Dale Cyphert’s thoughtful commentary “Who We Are and What We Do, 2008,” based on a survey of Association for Business Communication (ABC) members, discusses demographic changes, traces the development of the organization through its discussion of such issues as discipline self-examination, and suggests directions for the organization going forward. This response comments on the role of the ABC and suggests that the current economic worldwide upheaval and the resulting changes that may ensue provide a context that must be considered in any strategic planning by the organization and by its members.
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Cyphert, D. ( 2009). Who we are and what we do, 2008. Journal of Business Communication, 46, 262-274.
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Dulek, R. ( 2008). Academic research: Two things that get my goat-and three that offer meaning. Journal of Business Communication, 45, 333-348.
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Dyrud, M., & Worley, R. ( 2006). Visual communication. Business Communication Quarterly, 69, 397-398.
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Jenkins, R. ( 2009, March 25). Our students need more practice in actual thinking . The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from http://chronicle.com/weekly/v55/i29/29b01801.htm
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Locker, K.O. ( 1998). The role of the Association for Business Communication in shaping business communication as an academic discipline. Journal of Business Communication, 35, 14-49.
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Knight, M. ( 2004). Review of forming the collective mind: A contextual exploration of large-scale collaborative writing in industry by Geoffrey Cross. Journal of Business Communication, 41, 216-220.
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Murphy, M. ( 1998). Re-viewing business communication: A response to Carmichael, White-Mills and Rogers, and Krapels and Arnold. Journal of Business Communication, 35, 128-137.
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Richardson, M. ( 2008, November 3). Writing is not just a basic skill. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from http://chronicle.com/weekly/v55/i11?11a04701.htm
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Reinsch, N.L.J. ( 1996). Business communication: Present, past, and future. Management Communication Quarterly, 10, 27-50.
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Rogers, P.S. ( 2001) Convergence and commonality challenge business communication research [Outstanding Researcher Lecture]. Journal of Business Communication, 38, 14-23.
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Suchan, J. ( 2008). How academic organizational systems and culture undermine scholarship and quality research: A response to Ron Dulek. Journal of Business Communication, 45, 349-356.
