Book Description

This text-workbook is a streamlined, no-nonsense approach to business communication. It takes a three-in-one approach: (1) text, (2) practical workbook, and (3) self-teaching grammar/mechanics handbook. The chapters reinforce basic writing skills, then apply these skills to a variety of memos, letters, reports, and resumes. This new edition features increased coverage of contemporary business communication issues including oral communication, electronic forms of communication, diversity and ethics. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent book for college and your career
Finally, a complete text that is always useful. I have read this book over and over... each time learning something new. It's great if you need a complete and extensive description or a quick overview. This book will go from your college backpack to the desk of your new exciting job!

An Excellent Guide to Business Writing
This book is an excellent tool for writing, especially for the non-native English writer. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a study guide with many examples that have been updated for the current business environment. The numerous samples and the grammar review are very helpful for studying the fundamentals. This book is extremely relevant in a business world crowded with a cornucopia of poor writing, misspelling, and incorrect grammar usage. My heartfelt thanks to Ms. Guffey for writing such an excellent guide. ... Read more

Book Description

Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e takes readers through a well-developed, consistently applied process approach to communication that is combined with integrated, hands-on application of current and emerging business technologies. Readers learn a process for solving future communication problems, and how to use Internet and electronic media to deliver their message, resulting in a tangible communication strategy they can use throughout their careers. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Unless you have no common sense, dont get this book
Wow, talk about an insult to intelligence. When you read this book you say "Duh" as you read it. The online quizes coulde be helpful, but using a character called "Answer Man" makes you feel like you are in first grade. If you really feel you need help with your writing skills, don't get this book. Try something else, anything else, but this book.

STUDY GUIDE! NOT A TEXT BOOK!
I wish I would've read the last review before ordering this product. This is a STUDY GUIDE, which usually comes FREE WITH purchase of the $... TEXT BOOK in book stores. Don't be mislead by thinking you're getting a great deal on a text book. It's not the real thing.

Feedback from Author
Dear Amazon:

The book you list here is the Student Study Guide to accompany my hardbound textbook BUSINESS COMMUNICATION: PROCESS AND PRODUCT. By listing this "paperback" at $26.95 and by not identifying it as the Student Study Guide, you are misleading readers. They think that a paperbound version of the complete book is available. Not true! Please identify the $26.95 book as Student Study Guide to accompany BC:PP. Thanks!

Informative and helpful
When I took my first writing class in college, I was pretty sure I knew everything about writing. This book proved me wrong. Yes, it is quite big and there is so much to learn, but the exercises at the end of each chapter are very helpful. I learned how to write all kinds of business letters. Not only was the book helpful for my business relations, it also taught me how to improve my everday writing skills. The author had some great examples as to what we should and should not do. I highly recommend it. Buy the paperback edition. It will be a lot easier to carry.

The No. 1 Business Communication book:More than just Print
If your teaching a Business Communication course, this is the book that will enable you to concentrate on your students learning rather than preparing materials. The sixteen chapters contain all the learning activities necessary for a very signifacant and long life skills your students need to compete in todays' digital communication environment. A chapter on culture and ethics is included which is useful for students who will someday compete in the Global Market. It contains excellent resources, computerized test bank, videos, colored transparecies, on line information, and others.The book is extremely useful for doing semester portfolios because of all the realistic case studies from reknowned companies. This is more than a book, it is the innovative communication knowledge that our college students need to survive in the complex information era. Your students won't regrete the investment. ... Read more

Book Description

Technical Communication represents the works of five highly respected authors, all writing in their areas of expertise. Scientific examples and assignments within a social context are used for a realistic view of communication issues. This is the only text to extensively address argument, including reasoning, credibility, persuasion, decision making, problem solving, and critical thinking. The topic of audience is also addressed more thoroughly than in any other text. The book covers the traditional parts of the technical communication course but has been updated greatly to respond to the demands that the computer places on communicating. ... Read more

Book Description

For busy fundraisers, writing letters of appeal can be confusing and laborious. Now, a guide from the nation's premier letter-writing tutor--direct mail expert Mal Warwick--shows fundraisers what makes the best letters work. Whether its general advice about the most effective mail strategies, or specific advice for those interested in the details of a direct mail campaign, Warwick keeps fundraisers on track when he reminds: "You're writing for results--not a Pulitzer Prize."

In How to Write Successful Fundraising Letters, Warwick's step-by-step model for writing a successful appeal walks you through the critical stages; his topics range from laying the groundwork for a prosperous campaign all the way through to the importance of thanking donors. Supported by an extensive collection of model letters, Warwick's no-nonsense, jargon-free work has helped thousands of fundraisers achieve results.

... Read more

Reviews (6)

Every Non-Profit Should Have This Book
Fundraising is a very specialized area of copywriting and marketing. Unlike the more common direct mail letter wherein you are selling a product or service, fundraising often offers nothing more to the receipient than a chance to feel good about doing good.

As a consequence, fundraising letters for charities and oher non-profits literally have their own rules that vary from the traditional approach to direct mail. Warwick is the recognized master of this field and is a legend in fundraising circles.

Every charitiable organization and non-profit group should have this book on their shelf, or have a copywriter available to them that does. And even if you aren't going to apply the principles in the book to fundraising, its still a great guide to writing effective marketing copy.

