There are three main reasons to assign writing in business classes of all levels. Each point is both supported anecdotally and through survey research.
In a survey of executives shows the writing is a skills deficit, even amongst their ranks. In fact, each year from 2008 this skill deficit has increased while the need for effective written communication has increased. (www.enhancemywriting.com) With the increased expectations of education, it is more and more difficult to rise through the ranks without being able to communicate effectively in all forms.
Students often compartmentalize the composition and writing classes in their education, not understanding their necessity and application in their business classes. Through writing in business students can develop the skills employers have identified as most lacking and most critical to their success: summarization, audience analysis, evaluation, and recommendation.
This is obvious to anyone in the business profession, however, in college academic forms of writing take center stage. Students learn to demonstrate what they learned in class through their writing in a specific format that is counter to what their employers look for and expect. Through each business class, regardless of the content, as educators we can train the next generations of business leaders to become "multi-lingual" when it comes to their writing. The college or university will see the general education skills they are trying to instill in students reinforced in a variety of classes. All stakeholders win.
If you have an professor who still resists the inclusion of writing assignments in his/her classes it might sound something like this, "I don't have time to teach writing in my classes." My response is, "You don't have time not to teach writing."
In business effective writing and communication improves productivity. By introducing writing skills and developing them as student progress through their educational journeys we can see an impact in the kinds of feedback and time we give students in upper division classes. We wouldn't give keys to a teenager without supporting them with classroom and drivers training instruction. We would introduce complex skills slowly and develop them steadily before assessing their skills. Teaching writing has a similar process.
Students can tell when writing assignments are linked to course objectives. They have also been trained to "make it through" writing assignments in their English classes. How do you convey the import of writing for business to your students?
If faced with a competitor for a job or promotion the candidate with clearly better communication skills has the advantage. Some people may have a natural talent for writing or communication, but the bulk of us need to learn, practice, and refine our skills. Competitive advantage is earned.
Leaders to more than identify problems and offer their opinions. They develop a case, get buy in, and using supporting evidence to influence decision makers to their ideas. These, along with conciseness and clarity of thought, are the hallmarks of good business writing.
In order for students to feel comfortable developing skills they don't currently posses, it's important that the instructor create a low risk environment. Such an environment can't be established if instructors assign a paper at the beginning of a course and expect a deliverable at the end of the class that meets expectations for skills they have not developed in their students. In subsequent sections you'll find examples of ways to progressively develop writing competency in students within a course and throughout their educational journey.
Focus on business writing to improve your competitive advantage.
This PDF is an example of a rationale sheet I used to talk with students about the diversity proposal they'd write in a senior level class. You'll notice that I include both transferable and industry specific skills. I think there is more I could do, but it's a start. I'd love to hear what others might be using.
