Which one of the following is the most appropriate beginning for a typical routine message?

Communication is central to getting things done at work. There’s no doubt that routine email messages are the mainstay of information-sharing in the workplace, although business communication is also handled through text messages and in-person meetings. Campaign Monitor reports that most employees receive an average of 121 emails each day. Some emails follow routine spoken messages as a way to solidify what was shared. Others may serve as a virtual pat on the back or a message that insists on improved work performance.

Sharing Routine Information

The most common message sent in the workplace focuses on sharing basic information. Sharing passive information or an action request falls under this category. You may also send an instructional email that provides details about a new assignment or a policy change in the organization. The format that you use for routine informational emails can affect how your employees digest the content of the message. Consider this example of a routine message example for sharing information:

Opening:

​Good Morning. Find attached to this email our new policy on employee overtime. Please review it in detail, so that you’re aware of the changes to our current policies and procedures.​

Body:

​We developed this policy to provide clarification about the approval process for overtime and the limit on additional compensation for each employee. This policy is active immediately.​

Closing:

​If you have any questions about this new policy, please talk to your supervisor or contact human resources. It is our goal to have transparent communication about all of our policies and procedures.​

Sharing Bad News

Bad news comes in many forms, but most organizational leaders manage this type of message at some point. If you have to deliver a negative message to an employee or an entire workforce, consider your audience and the most effective way to share the information. If you’re providing performance feedback or terminating an employee, meet in a private office.

The Society for Human Resource Management emphasizes the importance of being direct with your message. You may feel inclined to skirt the issue, but open and transparent communication is the best course of action for a negative message. Resist the urge to pad a negative message with something positive. You may cloud the issue if you use filler to soften your approach.

Persuasive Messages Are Compelling

Even if you aren’t in sales, the art of persuasion is critical in business communication. You may convey a persuasive message in an email, letter or meeting. Routine communication examples that are persuasive include budget proposals, sales pitches, marketing plans, client acquisition and new project initiatives. Important topics that you should cover in a persuasive message include:

  • Be creative with your opening statement.
  • Build interest in the body of your argument.
  • Provide convincing facts about your proposal.
  • Include testimonials or reviews.
  • Review the benefits.
  • Provide an action-oriented closing message.

Feel-Good Messages Make a Difference

Sending a positive message to an employee or colleague is satisfying. Messages of this nature should be clear and to the point. A brief, often spontaneous message of encouragement builds morale and encourages hard work and loyalty. If you’re sending a routine email that recognizes a job well done, it should include the following:

  • A specific description of the purpose of the message
  • A rationale for why the work was important
  • A closing statement that encourages continued excellence

It’s important to focus on the recipient of this message. You also want to point out the behavior that you are commending with an empowering tone. Finally, keep the message short and authentic in tone.

  • 1. 

    Which of the following statements about e-mail use in the workplace is most accurate?

    • A. 

      Memos and letters are still the prevalent forms of communication in today’s workplace.

    • B. 

      E-mail is the communication channel of choice in North America, but written letters and memos still dominate abroad.

    • C. 

      Because e-mail is so informal, it is used only for internal communication.

    • D. 

      The growing demand for information in the workplace has led to an increase of e-mail use.

  • 2. 

    As Stacy begins her business career, she can expect to find herself writing more __________ than other types of messages. 

    • A. 

      Letters

    • B. 

      Memos

    • C. 

      Reports

    • D. 

      E-mail messages

  • 3. 

    Hal has had a disagreement with a colleague over how to introduce the company's new product. What is the best communication channel for discussing this disagreement?

    • A. 

      Letter

    • B. 

      E-mail message

    • C. 

      Memo

    • D. 

      Face-to-face meeting

  • 4. 

    Matthew has discovered a production problem that will cause this month's shipments to be a few days late. Because his Asian customers will need to know about this problem right away, Matthew should

    • A. 

      Write a letter.

    • B. 

      Send a memo.

    • C. 

      Send an e-mail message

    • D. 

      Write a report

  • 5. 

    What is the best advice for organizing routine e-mail messages?

    • A. 

      Break the message into short paragraphs to make it easier to read.

    • B. 

      Start each paragraph with the details; place the main point at the end so that it’s the last thing your reader sees.

    • C. 

      Start the message with something conversational and friendly before getting to the main point.

    • D. 

      All of these.

  • 6. 

    Justin has discovered a production problem that will cause this month's shipments to be a few days late. Since his European customers will need to know about this problem right away, Justin should

    • A. 

      Write a letter.

    • B. 

      Send a memo.

    • C. 

      Send an e-mail message.

    • D. 

      Write a report.

  • 7. 

    In e-mail messages and memos, a comment such as If you agree we should begin this new project, just give me a call by Friday, is useful in 

    • A. 

      Adapting the message to the reader.

    • B. 

      Planning for feedback.

    • C. 

      Anticipating the audience’s questions.

    • D. 

      Revising for clarity.

  • 8. 

    The subject line of e-mail messages and memos should 

    • A. 

      Be a complete sentence.

    • B. 

      End with a period.

    • C. 

      Summarize the central idea.

    • D. 

      Explain the main idea.

  • 9. 

    The least effective subject line for an e-mail message or a memo is 

    • A. 

      Request for Travel Funds

    • B. 

      Budget Meeting Scheduled for September 12

    • C. 

      New Employee Orientation Session

    • D. 

      Announcement

  • 10. 

    An effective subject line for an e-mail message is 

    • A. 

      Hello

    • B. 

      Important!

    • C. 

      Board to Vote on Annual Budget

    • D. 

      Monday’s Sales Presentation

  • 11. 

    An effective subject line for e-mail messages and memos is 

    • A. 