The best book of its kind ...
There are many many books and courses on how to write a funding proposal but few out there on how to write and develop your organization's annual campaign. Fortunately Mal Warwick's is the only book you'll ever need. Thorough, loaded with examples, not only of solicitation letters but follow up and thank you letters as well -- if you're a development professional this is one book you must have on your shelf. Using Mal Warwick's books and website, along with a great deal of marketing reading, I successfully redesigned my organization's membership campaign - raising our overall donations by 33% the first year and an additional 25% the second year.
While geared to annual campaigns/individual donors, this book will also aid you in writing foundation proposals - particularly to those smaller foundations that may merely require a letter proposal. Mal takes the best of both worlds - marketing and nonprofit management - and gives you a guide that the development professional will refer to daily. With the thousands of foundations in the United States, not every one is a Kellogg or a Kresge or a Pew and this book is an invaluable aid to getting your proposal read. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (as are all Mal Marwick's books).

A Good Primer on Fundraising Letters
I found this book to be a great primer on writing fundraising letters. This book is written in simple enough language that beginners will be able to follow along, yet is detailed enough that even accomplished fundraisers will benefit from a throurough review of this guide.

When I wrote "25 Fundraising Secrets - Raise More Money, Guaranteed," I included a chapter on how to make follow-up phone calls after mailing out fundraising letters. When I am asked by readers how to write those fundraising letters, I direct them to this informative book by Mal Warwick.

Never Wrote a Fundraising letter before
This was an excellent book! I was able to put together not just a letter, but a fundraising package. The instructions are complete and the examples are wonderful reference tools. I am new to the Fundraising industry and this is a book that I am now purchasing for my library. It also covers thank you's. I would highly recommend this book to someone who has never wrote a fundraising letter before or even for the experienced letter writer!!

My top recommendation for fundraisers
In my seminar on nonprofit communications I strongly recommend several titles, chosen from the dozens on my shelves. Mal Warwick's How to Write Successful Fundraising Letters tops the list. It is pretty much a model, I think, for good how-to books: it is well organized, comprehensive (in ways you'd never anticipate), filled with case studies and annotated examples, brief, to the point, practical, and extraordinarily reader-friendly. I wrote fund-raising letters before I read Mal's book; some letters worked, some didn't. After I read his book, I never wrote an unprofitable letter again. You will not regret buying this book: it removes the veils from so many mysteries of successful direct mail fundraising. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

This Style Guide Has Everything!
This book tells you how to do everything! It can be used by both students and professionals. This book has everything from how to properly use a comma to writing bibliographies; from how to use photographs in presentations and documents to writing resumes. This guide gives you hints on how to manage meetings effectively. I use this book at both work and home. People come to me to borrow this fantasic book constantly. I have the CD installed on my computer and love using the program - it is very user-friendly. I don't think any student or office should be without this wonderful tool.

Covey's CD doesn't work, neither does customer service!
I recently purchased the Covey Style Guide with CD Rom. The CD rom, after installation, wouldn't come up. I phoned Covey's 800 number and got bounced around to several people who said I had to go online for help, or else give my credit card up front for a minimum of $20 service charge. Their online system supposedly has a technician online, but I kept getting the message "Sorry, sometimes the system cuts of the reply. Please resend."

This is was too weird for me. This is not my idea of customer service!

Stephen Johnson
editor@healingpath.com

Great book to improve technical writing skills!
This book was great for improving my technical writing skills. I used this book as a required textbook for a masters degree program and felt it was great for my first class.

The most helpful style guide ever!
There are a number of useful style guides for technical and business writers on the market; this is my most favorite!

It is easy to understand, has great examples, covers all imaginable aspects of written communication, and - the best - it comes with exhaustive coverage on a CD.

Finally, it is definitely the best bank for your buck!

Great desktop reference for Technical Writers
This is a great reference tool for anyone starting out in the technical communications field! This book is very user friendly. It's apparent once you start flipping through the pages. All the topics, such as, "Editing and Proofreading," "Page Layout," and "Word Problems," are organized in alphabetical order and printed on the outside edge of the page's header in large easy-to-read font. I also appreciate the way each topic has the keypoints summarized at the beginning with numbers that corresponds to an in-depth discussion of the keypoints. The enclosed CD-ROM was also a great addition to this book. This book is a worthwhile investment! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A wise investment
For those who write business letters and emails, this is a great help.

Eric Bollinger
Publisher
McKenna Publishing Group
Publisher of "Two Dozen Lessons From An Editor" by Jim Woods

A valuable writing guide
Remarkably concise and informative, The Elements of Business Writing: A Guide to Writing Clear, Concise Letters, Memos, Reports, Proposals, and Other Business Documents by Gary Blake and Robert W. Bly is more than just a tool for business people. Taking a common sensical approach, as opposed to a lofty educated tone, Messrs. Blake and Bly do not restrict themselves to business writing, in spite of the title. For the most part, The Elements of Business Writing is a valuable writing guide for just about all forms of writing. The book is strong on: knowing your audience; clarity; precision; and persuasion. When you think about those four elements, you're thinking about effective communication in general. This is something everyone--not just business people--can use in their daily lives.

Very useful
If you write letters, emails, business proposals or marketing plans, this book will be useful to you. It is very easy to follow. The book offers a number of suggestions for writing clearly and with style, and explains each point in detail. I used this book for a graduate level class, but it would be useful to anyone!

