Business and Technical Communication: An Annotated Guide to Sources, Skills, and Samples

The amount of material published in business and technical communications is still growing despite the number of textbooks, guides, and other resources that have already appeared. Universities continue to stress communication skills in business and engineering, partly in response to concerns expressed by executives and managers. What students and practitioners require for skill improvement are clear guidelines, well-structured outlines, and pertinent examples. This work locates these essential materials and the research tools needed to unlock them.

This handbook couples research sources, an annotated bibliography of how-to information, and detailed indexes to identify the most relevant items in aiding business and technical communication. Organized in two sections, the first consists of a research handbook, consisting of tools (i.e., dictionaries), resources (i.e., databases), and information providers (i.e., associations). Part two is a topical bibliography of books on general, written, and oral skills in business and technical communications. The printed works featured in the book emphasize approaches, formats, checklists, guidelines, models, and other helpful aids.

SANDRA E. BELANGER is Head of the Academic Services and Co-Unit Head of the Merged Reference Unit at the San Jose State University Library. She is sole author of Better Said and Clearly Written, also published by Greenwood.

SUSAN LEE KENDALL is a reference librarian and government publications coordinator at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library. She is an active member in the government publications library community.

TOBY LEIGH MATOUSH is Reference/Instruction Librarian and Assistant Professor at San Jose State University. She is also Library Liaison to the University's Department of Organization and Management. Her research focus is in information competency for minority and at-risk groups, and Japanese popular culture.

YUHFEN DIANA WU is Reference and Instruction Librarian, Business and Economics liaison at the San Jose State University Library. She is the VP/President Elect of the Chinese American Librarian Association, which is an affiliate of the American Library Association. Her research areas are business information competency and multilingual access.