Writing Entrepreneurs: A Survey of Attitudes, Habits, Skills, and Genres. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spartz, John M.; Weber, Ryan P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of business and technical communication. Volume 29:Number 4(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 428
• Page End: 455
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: entrepreneurship -- business writing genres -- writing attitudes -- survey research -- entrepreneurship communication training; Business communication -- Periodicals; Communication of technical information -- Periodicals; 658.45
• DOI: 10.1177/1050651915588145
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-6519

Abstract

This article presents data from an electronic survey asking 101 entrepreneurs in Wisconsin and North Alabama about the documents they write before opening and while operating their businesses, the writing skills they value, and the audiences they consider when writing. The results demonstrate that entrepreneurs highly value writing and rhetorical skills, produce a huge range of documents, and require distinctive genres at different stages of their ventures. The results can help professional communication instructors, entrepreneurship and small-business consultants, and aspiring entrepreneurs to more effectively anticipate and meet the rhetorical challenges of opening and operating a business.