Too simple and sufficient coverage.
Too simple and some rules may not apply to real problem, not recommend. But if you want to get the first book in writing intensive or want to have a quick look, you may leave it on your desk. ... Read more

Book Description

This 3rd book of the series on policies and procedures is a "must-have" workbook for using the policy and procedure writing format that is introduced in my other 3 policies and procedures books. The majority of this book contains exercises, suggested answers, common mistakes, and the "do’s" and "don’ts" of writing clear and concise policies and procedures. Learn how to present your ideas in a logical format and write good sentences and paragraphs for each of the 7 sections of the writing format, a format that has been adopted by 1000’s of companies worldwide. The scenarios for the book exercises are based on the case study presented in "Achieving 100% Compliance of Policies and Procedures."

The SERIES contains three other books that completes your set of four: (1) "Establishing a System of Policies and Procedures" (ISBN 1929065000) focuses on setting up a framework for writing printed and/or online policy and procedure documents; (2) "Achieving 100% Compliance of Policies and Procedures" (ISBN 1929065493) focuses on writing policies and procedures that can be easily measured and improved; and (3) "Best Practices in Policies and Procedures" (1929065078) shows you how to find content for policies and procedures and how to find the STARTING POINT for your policy and procedure efforts. Also, learn how to align policies and procedures to the vision, strategic plan, and core processes of your organization. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great for Book for Writing Well Written Policies and Procedu
This book is just what is advertised, how to write better policies and procedures. It advocates the use of a writing format that makes for easy-to-read policies and procedures, a format that I know from conferences is used worldwide by many companies. This book is for procedure writers, not technical writers. And this book is not high-level, it is very detailed to the extent that my company has bought more than 25 of these books to hand out to each person who writes policies and procedures. While the book is very simple, it is still by far the best book I have read on the subject. I find the competition too convulted and they don't stay on the point. Not so with this author's books.

Jay

Okay for P&P but not for just Procedure Writing
This book is fine if you are looking for a guide to create a Policy & Procedure manual where the procedures are at a high level. You should, however, look elsewhere if you are looking for a guide on how to write clear, easy-to-use procedures. The format for the procedures in this book is similar to the technical writing style of 20 years ago and is not suitable for procedures that will actually have to be followed by the end-user. You should look to Nancy J. Campbell's "Writing Effective Policies and Procedures," Blake & Bly's "The Elements of Technical Writing," or an Information Mapping seminar if you are interested in creating "user-friendly" procedures.

A helpful book on writing style
I was pleasantly suprised how helpful this book was. Steve demonstrates how to write a procedure so it will be understood by those who use it. His book certainly showed me many of the flaws in my procedure writing. The examples of "what not to do" point out styles that are inappropriate for procedures.

Steve also explains how to format a procedure for ease of use.

Simplifies a complex task
I borrowed my copy of this outstanding book when I was tasked to write policies and procedures for my department. Although other reviewers have recommended reading the author's earlier books if you've never written policies and procedures I was able to quickly produce detailed documents that my staff assured me were clear and effective. I attribute my success to the easy to follow steps that Mr. Page gives, and the logical structure that he recommends.

You can't go wrong if you use this book as a guide for policy and procedure writing. It's like a cookbook in many ways, with a clearly laid out recipe for success and a list of ingredients that will be required in the form of steps and item blocks for your documents.

I was so impressed with this book that I immediately ordered a copy for myself (so I could return the borrowed copy), as well as copies of Mr. Page's other books. If you write policies and procedures for a living, or are required to produce them for your department you should get this book ASAP. It will simplify the task and enable you to produce professional results regardless of your level of experience.

High Quality Book on a Procedures Writing Format
This book seems to be Chapter 4 of "Establishing a System of Policies and Procedures." This author has taken an entire chapter and turned it into a book. Thank you.

I love this book, I thought the author was detailed in his first book but this book is a real complement to the first book. These two books make for a good combination to buy. You can learn how to write a system of policies and procedures and then find incredible detail with this bok.

I just love this book. I loved the exercises and examples. It really did point out some mistakes I had been making in writing policies and procedures. ... Read more

Book Description

Now fully updated to reflect the current realities of the public relations field (including the emerging importance of graphic design and the use of the Web), this revision of Newsom and Carrell's practical text covers all aspects of public relations writing. The book offers the practical approach one would expect to find in a trade book, but uses the principles and theories of public relations to give students what they need to write with understanding and purpose. Part One provides the background for all public relations writing tasks by explaining how this kind of writing is unique and by exploring the legal and ethical obligations. Part Two is the writing principle section, which covers both style and techniques. Part Three begins with basic public relations writing assignments that students are likely to be exposed to early in their jobs: letters, e-mail, memos, and eventually reports and proposals, backgrounders and position papers. Part Four covers writing for mass media. Part Five covers the more complex public relations writingincluding media kits, newsletters, brochures, magazines, annual reports, and crisis communication. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

good book
As a Public Relations student, I found this book to be extremely helpful. It demonstrates the proper way to write so that you can lear effective style and techinque. I have found that this book, along with Guerilla PR Wired by Michael Levine, create the foundation for my studies. ... Read more

Book Description

Crystal Reports 9 is the latest in a long and celebrated series of report writers for personal computers. It's by far the best-selling report writer package in the world. If you want to produce a top-quality report quickly, Crystal Reports is the top choice to do the job.

And Crystal Reports 9 For Dummies will get you using Crystal Reports quickly and effectively. It covers all the major capabilities of Crystal Reports but doesn't bog you down in intricate detail. It is also valuable to managers who may never personally produce a report, but have oversight of people who do. This guide will tell you what is possible, what you can do easily, and what takes a little more effort to accomplish.

