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There are 4 modules in this course
Writing effective documents to influence teams and decision-makers is one of the essential elements of successful management. Additionally, in all of its forms, writing remains one of the primary vehicles by which a leader exercises leadership. Just like the other forms of communication, it must be coherent, complete, make a clear argument, and include appropriate decorum. This course focuses on these attributes as applied in all forms of modern written communication.
This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.
Humility is the best trait of an effective writer. In Week 1, you’ll uncover why even seasoned managers need a rigorous, reader-centric process. You’ll diagnose a real communication problem from your own workplace, practice clarity and brevity techniques grounded in neuroscience, and leave with a polished two-sentence problem statement—the first building block of your Managerial Communication Packet.
What's included
4 videos12 readings4 assignments
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 13 minutes
Welcome to Technical Managerial Written Skills!•2 minutes
Are Grammar and Punctuation Still Important?•4 minutes
Write To Persuade the Recipient•3 minutes
Your "Secret Weapons" In Writing•4 minutes
12 readings•Total 101 minutes
Lesson Guide: Introduction and Choosing the Right Format•5 minutes
Business Writing That Gets Results•10 minutes
Course Updates and Accessibility Support•1 minute
Non-Credit Students: Welcome and Where to Find Help•10 minutes
Lesson Guide: Making Your Writing Easy to Read•5 minutes
Why Writing Ability is THE Foundational Skill for Every Manager•10 minutes
The Science of Writing - 8S Framework•15 minutes
Lesson Guide: Focus Every Message at the Reader•5 minutes
Know Your Audience: 7 Habits You Can Apply Before You Write•15 minutes
What is a Stakeholder "Hot Button"?•5 minutes
Lesson Guide: Polish Your Writing for Clarity, Conciseness, and Credibility•5 minutes
The 7 C's of Effective Business Writing•15 minutes
4 assignments•Total 80 minutes
Choose the Best Writing Format•10 minutes
Critique Managerial Writing •20 minutes
Audience Analysis and Purpose Statements•30 minutes
Concise, Correct, and Reader-Focused Writing•20 minutes
Crafting a Persuasive Letter to an External Stakeholder
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will learn when a formal business letter is the best choice, identify the main concerns of customers, suppliers, or regulators, and write a letter that begins with a clear benefit, supports it with facts, and ends with a direct request. You will replace jargon with plain language, check every sentence for accuracy and courtesy, and revise a short letter with feedback from an AI client. The final version will become Section 2 of your Managerial Communication Packet and will be ready to send to the person who can help solve the problem you defined in Module 1.
What's included
5 videos8 readings4 assignments
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 17 minutes
The Letter In Managerial Written Skills•2 minutes
The Simplest Application Of Your Writing Skills•3 minutes
Persuasive Writing•7 minutes
Avoiding Jargon•2 minutes
More "Secret Weapons" in Writing•3 minutes
8 readings•Total 65 minutes
Lesson Guide: The Letter Is Still Relevant•5 minutes
Why a Formal Letter Still Works in the Digital Age•10 minutes
Proofreading for Correctness, Courtesy, and Credibility•20 minutes
The Research Proposal
Module 3•4 hours to complete
Module details
A research proposal is one of the most common (and most competitive) forms of writing in business and industry. It is far more than a list of capabilities; dozens of vendors can claim they “can do the work.” Your proposal must convince the customer that you are the best partner. To do so, you must write to the customer’s primary concerns, create a clear mental picture of your solution, keep the document brief and concise, and present it in flawless, professional format. In this module, you will practice each of those skills as you turn a real engineering-management problem into a concise pilot-study proposal. By the end of the week, you will have a polished document that clearly answers stakeholder questions and becomes Section 3 of your Managerial Communication Packet.
What's included
4 videos10 readings5 assignments
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 12 minutes
The Research Proposal in Business and Industry•3 minutes
Write To Inform AND To Convince•4 minutes
Helping Others See It As You Do•3 minutes
Fewer Words•2 minutes
10 readings•Total 120 minutes
Lesson Guide: Assemble a Research Proposal•5 minutes
Writing the Proposal•20 minutes
Choosing the Right Data Collection Method•15 minutes
Lesson Guide: Write for Your Customer, Not for Yourself•5 minutes
Influence the Decision Maker - Persuasive Writing Techniques•20 minutes
Lesson Guide: Write so Readers See What You See•5 minutes
Write to Create a Clear Mental Picture•15 minutes
Lesson Guide: Writing for Brevity•5 minutes
Write Less and Say More•20 minutes
Research Proposal Template•10 minutes
5 assignments•Total 90 minutes
Gap vs. Research Question Quiz•20 minutes
Method Match Quiz•20 minutes
Persuasive Focus Quiz•15 minutes
Imagery and Clarity Quiz•15 minutes
Clarity and Conciseness Quiz•20 minutes
The Executive Summary
Module 4•4 hours to complete
Module details
An executive summary is the decisive one–page brief that moves busy leaders from “Tell me more” to “Approved.” It is far more than a recap of your longer report; senior managers rarely have time to search for the bottom line. Your summary must surface the business problem, spotlight the recommended action, prove value with a single metric, and finish with a clear approval request — all in language a vice president can absorb in under a minute. In this module, you will master those moves: outlining the bottom-line story, selecting only the evidence that matters, shaping every sentence around the reader’s priorities, and trimming words until the page holds nothing but power. By week’s end, you will hold a 150-to-200-word executive summary that earns quick endorsement and becomes Section 4 of your Managerial Communication Packet.
What's included
4 videos9 readings4 assignments
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 11 minutes
Influencing The Recipient•2 minutes
Executive Summary Components•4 minutes
The Necessity of a Clear Mental Picture•3 minutes
Adding Tone and Direction•3 minutes
9 readings•Total 115 minutes
Lesson Guide: The Power of the Executive Summary•5 minutes
The Power Of the Executive Summary•20 minutes
BLUF: Lead with the Decision, Then the Details•15 minutes
Lesson Guide: Assemble an Executive Summary•5 minutes
Put It Together•20 minutes
Lesson Guide: Write to Influence Your Recipient•5 minutes
Phrase Your Thoughts With the Audience In Mind•20 minutes
Lesson Guide: One Page Is Enough•5 minutes
All Thoughts and Data On One Page•20 minutes
4 assignments•Total 90 minutes
Executive Summary Essentials Quiz•20 minutes
Structure Quiz•20 minutes
Stakeholder Focus Quiz•30 minutes
Clarity and Conciseness Quiz•20 minutes
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Build toward a degree
This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Colorado Boulder. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹
View eligible degrees
Build toward a degree
This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Colorado Boulder. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹
¹Successful application and enrollment are required. Eligibility requirements apply. Each institution determines the number of credits recognized by completing this content that may count towards degree requirements, considering any existing credits you may have. Click on a specific course for more information.
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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.