      Changes in Vacation Schedule

    • B. 

      Reduction in Benefits

    • C. 

      Meeting Planned

    • D. 

      The Sales Department Will Conduct a Seminar for All Its Distributors on Monday, May 3, at 8 a.m.

  • 12. 

    The BEST subject line for an e-mail message is 

    • A. 

      New Process for Requesting Temporary Help

    • B. 

      Change in Procedures

    • C. 

      New Procedure to Be Followed Soon

    • D. 

      Temporary Help

  • 13. 

    A subject line for e-mail messages and memos 

    • A. 

      Is optional.

    • B. 

      Must use a complete sentence.

    • C. 

      Should summarize the main idea.

    • D. 

      All of the above.

  • 14. 

    Which of the following is the most effective opening for a routine e-mail message?

    • A. 

      I am writing this message to let you know about our next department meeting.

    • B. 

      Our next department meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 5, at 2 p.m.

    • C. 

      We have a lot of issues to discuss at our next department meeting.

    • D. 

      Hope your day is going well so far!

  • 15. 

    Which of the following is the most effective closing statement for an e-mail message?

    • A. 

      Thank you for your cooperation.

    • B. 

      Please review the proposed procedure before May 1 so that we may announce it May 30.

    • C. 

      If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.

    • D. 

      I look forward to hearing from you soon.

  • 16. 

    Which statement BEST describes e-mail messages?

    • A. 

      E-mail is appropriate for delivering sensitive messages.

    • B. 

      Less care needs to be taken with the wording of e-mail messages since they are certain to remain private.

    • C. 

      E-mail messages do not require a subject line.

    • D. 

      E-mail messages should be considered permanent.

  • 17. 

    Tanisha will be starting a new job where she will be using e-mail frequently to communicate with others. What is the best advice to give her?

    • A. 

      Consider composing important messages offline.

    • B. 

      If a message will discuss more than one topic, leave the subject line blank.

    • C. 

      Use emoticons, such as happy faces, to express feelings in e-mail messages.

    • D. 

      All of the above are good tips for e-mail users.

  • 18. 

    Which of the following statements DOES NOT accurately describe e-mail messages?

    • A. 

      Messages may be transmitted almost instantly to anywhere in the world.

    • B. 

      The advantages of using e-mail far outweigh the disadvantages.

    • C. 

      Since users do not need to be concerned with stylistic and grammatical considerations, e-mail messages are much easier and quicker to prepare than ordinary memos.

    • D. 

      An electronic address book should be used to send e-mail messages.

  • 19. 

    Employees writing e-mail messages at work 

    • A. 

      Should automatically return the sender’s message when replying.

    • B. 

      Should cut and paste relevant parts of a message when responding.

    • C. 

      May send personal messages on company computers if the messages are short.

    • D. 

      Should feel free to forward messages to other interested parties.

  • 20. 

    Which of the following is considered appropriate netiquette when sending e-mail messages?

    • A. 

      Write important messages in all capital letters to emphasize them.

    • B. 

      Never send attachments because they often carry viruses.

    • C. 

      Consider using identifying labels in your subject lines.

    • D. 

      All of the above are appropriate netiquette guidelines.

  • 21. 

    Which of the following is the WORST advice for e-mail users?

    • A. 

      Make sure the most significant information will show on the first screen of an e-mail message.

    • B. 

      Use humour frequently to make your messages enjoyable to read.

    • C. 

      Make e-mail messages as concise as possible.

    • D. 

      Remember that e-mail messages you send at work represent you and your employer.

  • 22. 

    Internal messages that typically flow downward in an organization and convey information about daily operations are 

    • A. 

      Procedure and information e-mail messages or memos.

    • B. 

      Claim adjustment e-mail messages or memos.

    • C. 

      Confirmation e-mail messages or memos.

    • D. 

      Request and reply e-mail messages or memos.

  • 23. 

    Which of the following messages would not be sent in a procedure or information e-mail or memo?

    • A. 

      A message about the upcoming company picnic

    • B. 

      A message stating the specific holidays employees will have off

    • C. 

      A message confirming responsibilities of individual members of the budget committee

    • D. 

      A message stating the guidelines to be followed when using e-mail

  • 24. 

    An effective opening for a request e-mail or memo is

    • A. 

      Please send me your answers to the following questions by December 15.

    • B. 

      Thank you in advance for answering the following questions.

    • C. 

      Here are the answers to the questions you had about our new line of computer furniture.

    • D. 

      Please answer the following questions about your new line of computer furniture.

  • 25. 

    A direct e-mail or memo that requests information should 

    • A. 

      Avoid using a polite command in the opening paragraph.

    • B. 

      Open with the most important question.

    • C. 

      Not restate the information that is in the subject line.

    • D. 

      Buffer the main idea from the reader.

What are the two ways to begin a routine inquiry?

A routine inquiry should not open with a question or request. orient the reader, followed by the request or question. The opening of a routine inquiry should focus on the main objective. you'll ask in the body of the message.

What is the first step you should take when a problem arises?

While you may not know how to resolve most issues right away, you will know the problem-solving steps to take to uncover the best response: Define the problem, determine the cause, discover the best solution, take action, and analyze the outcome.

Which of the following is used to begin a routine request when using the direct approach?

Strategy for Routine Requests Using the direct approach, open with your main idea, which is a clear statement of your request. Use the body to give details and justify your request, then close by requesting specific action.

Which of the following is the first step in writing claim messages using an indirect approach?

Open with a Buffer The first step in using the indirect approach is to write a buffer, a neutral, noncontrover- sial statement that is closely related to the point of the message. A buffer establishes com- mon ground with your reader, and if you're responding to a request, a buffer validates that request.