In Crystal Reports 9 For Dummies, you'll discover how to

• Create a report, what a good report should accomplish and what it should look like.
• Make your reports more focused, more readable, and easy on the eye.
• Nest one report within another, p ull report elements from multiple non-database sources, and illustrate points with charts and maps
• Distribute your reports – from printing, exporting them to files, or faxing them to making them available on a local area network, or uploading them to the Web.
• Incorporate Crystal Reports into applications written in a computer language. Because Crystal Reports is included as an integral part of Microsoft's .NET application development environment, you can incorporate the power of Crystal Reports into applications you write in Visual Basic, Visual C++, and Visual C#.

With Crystal Reports 9 For Dummies, you can produce reports fit for the eyes of the organization's CEO. Each chapter deals with an individual feature that you may need at one time or another. In many cases, step-by-step procedures are given for commonly needed operations. You might find it worthwhile to lay the book beside your computer and perform the operations as you read about them. Soon, you'll be producing outstanding reports with a minimum of effort and in the shortest possible time. ... Read more

Book Description

The Gregg Reference Manual 9e by William Sabin is intended for anyone who writes, edits, or prepares material for distribution or publication. For nearly fifty years, this manual has been recognized as the best style manual for business professionals and for students who want to master the on-the-job standards of business professionals. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Complete and easy to use
I've used this book for years, and I think it's terrific. Why? Four reasons: First, the information about grammar and usage is so mainstream, so consistent with the majority of other important references (The Chicago Manual of Style, for one). Second, it is accurate and reliable. Third, the outstanding index makes it wonderfully easy to use; you can look something up, in everyday terms, and readily find a reference. Fourth, the rules are short and the examples clear; once you've found the rule you need, you can read it, grasp it, and 30 seconds later be on your way.

As a full-time trainer of writers and editors, I have used this book with everyone from grammar-challenged support staff to highly educated professional editors. With some classes, I've also used the optional worksheets (sold separately). I can't recommend Gregg highly enough.

Great reference for all writers.
I have had a current copy of The Gregg Reference Manual for over 10 years. It was a required purchase for a business correspondence course in college. It is an excellent source for any aspect of writing. It covers proper use of grammer, punctuation, spelling, editing, letter writing--you name it. Whenever I'm in doubt about ANYTHING I need to write, I use this book, and can always find the answer. The manual is very well organized into sections and numbered paragraphs. Examples are used for clarity, as well as examples of what not to do. I highly recommend this book.

All arguments stop here
I am an independent corporate trainer who teaches people to write better at work. When my students ask me for my advice about good books to guide them as they write at work, this is the reference book I recommend.

I also tell them several other things about the book. First, this is not just some handbook that secretaries can use to look up how to format a letter. It is an authoritative reference for all aspects of writing English. It should be next to the dictionary and thesaurus on the shelf of everyone who needs to write at work, from clerks to executives. Second, if your boss or anyone else argues with you about any rule of writing, you only have to point to the relevant entry in this book. All arguments stop there. Third, the size of the book is deceptive. It uses small font and thin paper. With normal font and paper, it would be the size of two or three large dictionaries. That's how much useful stuff is packed in this book.

It takes a while to get used to how the information in the book is formatted, but it is well worth the effort. All entries in the index include page numbers as well as topic numbers, which they call "rules." The book is logically structured around these rules, and it makes related topics easy to find.

I rated this book 5 stars because I think it is superior in all categories for a reference book: comprehensive content, abundant examples, thorough index, authoritative author, and reasonable price.

A good everyday reference tool, but...
This manual is a great tool with easy to locate information and a wealth of information; it is not, however, the end-all of writing. It is a good business writing manual, but to an English student and editor, it falls rather short. For example, Sabin's advice on generic pronouns and gender may suit a business proposal with "his or hers" and "he or she" littering the page, but in the humanities, this is becoming less and less acceptable. Items such as this seem unimportant only until you need them.

The GRM is a fine grammar manual if needed only for occasional use casually and in business situations, but for intense scrutiny, it wouldn't be my first choice.

Absolutely the best!
This manual is absolutely the best reference for writing. It is incredibly easy to find needed information, which ranks it above other, more scholarly manuals of style. I have used one version or another of this manual for years now, and it still comes through when I need it. ... Read more

Download Description

"Achieving 100% Compliance of Policies and Procedures" is the third book of a four-part series on policies and procedures. This exciting new business book focuses on a subject that fills a major void for those individuals who are responsible for the life cycle of business processes, policies, and procedures. This 359-page book is all about change and continuous quality improvement as it applies to policies and procedures. A real-life case study is used to help explain the principles of this book. The reader is led from a labor-intensive system (procedure, procedure flow chart) through the necessary steps, including a cost-benefit analysis, to accomplish compliance and continuous improvement, resulting in a business process/procedure and a $2 million dollars savings. This book is about improvement and metrics and contains five quality tools for measuring policies and procedures. As the title suggests, the goal is to achieve 100% compliance, or complete acceptance by the customer. While a compliance goal of 100% is ambitious, you'll find the process of achieving the goal is just as important as achieving it. Through plans and goals, you'll increase productivity, profits, and customer satisfaction; as well as minimize process variation, enhance quality, reduce cycle and response time, and help the organization become receptive to change and develop a proactive (forward thinking) outlook. This book is a necessary addition to any procedures writer's reference library as it helps to ensure that the policies and procedures infrastructure remains stable by demonstrating to the reader how to write effective policies and procedures that can be measured, communicated, trained, mentored, audited, and improved. There are more than 75 illustrations, examples, tables, flow charts, and written procedures using the standard writing format introduced in my first book, "Establishing a System of Policies and Procedures." Most readers will find something useful in this book. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Awesome books!
I bought and used all four of Stephen Page's policy and procedure books. From the very first day, I was able to get up and running on a project that was very demanding and challenging. Not only did he provide examples, but he was always there for advice when I hit a rough spot.

