Effective Business Writing Workshop

With communication playing a fundamental role in achieving organizational excellence, the Human Resource Development Office continuously conducts communication skills training for employees who perform administrative tasks daily. Proficient skills in writing will allow employees to communicate effectively and adequately with their clients and stakeholders. The Effective Business Writing Workshop was conducted on May 3, 7, and 10, 2024 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm via Zoom, to build a strong foundation in business and professional communication. The HRDO has invited Ms. Ma. Caselyn B. Morada, Assistant Professor 1 from the Department of Arts and Communication of the College of Arts and Sciences in UP Manila, as the subject matter expert. 

The Effective Business Writing Workshop was moderated by Ms. Ma. Janelle D.A Gabion and Ms. Jeah May O. Badeo and graced by the HRDO Director, Dr. Michael Antonio F. Mendoza.

On Day 1 of the workshop, Ms. Morada introduced the topic of business writing through an interactive activity on Quizizz that sparked the interest and competition among the participants. Through the short game, the speaker was able to address the common mistakes and the pattern of difficulties of the participants. Ms. Morada gave a brief review and exercises on Grammar, such as subject-verb agreement and pronoun-antecedent agreement.

The first day of the workshop covered the Introduction to Business Writing that consisted of the main features, language use refresher, and writing aids, as well as the fundamentals in Prewriting, which taught the participants the importance of knowing three important information – purpose, audience, and the right communication channel.

Day 2 of the workshop tapped two skills – writing and revising. Ms. Morada clarified that writing and revising are two distinct processes, and thus, involve different sets of skills that require independent time allotment to achieve desired outcomes. Researching, outlining, organizing the content, and using direct and indirect approaches were among the topics covered in Writing, while editing and proofreading were discussed under Revising.

As part of the workshop, participants were divided into breakout groups and were assigned one activity to put their learning into writing. They were tasked to prepare a letter given specific writing prompts and instructions that requires practical application of the topics discussed. 

Back in the main session, a representative per group presented the letter they had written while the members from other groups were encouraged to share their comments and suggestions on the output presented. Ms. Morada also constructively gave her feedback for each group and ended the second day of the workshop by giving tips and reminders for the participants in writing different types of letters.

On the Day 3 of the workshop, the training focused on different types of business documents – emails, letters, and memos. Ms. Morada highlighted the many differences and methods in writing business documents, depending on its audience and purpose. Participants were again divided into breakout groups and were tasked to prepare a letter that will need the application of all the knowledge and skills they acquired during the workshop.The speaker gave feedback for each group and ended the last day of the workshop by providing her general observations that the participants are to maintain and improve on when fulfilling their responsibilities in communicating with colleagues, subordinates, clients, and the management.

Closing off the workshop, HRDO Director, Dr. Michael Antonio F. Mendoza, gave his closing remarks. 

At the end of the three half-day training workshop, target participants are expected to write emails, letters, and memos more effectively as reflected in their mastery of articulating words that are clear and concise.