Social Media For Business Communication

Social Media for Business Communication

Introduction and Alignment Social media is the most recent advancement of information technology that transforms the way we communicate. We are constantly connecting and interacting with one another via an ever growing web of relationships. How to use social media to improve business communication and decision making is a question of great interest to both academicians and practitioners. This is the second of the three assignments to help develop your research skills in investigating best practices of effective use of social media for business communication and organizational decision making. Upon completion of this assignment you should be able to:

• Conduct interviews to collect data for your research investigation.

Resources

• Textbook: Management Communication: A Case-Analysis Approach
• File: COMM-515 Management Communications Chapter 7.ppt
• File: Research Interview.pdf
• Website: Interviewing: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/559/04/
• Website: Films on Demand:
  • Research by Interview (2:42)
  • Interviews: Asking the Right Question (2:28)

After the Interview: Analyzing the Data (4:12) Background Information You will read and watch videos about how to conduct interviews to collect data for your research investigation. Developing your interviewing skills is important for you to gather primary information to find answers to your research questions. This is the second of three assignments involved in writing a major research paper evaluating the usefulness of social media; this assignment will also help you develop your research skills. Instructions

1. Review Chapter 7 in Management Communication: A Case-Analysis Approach and the PowerPoint file (from Workshop Three) to refresh your understanding of social media and its role in communication and decision making.
2. Download the Research Interview.pdf and read about interviewing as a qualitative research method.
3. Review the Purdue OWL website and watch the three videos listed in the Resources section of this assignment to further your understanding of the do’s and don’ts of interviewing.
4. Conduct an interview with a manager at an organization with which you are familiar, to determine how social media is being used in that organization.
5. Based upon your interview(s), write a short reflective paper that addresses the following questions:
   1. Summarize what you learned about how social media is used in your organization.
      1. How effectively does your organization use social media?
      2. Provide a detailed explanation for your evaluation that demonstrates clear, insightful critical thinking.
   2. Compare and contrast the academic research methodology used in Workshop Three with the interviewing methodology used in this workshop.
      1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each research methodology?
      2. Provide a detailed explanation for your evaluation that demonstrates clear, insightful critical thinking.
6. Be sure your paper is grammatically correct, 400-500 words in length, and cites two academic sources in accordance with APA standards.