I HIGHLY recommend these books!

Dana Rosenboom

Processes, Procedures, and Quality
I was impressed with the amount of useful information included in this book; everything seems to have been well thought out. It would appear that the author has "lived" his words and this is what makes this make book so useful to me. Because I know that when I implement his ideas that they will probably work. His case study is also very meaningful as he very carefully explains how to go from a labor-intensive procedure and go through process improvement, metrics, and arrive at a streamlined, high cost saving, new procedure.

I have bought all four of his books on procedures and this book is what makes it all worthwhile. Though I found that each book is unique in its own way and that you really need all four to write a good system of policies and procedures.

I would definitely recommend this book. He has a 40-step plan of action at the front of the book that gives you an A to Z approach to the development of any policy or procedure or process. I have printed this list and I keep it tacked on my walls.

Jim T. Armstrong

Good book for quality professionals
Of Steve Page's 4 recent books, I found this one to be the most interesting. It contains all kinds of ideas for projects.

A communication strategy is obviously Steve's speciality. He knows how to use the various methods to the most advantage.

His idea for a compliance plan is a clever take-off on process control plans. He also adapts other quality tools, such as scatter and pareto diagrams to use with documentation. However, you would need another book for more details on the tools themselves.

Auditing is another of Steve's specialties which he shares with his readers.

I wish he had gone into more detail on determining the cost of documentation. He no doubt knows how to calculate it, as best as one can. He gives a detailed example on how a new (purchasing) procedure saved a company money, but not enough on the cost of producing the document itself.

I would definitely recommend this book to all who work with ISO 9000 compliance.

Essential for TQM, ISO 9000 and GMP organizations
Of the three books that the author has published on policies and procedures this one is a masterpiece, and is essential to anyone who works for a company that employ TQM, ISO 9000 or FDA GMP.

Where his first book, Establishing a System of Policies and Procedures, provides a roadmap for new policy writers, this book takes the subject to a much higher level by providing a process that encompasses communications and training strategies, a compliance plan, and continuous improvement. These align seamlessly with ISO 9000, as well as FDA GMPs, and is consistent with the TQM Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. In addition, the self-assessment and auditing approaches set forth will assure policies and procedures that reflect a mature organization that is focused on quality and continuous improvement.

Among the highlights of the book are the numerous checklists, real-life examples, and an underlying strategy for the development of a comprehensive and complete system of policies and procedures, and a means to assure compliance. I particularly liked Appendix C, Cost of Quality, and the succinct description of tools and techniques in chapter 11.

Another strong point is the complexities of marrying policies and procedures writing with a continuous improvement cycle and auditing are handled in a structured, logical sequence. This is no small feat for a writer, and it is one of the reasons this book is so valuable. This book sets a standard in the field and is one that I'll always recommend to colleagues and clients.

TQM-Based approach to implementing and ensuring compliance
This book is one of the most eye-opening, practical and insightful books I have read in a long time. It's one thing to write effective policies and procedures, it's quite another to implement them, and more difficult still to ensure compliance. The author's approach addresses the implementation and compliance challenges head-on.

The key strength of this book is the continuous improvement approach. I am familiar with the TQM Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle because I use a similar approach called Entry Criteria-Task-Validation-Exit Criteria (ETVX)when I am developing processes that are governed by policies and executed by procedures. What I had not thought of before reading this book was how to best implement and enforce policies and ensure procedure compliance. This book showed me how to superimpose the PDCA or ETVX cycle on communicating, measuring and continually refining policies and procedures by starting with writing policies and procedures that can be measured. I found the 40-step plan provided in this book to be straightforward and easy to manage. Do not let "40 steps" deter you because the steps are small and build upon one another. This is reinforced by a case study that completely illustrates how the 40-step plan is applied to a realistic example.

How to implement your policies and procedures is covered in the chapters on communications and training strategies, which are exhaustive and filled with tips and guidance. These chapters are fleshed out with a chapter on creating a review and communication control plan, which is essential for keeping your policies and procedures up-to-date and ensuring that they are living documents that are meaningful to your organization. Outdated policies are often ignored, which is worse than having no policy at all. Ignored policies undermine authority, which is the foundation of a policy. Outdated procedures can result in technical and cost risks at best and unsafe working conditions at worst. The next chapter on establishing a compliance plan is excellent. It incorporates measurements and validation, and shows how to develop and use the compliance plan. This is augmented by an invaluable chapter on developing self-assessment checklists, and how to evaluate the results of an assessment and how to rectify gaps.

Among the most valuable (to me) chapters in this book were: preparing an organization to be receptive to change (a major implementation barrier), conducting audits (key to compliance assurance), and conducting continuous improvement activities (keeping the policies and procedures relevant and aligned to changing requirements and business imperatives).

