\n![\".\"](\"http:\/\/business.fiu.edu\/newsletters\/BusinessNetworks\/2008\/04\/images\/James-Bussey.jpg\") \nJames Bussey<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | \u201cClearly, effective writing and communication are more important than ever\u2014and bear a significant impact on business productivity,\u201d said James Bussey<\/strong> (MBA \u201999), chief of staff, Executive Dean\u2019s Office and instructor, Executive and Professional Education (EPE) in the College of Business Administration.<\/p>\n Bussey points out that as a one-dimensional and linear medium, written communication does not provide the communicator with immediate signals from face responses or body language to support or contradict the message.<\/p>\n \u201cWe work in a world that communicates in sound bites. No one has the time for longer letters or documents. People need information quickly, so they can digest it, act on it, and then move on,\u201d Bussey said. \u201cYou must get your intended message across clearly and succinctly.\u201d<\/p>\n Students learn to communicate with confidence.<\/em><\/p>\n According to Bussey, business people\u00a0in his EPE writing and presentation skills courses come from companies of all sizes and many different industries.<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless of their work roles or job titles, people need to know that when it comes to hiring new employees or promoting existing ones, companies look first at their ability to communicate,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can have a perfect GPA or have done exemplary work, but if you cannot articulate what you know in a way that others can understand, then your knowledge is of little value.\u201d<\/p>\n This message hits home with EPE course participants.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Writing for Business<\/em> course, which gave detailed explanations for writing and correcting emails, exceeded my expectations,\u201d said Stephanie Soto<\/strong>, research assistant, Applied Research Center (ARC) at Florida International University.<\/p>\n Robert<\/strong> C. Galea<\/strong>, technical lead, Burger King Corporation, found that the Presentation Skills<\/em> course helped him \u201covercome nervousness and learn new techniques when presenting.\u201d<\/p>\n Bussey relates the story of one student who took an EPE business writing course at her boss\u2019s urging.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only did her own writing skills improve, but also she returned to her company committed to improving its entire communication culture\u2014from the boss on down,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n |