Instructor’s Manual
By Faridah Awang
Business Communication
Today
Sixteenth Edition
Courtland L. Bovee
John V. Thill
, 1: Professional Business Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence 1-1
Chapter Guides
This section provides information about the chapters in the textbook and suggests solutions and
answers for the activities. Each Chapter Guide includes the following item
CHAPTER OUTLINE
● Lecture notes, with the Learning Objective, Attention-getter, Rationale, and Teaching
Methodology included for each major section in the chapter
● Answers to highlight box questions
● Answers to Test Your Knowledge questions
● Answers to Apply Your Knowledge questions
● Answers to Practice Your Skills activities
● Example solutions to cases (complete example solutions for short-message cases; solution
guidelines for long-message cases)
● Teaching activities and resources
Part 1: Developing Perspective
Chapter 1: Professional Business Communication
in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Chapter 1 emphasizes the importance of effective communication in careers and businesses, covering
professionalism, employer expectations, ethical and legal guidelines, and the role of AI. It also highlights
critical thinking, collaboration, and data literacy skills to prepare students for workplace success.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Understanding Why Communication Matters
Communication Is Important to Your Career
Communication Is Important to Your Company
What Makes Business Communication Effective?
Communicating as a Professional
Understanding What Employers Expect from You
Communicating in an Organizational Context
Adopting an Audience-Centered Approach
Understanding That Communication Is a Process
Using AI for Business Communication
Understanding How GenAI Works: A User’s Perspective
Copyright © 2026 by Pearson Education, Inc.
, 1: Professional Business Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence 1-2
Potential Advantages of Using AI
Content Development
Knowledge Management and Collaboration
Data Analysis and Insights
Personalization and Localization
Communication Efficiency and Accessibility
Professional Development
Potential Disadvantages and Risks of Using AI
Mistakes and Hallucinations
Overreliance on AI Tools
Erosion of Human Connections
Ethical Concerns with GenAI
Misinformation and Deception
Perpetuation of Bias
Compensation for Content Creators
Lack of Transparency, Explainability, and Attribution
AI-Generated Content Disclosure
Environmental Impact
Privacy, Security, and Liability Concerns with GenAI
Training Data Privacy
Output Ownership and Control
Data Protection Regulations
Developing Your AI Skills
Writing Effective Prompts
Using GenAI as a Creative Partner
Evaluating GenAI Output
Using Communication Technologies Wisely
Committing to Ethical and Legal Communication
Forms of Unethical Communication
Withholding Information
Distorting Information
Plagiarizing
Failing to Consider Negative Consequences
Violating Privacy
Distinguishing Ethical Dilemmas from Ethical Lapses
Ensuring Ethical Communication
Ensuring Legal Communication
Developing Skills for Your Career
Learning Catalytics is a “bring your own device” student engagement, assessment, and classroom
intelligence system. It allows instructors to engage students in class with real-time diagnostics. Students
can use any modern, web-enabled device (smartphone, tablet, or laptop) to access it. For more
information on using Learning Catalytics in your course, contact your Pearson representative.
Copyright © 2026 by Pearson Education, Inc.
, 1: Professional Business Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence 1-3
LECTURE NOTES
Section 1: Understanding Why Communication Matters
Learning Objective 1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
Attention-Getter
Have you ever sent a text or an email that someone completely misunderstood? Imagine that happening
during a high-stakes business meeting or a crucial project presentation. What might the consequences
be for you, your team, or your company?"
Rationale
This question is relevant because it taps into a shared experience—miscommunication—and scales it to
a professional context, where the stakes are much higher. It helps students connect their
communication habits with the potential impact in business scenarios, emphasizing the need for clarity
and shared understanding. The question invites students to consider how miscommunication can affect
teamwork, decision-making, and organizational success.
Teaching Methodology
This attention-getter uses the relatable experience teaching approach. Starting with a universal scenario
that students will likely have experienced captures their interest and makes the topic immediately
accessible. Scaling the example to a business context encourages them to think critically about their
communication skills and how they can refine them to succeed professionally. This method promotes
engagement and helps bridge the gap between everyday life and workplace communication challenges.
Explore how mastering effective communication can shape your career and drive business success.
Communication is transferring information and meaning between senders and receivers using one or
more forms of media.
For communication to be considered successful, understanding must also be transferred.
As Figure 1.1 indicates, communication can happen in a variety of ways, including the following:
● Successful transfers of information and understanding
● Negotiations in which the sender and receiver arrive at an agreed-on meaning
● Unsuccessful attempts in which the receiver assembles a different message than the one the
sender intended
Communication Is Important to Your Career
Copyright © 2026 by Pearson Education, Inc.