The information and approach given in this book will make the difference between policies and procedures that are "shelfware" and those that provide real guidance and are meaningful to an organization. I personally think this is one of the most important books on the topic, and the only one that I have come across that actually shows how to implement them and ensure compliance. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (11)

Excellent Handbook
As the title implies this is a handbook to be used to supplement another text or for reference when writing. While it is slanted towards technical/business writing, it is an excellent reference for any writer's shelf.

Handbook of Technical Writing
This volume contains sample letters, sentence structure and
grammatical presentations. The singular, plural, subject,
objective and possessive forms are set forth simply with ample
examples. Even proofreader's markings are set forth. The presentation would be extremely valuable for students, writers,
teachers, businesspeople and a wide constituency of the general
public. It is a good value for the price charged.

Teacher & Engineering
This is a useful reference to have on the shelf of the university's library.

Indispensable
As a technical writer, I've found this book to be just that. While it definitely is not a "how to write technical manuals" type of book, the topics and material covered make it well worth having on any writer's bookshelf. And in this latest edition, not only have the editors done another great job, the book's page layout is wonderful. In previous editions, all text and type was in black. In this edition, headings, paragraph titles and diagrams are framed in blue. This seemingly minor change makes the book's material easier to read and refer to.

The book continues to have extensive information about writing-related topics. Everything from proper grammar, to writing reports, to interviewing subject matter experts, how to do Internet research for a writing project, writing newsletters and/or abstracts, interviewing for a job and interviewing a subject matter expert for more information about a subject, writing proposals, and so forth is covered in this book. There's even a companion web site to the book that provides links to online resources for further information.

The book's preface contains what the editors consider their "Five Steps to Successful Writing," and also a "Checklist of the Writing Process," complete with subsections containing listings for (in order) Preparation, Research, Organization, Writing a Draft, and Revision. In fact, a few of the book's numerous entries contain their own "writer's checklist" of things to do. Some subjects have not only a heading, but cross-references to other pages of related topics. For example, if I was interested in learning how to write a proposal, I could go to that listing, and also find reference information on internal and external proposals. There seems to be at times an endless wealth of information about whatever writing topic you are looking for. This book's main strength obviously is how all the book's material is organized.

This is one book every writer should have. Even though it isn't a "how-to-write" book, it's still a "tools for writing" book. I find myself referring to it often when I'm
working on any kind of writing project.

As with past editions, the book's editors have done a wonderful job with this handbook.

Excellent resource
I have the 5th edition of the book and it's one of the better resources I've found for technical writing and general writing.The entries are concise and to the point. ... Read more

Book Description

From persuasive memos to complaint letters, sales letters to executive summaries -- this exceedingly useful guide helps the business worker write clearly and in an appropriate format, style and tone. Numerous examples show how to overcome writer's block, organize messages for maximum impact, achieve an easy-to-read style, find an efficient writing system and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great reference book - - timely, too!
This is a well-written, carefully organized book that belongs on desks across America! Topics covered include organizing before writing, overcoming writer's block, suiting letters to complex situations, and using grammar and punctuation properly. If I had to provide one criticism, it would only be that the book is too short! As a reader, I didn't tire of the useful sample letters and would have happily read more and more. A great reference for the tentative writer and a good refresher for seasoned writers, as well. ... Read more

Book Description

Crystal Reports is the no. 1 tool for creating reports from any data source, including a wide variety of database and ERP products. The new version introduces many new features and features tight integration with .NET, new XML functionality, and more. Mastering Crystal Reports gives power users and developers all they need to the most out of the product. It goes well beyond just teaching simple reporting skills but offers thorough coverage of application and web development with Crystal. There is an entire part devoted to Crystal programming, including creating Web Services and using Crystal with .NET and Java. There is even a section on Crystal Enterprise, a web-based platform for reporting and analysis. Author Cate McCoy is an experienced writer, consultant, and trainer, with years of experience using Crystal Reports. Coauthor Gord Maric is president of a computer consulting company, with a focus on database technologies and Crystal. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very disappointing for a beginner
I'm a Crystal Reports beginner. This book is not useful at all. You can easily create a simple report by following the steps described in first two chapters. However, after that, I was totally lost. The book describes a lot of things available in Crystal Reports without following samples. There are samples available for each chapter on the web. However, there was no connection between the samples and the book. I don't how the sample reports were produced and I just couldn't learn how to create reports by just reading the book. I'm very disappointed at the book.

Disappointing for the Non-Beginner
Here are the good points:
. the examples do follow through many of the features of Crystal Reports 9

Here are the bad points:
. there is a lot of unnecessary verbiage which pads out the size of the book; the verbiage is intended to make the text friendly, but for someone trying to determine how a feature works, it is highly obstructive and irritating
. the typeface in which the book is set is quite difficult to read
. the examples do not pass on understanding of the principles of each feature; the attempt to grasp a general concept gets drowned in the details
. many features (too numerous to mention) are glossed-over, including advanced features needed by the enterprise programmer
. the index includes references which are totally useless (e.g. McLuhan, Marshall who has absolutely nothing to do with the topic) and lacks completely necessary references
. while not a "1,200 page tome" (see another review) it is a 639 page tome

While the title includes the word "Master", this book is really for the programming beginner. For example, veterans do not need another tedious review of object-oriented programming, or SQL, or Basic language syntax, and so on. Seeing as there are entire libraries on these topics, the reviews are necessarily inadequate anyhow.

I wanted to learn Crystal Reports 9 and this was excellent
Already a SQL, VB, and .NET programmer, I wanted o add CR to the repetoire. I picked this book up from Amazon and was pleasantly surprised with the depth and descriptions. If you're looking for a book that gives you the low down on CR, pick this one up.

