1.Explain how legal and ethical considerations are integral to planning,composing,and sending messages.
Organization could be sued or prosecuted if you violate the law in your message.Thousands or even millions of dollars could be lost.Prison terms might result.To ensure the legality of your written or oral communication,you must be aware of laws,court decisions,and administrative regulations that apply to those messages.Ignorance of the law does not excuse violators.
Ethical principles that are basic to decisions about message content,found in one form or another in codes of conduct,include the following:
1.Integrity and honesty
2.Personal and professional responsibility
3.Concern and respect for others
4.Fairness to all concerned
Ethical communication means determining the right thing to do and demonstrating fairness and respect for the message receiver.Being truthful and honest,fair in advertising,and disclosing all information necessary to avoid harm to others are examples of ethical communication practices.Ethical behavior means not only staying within the law but also being consistent with your own value system and your company’s code of conduct.
2.Explain three legal considerations when creating business messages.
Something of value given by both parties to a contract that induces them to enter into the agreement to exchange mutual performances.
Among the most important forms of communication is the contract,a legally binding agreement between two or more parties.A proposal or offer by one party and acceptance by the other party or parties creates a contract.The contract may involve completing a particular action,providing a particular item or service,or refraining from doing a certain action.
Consideration is an essential element for the formation of a contract.It may consist of a promise to perform a desired act or a promise to refrain from doing an act that one is legally entitled to do.In a bilateral contract—an agreement by which both parties exchange mutual promises—each promise is regarded as sufficient consideration for the other.In a unilateral contract,an agreement by which one party makes a promise in exchange for the other's performance,the performance is consideration for the promise,while the promise is consideration for the performance.
An enforceable contract may result from an exchange of letters-one that makes a clear and definite offer and another that accepts the offer without making conditions on the acceptance-or a series of letters that make clear the parties have reached agreement about material elements of the contract.A contract does not have to be written in a letter or on a particular form if it includes essential elements of the agreement and has the necessary signatures.A valid contract must have the following elements:
1.Offer and acceptances
2.Competency of parties
3.Legality of subject matter
4.Consideration ( money,motive,or promise exchanged)
3.Describe how a business communicator can use ethical principles and/or systems to assist in choosing ethical content for messages.
Choosing ethical content for messages requires the same analytical and practical skills as does sound business leadership.Being ethical in your communication requires that you determine-from among all the alternatives-the right and good information appropriate in given situations.In the message use your viewpoint,conveys request and not command,shows respect,shows concern for receiver,states the purpose and discloses essential information.