By Faridah Awang
Business Communication
Today
Sixteenth Edition
Courtland L. Bovee
John V. Thill
, 1: Professional Business Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence 1-1
Chapter Guides
This section provides information about the chapters in the textbook and suggests solutions and
answers for the activities. Each Chapter Guide includes the following item
CHAPTER OUTLINE
● Lecture notes, with the Learning Objective, Attention-getter, Rationale, and Teaching
Methodology included for each major section in the chapter
● Answers to highlight box questions
● Answers to Test Your Knowledge questions
● Answers to Apply Your Knowledge questions
● Answers to Practice Your Skills activities
● Example solutions to cases (complete example solutions for short-message cases; solution
guidelines for long-message cases)
● Teaching activities and resources
Part 1: Developing Perspective
Chapter 1: Professional Business Communication
in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Chapter 1 emphasizes the importance of effective communication in careers and businesses, covering
professionalism, employer expectations, ethical and legal guidelines, and the role of AI. It also highlights
critical thinking, collaboration, and data literacy skills to prepare students for workplace success.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Understanding Why Communication Matters
Communication Is Important to Your Career
Communication Is Important to Your Company
What Makes Business Communication Effective?
Communicating as a Professional
Understanding What Employers Expect from You
Communicating in an Organizational Context
Adopting an Audience-Centered Approach
Understanding That Communication Is a Process
Using AI for Business Communication
Understanding How GenAI Works: A User’s Perspective
Copyright © 2026 by Pearson Education, Inc.
, 1: Professional Business Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence 1-2
Potential Advantages of Using AI
Content Development
Knowledge Management and Collaboration
Data Analysis and Insights
Personalization and Localization
Communication Efficiency and Accessibility
Professional Development
Potential Disadvantages and Risks of Using AI
Mistakes and Hallucinations
Overreliance on AI Tools
Erosion of Human Connections
Ethical Concerns with GenAI
Misinformation and Deception
Perpetuation of Bias
Compensation for Content Creators
Lack of Transparency, Explainability, and Attribution
AI-Generated Content Disclosure
Environmental Impact
Privacy, Security, and Liability Concerns with GenAI
Training Data Privacy
Output Ownership and Control
Data Protection Regulations
Developing Your AI Skills
Writing Effective Prompts
Using GenAI as a Creative Partner
Evaluating GenAI Output
Using Communication Technologies Wisely
Committing to Ethical and Legal Communication
Forms of Unethical Communication
Withholding Information
Distorting Information
Plagiarizing
Failing to Consider Negative Consequences
Violating Privacy
Distinguishing Ethical Dilemmas from Ethical Lapses
Ensuring Ethical Communication
Ensuring Legal Communication
Developing Skills for Your Career
Learning Catalytics is a “bring your own device” student engagement, assessment, and classroom
intelligence system. It allows instructors to engage students in class with real-time diagnostics. Students
can use any modern, web-enabled device (smartphone, tablet, or laptop) to access it. For more
information on using Learning Catalytics in your course, contact your Pearson representative.
Copyright © 2026 by Pearson Education, Inc.
, 1: Professional Business Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence 1-3
LECTURE NOTES
Section 1: Understanding Why Communication Matters
Learning Objective 1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
Attention-Getter
Have you ever sent a text or an email that someone completely misunderstood? Imagine that happening
during a high-stakes business meeting or a crucial project presentation. What might the consequences
be for you, your team, or your company?"
Rationale
This question is relevant because it taps into a shared experience—miscommunication—and scales it to
a professional context, where the stakes are much higher. It helps students connect their
communication habits with the potential impact in business scenarios, emphasizing the need for clarity
and shared understanding. The question invites students to consider how miscommunication can affect
teamwork, decision-making, and organizational success.
Teaching Methodology
This attention-getter uses the relatable experience teaching approach. Starting with a universal scenario
that students will likely have experienced captures their interest and makes the topic immediately
accessible. Scaling the example to a business context encourages them to think critically about their
communication skills and how they can refine them to succeed professionally. This method promotes
engagement and helps bridge the gap between everyday life and workplace communication challenges.
Explore how mastering effective communication can shape your career and drive business success.
Communication is transferring information and meaning between senders and receivers using one or
more forms of media.
For communication to be considered successful, understanding must also be transferred.
As Figure 1.1 indicates, communication can happen in a variety of ways, including the following:
● Successful transfers of information and understanding
● Negotiations in which the sender and receiver arrive at an agreed-on meaning
● Unsuccessful attempts in which the receiver assembles a different message than the one the
sender intended
Communication Is Important to Your Career
Copyright © 2026 by Pearson Education, Inc.