I also travel as a consultant often and this book is not a 1,200 page tome either (which I appreciate).

Enjoy!

has to be the worst
This has to be the worst title I have picked up in a while. The author rambles on and on and on about things that have nothing to do with Crystal Reports. Endless filler material here with sample code that looks like it came straight from the Crystal web site. In terms of report design and use, Crystal: The Complete Reference (Peck) is a much better book and I wish I could swap this one for it!

Best & Comprehensive
This is one of the best and most content rich of all the Crystal Reports books.
Contains everything from the most basic usage to the more complex reports, formulas, SQL and programming issues.
If you are an instructor and need a book to use teaching CR this is the book for you. ... Read more

Book Description

In the everyday work world, most professionals are on their own when it comes to writing reports, memos, proposals, and other necessary correspondence. The Business Style Handbook is a practical and comprehensive guide that focuses specifically on the writing issues that frequently arise on the job. Insights and feedback from Fortune 500 communications executives provide tips and advice on improving writing style and effectiveness, while more than 1,200 alphabetized entries cover the essentials of style and usage, grammatical concepts, and more.

Reviews (15)

A writing handbook with cultural and social backgrounds
A while ago, a friend asked me to review some business correspondence when I was in Beijing. Subsequently, I always thought that it would be helpful to find him some business writing reference books. When I came across The Business Style Handbook (in both English and Chinese), I recommended them to my friend.

The book is very practical. It differs from a regular dictionary in that it contains not only definitions for terms but also their cultural and social backgrounds. Look for the references for items such as 360-degree review, 401(k) or cookie. They are very helpful to people with different language backgrounds. Another advantage is the included examples, such as how to properly use kudos. Additionally, the first five chapters provide an excellent summary on modern business writing. In all, no matter it is for a beginner or as a reference, the book provides a lot of value to its readers.

The Business Style Handbook
An invaluable tool. I just started back in the workplace after an absence of many years and this book put me right back on the business track. It even helped my son with the writing of his resume. Thanks for all the useful information.

Precise and Easy.
I write on tight deadlines and can't afford to make mistakes in the work I produce. This book is a big help. It is a valued resource for questions on grammar, spelling and pronunciation. And it is written in plain english; no need to wade through discussions on the fine points of grammar. It also makes a great gift.

Worth Recommending - especially to those who report to you
I spend a good deal of time at work writing documents and e-mails. When I have questions about how to write something correctly, The Business Style Handbook is my reference tool of first resort. Its focus on business and finance is invaluable. Where else could I quickly find out whether to use a hyphen in enterprise-wide or parentheses with 401 (k)? The chapter on e-mail is also useful, as is the information from the Fortune 500.
It is now suggested reading for the employees in our Fortune 500 company.

Style - A to Z
As an owner of a small business, this book has been an enormous aid in "putting the company's best face forward." Our success often depends upon the image we project in all our written materials. This simple little book is a necessary tool for getting it right the first time. The entire staff keeps it handy at all times. Though our world is getting faster and more hetic, there is no need to sacrifice grace and eloquence in writing style - even in an email! Buy this book. ... Read more

Book Description

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing" not only can help you break into the field of technical writing, it can help you learn what to do once you're there. It's not enough to discuss documentation in conceptual terms -- today's technical writer wants to know "What do I do first?" "How do I get the information?" and "What do I do with an empty computer screen, a product that's still being developed, and an engineer who's too busy to talk to me?" This book provides step-by-step instructions by people whohave "been there, done that," and know some ways to help.

Both new and experienced tech writers can benefit from tips on how to learn about technical topics, gather information, plan documentation sets, schedule milestones, and write clearly. For those of you who want to be technical writers but can't get your foot in the door, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing" also gives help on what you need to do to give you an edge while you write your resume, hunt for a job, and interview. Once you're happily working, you can use the book for help on managing your career. An appendix contains a list of more than 50 Web sites devoted to technical writing and associated subjects. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Excellent guide for every aspiring technical writer
This book is compulsory reading for everyone planning a career as a technical writer. Written by authors who have both been working in the field since the 80s, it covers the whole subject area: from how to get started and marketing yourself, to what tech writers actually do and the various documents they produce, to working as a consultant and how to deal with the difficult bits of being a tech writer. The book contains an enormous amount of information and is very clearly arranged into appropriate sections: I personally was very impressed by the way the authors explain the whole process of producing a technical document from the concept stage to the finished guide and all the things that need to be taken into consideration. They also offer advice about the sort of personality and skills you need to be a successful technical writer, what technical tools you need to master and how you can best deal with all the various people you depend on to provide information for your documentation. All in all, I would say this book is a brilliant guide to its subject and also an entertaining read. It would be very hard to improve on this!

Not for idiots, complete or otherwise!
When I read "... Technical Writing" by Van Laan and Julian, I was glad I got past the title. I had to hire a tech writer to get some manuals done for our product. This book gave me the knowlege and confidence I needed to successfully get the job done.

Having read the book, I knew what to look for when interviewing candidates, and what to expect once I got someone on board. Highly recommended for anyone associated with Technical Writing, whether a seasoned writer, a tech writer wannabe, or a manager of writers (or manager wannabe, like I was).

A very thorough introduction to the field
I've always had a love for writing (fiction and nonfiction alike) but have always struggled a bit while creating technical documentation. I've been interested in technical writing and feel it would be a good addition to my repertoire of skills, which is why I wanted to find and read a good book on technical writing.

