthusiasm for research
• Deliver presentations
• Explain a design
• Organize a project team
• Coordinate meetings
• Create technical reports and specifications

Focusing on the three critical communication needs of engineering professionals speaking, writing, and listening the book delineates critical communication strategies required in many group settings and work situations. It demonstrates how to integrate a marketing strategy into every facet of engineering communication, from presentations, visual aids, proposals, and technical reports to e-mail and phone calls. Using situational examples, the book also illustrates how to use computers, graphics, and other engineering tools to effectively communicate with other engineers and managers."

Spis treści

Analyze Communication Purpose and Audience How Engineers Learn How Engineers Are Persuaded Speak or Write: Select the Right Communication Channel Consider Your Communication Purpose and Audience Section 1: Spear Your Way to Engineering Success Projecting the Image of the Engineering Profession Overcome Anxiety Primary Impact: Nonverbal Body Language Secondary Impact: Control Your Vocal Quality, Volume, and Pace Optimize Your Presentation Environment Presentation Aids Engineering: The Real da Vinci Code Speaking Visually—Guidelines for Using Presentation Aids Choosing among Options Creating Visuals with Impact Delivering with Visuals Organize Your Talk Planning Your Talk Conducting an Audience Analysis: 39 Questions Organizing Your Talk in Seven Easy Stages Getting Attention and Keeping Interest  “Five Minutes Early”—Time Management for Your Presentation Delivering Your Introduction Presenting Your Conclusion Handling Audience Response Create the Environment Handle with C.A.R.E Deal with Hostile Questions Deal with Other Types of Questions Control the Q&A Session Thinking on Your Feet Section 2: Write Your Way for Business Impact Organizing for Emphasis Make Your Bottom Line the Top Line Purpose Statement and Blueprints Open Long Reports with a Summary Use More Topic Sentences Develop Headings Structure Vertical Lists Write As If Talking to Your Engineering Associates Use Personal Pronouns Rely On Everyday Words Use Short, Spoken Transitions Keep Sentences Short Reach Out to Your Engineering Readers by Asking Questions  “5 Whys”—A Technique for Engineering Problem Solving  “Lean” Your Expressions Introduction Prune Wordy Expressions Use Strong Verbs Cut Doublings and Noun Strings Eliminate Unnecessary Determiners and Modifiers Change Phrases into Single Words Change Unnecessary Clauses into Phrases or Single Words Avoid Overusing “It is” and “There is” Eight Steps for Lean Writing Write Actively—Engineering Is about Actions Active Voice: “Albert Einstein Wrote the Theory of Relativity” How to Recognize the Passive Voice How to Write Actively—Use Three Cures Write Passively for Good Reasons Only Theory of Completed Staff Work Section 3: Integrating Your Speaking and Writing Skills Everyday Engineering Communications—E-Mails, Phone Calls, and Memos Effective E-mail Writing: Seven Things to Remember How to Be Productive on the Phone  “Memos Solve Problems”   Visuals for Engineering Presentation—Engineers Think in Pictures Optimize Slide Layout Display Engineering Data Effectively How to Develop Effective Graphics Write Winning Grant Proposals Know Your Audience. Understand Your Goal and Marketing Strategy Select the Correct Writing Style Organize Your Proposal around the Four Ps A Brief Checklist before Submitting Your Proposal How to Effectively Prepare Engineering Reports Writing an Effective Progress Report Develop Informative Design Reports Listening—Interactive Communication about Engineering Risk Listening—A Forgotten Risk Communication Skill Listening—Harder Than Speaking and Writing How to Listen to Voices of Customers about Risk Listen Attentively: Understanding What Drives Perceived Risk Thirteen Questions about Risk Communication

O autorze

John X. Wang