Engaging Virtual Students with Web Tools in Business Communications Learning Activities

The role and function of business communications in the workplace has proved to be both a requirement and a problem area for various stakeholders. However, one of the growing demands of the business community has been in the area of business communications, in particular helping employees and management to learn better methods for handling all types of communication that affect business on all levels. Many universities have therefore incorporated it as a requirement in their business curricula. Also, with the onset of more technology in the workplace, many companies are faced with changing demands and challenges of electronic mail, and its impact on today’s businesses in terms of ethics, business law, organizational culture, and firms’ marketing. Just as important as e-mail, the use of social media by many companies has risen to such a level that it is now a main lecture component in most business communications in today’s classes. No longer are the days when a simple business law discussion was sufficient for most MBA and Business Administration majors; rather, it is the process of communication in business that is a necessary skill which can be enhanced with today’s technology. This paper addresses how business communication has been evolving over the past several decades but, more importantly, it examines the impact of e-mail and social media on academic studies in preparing students for business and management careers. Finally, the paper covers how the use of Web tools is being introduced into blended, as well as online, courses to help strengthen the skill sets of business students to address the growing needs of business today.