Based on many positive reviews here and on recommendations from others, I decided to start with this book and one other reference manual. I quickly read this book cover-to-cover and was very satisfied by its content. It was very thorough on covering every aspect of technical writing, even giving a glimpse of what a technical writer's daily life.

And the results? I've written two technical documents since which have both won high praise by co-workers. Even **I** am shocked at how well they look and how fluidly they read.

If you are interested in technical writing at all, don't hesitate to pick this book up. It is a great read and a fantastic reference manual for those who are just starting to get their feet wet. This book is highly recommended towards any technical writing beginner.

Easy to read, insightful, a great place to start
This book shoots straight and gives would be tech writers valuable insights. There are numerous practical tips and real-world advice on how to cope with technical publications work.

I particularly appreciate how the authors stressed the importance of content. Most technical writing books focus on processes, tools, and design issues - all of which are of marginal impact on the overall value of a document. The real value of technical docs is in the content, and this book encourages writers to learn and master the technologies and concepts they are documenting.

I highly recommend this book to anybody getting started in technical writing.

Don't Judge a Book by Its Title
Don't let the name fool you: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing" is anything but idiotic. The book offers a sensible, concise summary of the realities of tech-writing, and is peppered throughout with useful quotes from practicing technical writers.

I've given my copy to several people who have expressed an interest in technical writing, and all of them have found that the book answers their questions about what the profession is about. Probably no book can completely prepare anyone for a career, but, after reading The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing, wannabes will have a solid idea of what to expect.

The book might be especially useful to anyone teaching an introductory technical writing course.

I highly recommend The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing, will continue to do so. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Reporting Technical Information
It would be more helpful to have the authors added more figures which are for illustrating the lessons and for examples. Thanks

Student Reviews Textbook
I used this book for my technical writing class. I found the readings straightforward. Sometimes, the actual chapters were too common sense. This book really shines in its use of examples. There are examples of each type of document. The handbook in the back is also a handy reference. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This fifth edition of The Business Writer's Handbook consists of nearly 700 spiral-bound pages written with both business students and professionals in mind. (It is also available in a paper-bound version, but how nice to be able to lay the book flat on one's desk for ease of reference.) "Our focus," say the editors, "is on helping professionally oriented writers develop effective skills and strategies for communicating in a rapidly changing environment," and that they do. The entries, arranged alphabetically, are straightforward and to the point. Sandwiched between items addressing issues of English grammar and word usage are guides to writing résumés, resignation letters, and everything in between (e.g., abstracts, annual reports, e-mail, executive summaries, form letters, feasibility studies, memos, mission statements, proposals, and trade journal articles). Throughout the book, the point is made that good writing has a marked effect on business communications--a short, personal collection letter, for instance, "will usually motivate a customer to pay a bill faster than will a form letter." Since the book is written for the business professional, many of the usage and grammar issues are illustrated with business-related examples, but don't think that that means the book isn't any fun. Consider the first sentence in an entry for gobbledygook: "Gobbledygook is writing that suffers from an overdose of traits guaranteed to make it stuffy, pretentious, and wordy." --Jane Steinberg ... Read more

Reviews (10)

One the best guides for business writers
This A-Z reference book can answer lots of specific questions at each step in the writing process. It's on the short list of recommended resources in my book The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Course in Business Writing and Communication.

sort of cheating
This book is exactly the same as "Handbook of Technical Writing" by same authors. The only difference is in the cover picture and colors. I think it is not a cool thing to sell the same book with two names without mentioning it. So if you have that one, do not buy this one. They are exactly the same.

Excellent Reference Book. A Companion for Every Desk at Work
This book has been one of the best tools I've recommended when training corporate executives on how to communicate more effectively. I enjoyed the special sections for English as a Second Language because my work is mainly done outside the United States.

Dear Sir/Madam
This book is great for showing you how the flow of any type of letter should be. It also shows you how to use proper grammar, punctuation, and writing style. A great book for anyone who ever needs to write a letter on any subject.

Best Writing Reference Ever
Even as a secretary, I still have to look things up that I haven't used in a while or to prove myself right.;)This is the perfect book for either of those purposes.(I have a lot of pet peeves as an admin.)Each entry is clear and to the point.This is *not* Chicago Manual of Style, this is every person's everyday reference for writing business or personal communication.My favorite entry, and the one I show people most often, is under Correspondence > Formats and Parts:

"Center the letter on the page vertically and horizontally."

For some reason, very few people do this.Mostly, it's because they don't know how to do it in MS Word, but that's no excuse.Neither is the excuse that no one else does it.This is the proper way, and one of the most important steps in formatting a professional looking letter.And, this is one of very few reference books that includes that little tidbit.To continue with the instruction:

"Although one-inch margins are the default standard in many wordprocessing programs, it is more important to estanblish a 'picture frame' of blank space surrounding the page of text.When you use organizational letterhead stationary, consider the bottom of the letterhead as the top edge of the paper.The left and right margins should be approximately equal; to give fuller appearance to very short letters, increase both margins to about an inch and a half.Use your computer's 'full-page' or 'print preview' feature to help you achieve proportion."

What can be simpler than that?(Going to a additional pages is a pain, as the vertical alignment should change to the top, but small price for looking like you know what you're doing.)If you know someone who writes for business or pleasure, they will appreciate this book. ... Read more