Over the last 2 decades, the nations that once comprised the Soviet Union have begun to play an increasingly important role in the global economy. As a result, today's technical and professional communicators could find themselves interacting with co-workers, colleagues, and clients in these nations. Being successful in such contexts, however,…

The literature reporting research on message distortion in organizations is reviewed in this paper. Topics covered include: definitions of distortion/fidelity; measures of message display; measures of message interpretation; categories of distortion/fidelity derived from laboratory research; definitions of distortion/fidelity in naturalistic…

Explores some of the reasons behind the growing interest in publishing and reading the new genre of popular management writing that draws its inspiration from well-known works of literature, theater, and film. Raises questions posed by this emergent genre for research and teaching agendas. (SR)

Reviews specific examples of cliched anecdotes from recent publications intended for student use, warning that these reflect poorly on the field. Calls for more qualitative research to validate the principles espoused in business communication literature. (RAE)

Summarizes research in perception dealing with error detection as it pertains to proofreading skills in communication. Focuses on several causes for the lack of perceptual proficiency in error detection, including feature redundancy, context, and phonological encoding. Notes that these causes may interrelate to form a Gestalt response to error…

Offers an overview of Canada's business-communication research efforts. Describes its definition and scope; issues facing Canadian researchers (gaining an institutional presence, creating Canada as a viable research site, and creating a Canadian research focus); disseminating research in Canada; and expanding Canadian business-communication…

Provides an overview of research in corporate communication, focusing on achievements found in the international academic literature in both communication and business school disciplines. Gives three key concepts in such research: corporate identity, corporate reputation, and orchestration of communication. Advocates an interdisciplinary approach…

This paper provides a selected review of the literature pertaining to corporate advocacy (non-product advertising by corporations, addressing political or social issues). More specifically, the paper examines research from the communication, business, public relations, and advertising literature dealing with justifications for the practice of…

Describes collaborative research and writing being carried out by scholars in the field of business writing. Narrates examples of long-term partnerships in which research has been carried out together by multiple contributors over a sustained length of time, along with its possible risks. (HB)

Reviews the scholarly literature in cross-cultural business communication and discusses its shortcomings. Demonstrates the limitations of the Western, linear paradigms and expounds upon some inadequately researched and unresolved important questions. Develops 10 testable hypotheses for the 1990s. Advocates developing new paradigms and concept…

Understanding organizational cultures offers important and useful insights for the professional communicator. The fastest-growing area of interest in the study of modern organizations and their behavior is that of organizational cultures. There are at least two specific ways to categorize and discuss these cultures. The first is to divide them…

Summarizes recently articulated research needs in business and technical communication. Argues that qualitative studies of writing on the job and in the classroom are the most needed form of empirical research. Shows how research can be conducted using one type of qualitative research, ethnography. (JAD)

Examines research from several fields and evaluates techniques for managing discomfort when making presentations. (Written for business communication teachers and presentation-skills trainers in business.) (PD)

Reviews moments in the history of human factors that are especially relevant to the field of technical communications. Discusses human factors research that is applicable to technical communications. Focuses on qualitative usability research, minimalism, and human activity interface design. (HB)

Proposes a framework for organizing and conceptualizing the interdisciplinary research on customer service encounters. Describes the three categories into which service behaviors tend to fall. Outlines areas of service behavior that future research should consider. (HB)