Published on July 25, 2024

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication

JUNE 2024       VOLUME 67      NUMBER 2       IEPCBU      (ISSN 0361-1434)

TOC

  • M. Pellegrini and P. T. Hunter, Constructing Entrepreneurial Opportunities: The Argumentative Structure of Early-Stage Business Pitch Problem Statements at an International Business Accelerator
  • A. Ray, G. E. Agbozo, and Y. Kong, Mapping Interaction Design in Global Health Interventions: A Comparative Analysis of COVID-19 mHealth Technologies
  • J. Tham, Researching with Virtual Reality: Exploring the Methodological Affordances of VR for Sociotechnical Research and Implications for Technical and Professional Communication
  • P. De and M. Bakhshi, Managing Uncertainties in Technology-Mediated Communication: A Qualitative Study of Business Students’ Perception of Emoji/Emoticon Usage in a Business Context
  • K. R. Acharya, Designing Equitable and Inclusive mHealth Technology: Insights from Global South Healthcare Practitioners
  • J. Dyke Ford and D. Crawford, Integrating Professional Preparedness Eportfolios Within an Undergraduate Engineering Curriculum

RESEARCH ARTICLES

Constructing Entrepreneurial Opportunities: The Argumentative Structure of Early-Stage Business Pitch Problem Statements at an International Business Accelerator, M. Pellegrini and P. T. Hunter

This project investigates the persuasive strategies used when articulating the problem statement section of entrepreneurial business pitches. We first establish that a relationship between Start-Up Chile’s ratings and the entrepreneurs’ industries cannot be assumed, then detail rhetorical moves used by entrepreneurs. Our findings indicate that when entrepreneurs effectively construct problems/opportunities, they employ a cause-and-effect argumentative structure. Their “cause” is described as the result of a societal change or a shortcoming in current solutions to the problem, and the “effects” of this problem are pain points, which frequently manifest as a loss of time, money, or other resources. By identifying rhetorical moves from real-world instantiations of the problem-statement genre, we offer entrepreneurs and other business communicators persuasive strategies for navigating the rhetorical situation of the pitch.

—Translations of abstract by Dina López and Ming Yang

Mapping Interaction Design in Global Health Interventions: A Comparative Analysis of COVID-19 mHealth Technologies, A. Ray, G. E. Agbozo, and Y. Kong

Global governments developed contact tracing platforms to help the public navigate risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. We captured screenshots of three mobile apps in the United States, India, and China, as well as a website in Ghana. Using touchpoints as the unit of analysis, we conducted an inventory and affinity mapping to visualize their architectures and categorize touchpoints based on their affordances.The comparison of apps across countries displays shared and divergent priorities in their touchpoints, affordances, and information depth. We developed an interpretive framework for understanding mHealth design intent across numerous contexts—Common Interpretive Framework for Design Analysis—incorporating both linear and recursive analysis of touchpoints, affordances, and depth. Touchpoints can be designed, but they can also be measured and analyzed, and can help us understand the designer’s intent and expected user experience.

—Translations of abstract by Dina López and Yaxing Li

Researching with Virtual Reality: Exploring the Methodological Affordances of VR for Sociotechnical Research and Implications for Technical and Professional Communication, J. Tham

This study aimed to reveal the methodological value of VR by documenting the processes and methods employed by a student researcher in understanding the ways that VR affects community building. Using ethnographic approaches including interviewing, affinity mapping, and reviewing of VR environments, this study collected insights about doing research with VR and its implications for TPC researchers. Five categorial themes were identified from the interview: interactivity, reach, usability, positionality, and tactics. Four VR applications were reviewed. Additional methodological strategies were discussed to prepare TPC practitioners for using VR as a research technology. TPC researchers should consider VR as a viable research technology to expand the methodological means of TPC studies.

—Translations of abstract by Bruno Salgado and Shijie Liu

Managing Uncertainties in Technology-Mediated Communication: A Qualitative Study of Business Students’ Perception of Emoji/Emoticon Usage in a Business Context, P. De and M. Bakhshi

With increased reliance on technology-mediated communication (TMC) minus the social cues, uncertainty management has become critical. This study investigates how usage of emojis/emoticons in professional communication contexts helps people navigate this uncertainty. Three focus group discussions were conducted with a total of 28 graduate-level, business studies students with work experience ranging from zero to four years. Reflexive Thematic Analysis using Braun and Clarke’s six-step process was conducted to analyze the data and generate themes. Although emojis are helpful in specific linguistic functions, clarifying intent, and reducing uncertainty, they retain a great deal of fuzziness owing to the ambiguity in usage and interpretation. It is, therefore, prudent to design ways of incorporating them in instructional interventions to sensitize students around the nuances of emoji usage to capitalize on the benefits they offer.

—Translations of abstract by Bruno Salgado and Shijie Liu

CASE STUDY

Designing Equitable and Inclusive mHealth Technology: Insights from Global South Healthcare Practitioners, K. R. Acharya

Healthcare practitioners in Nepal widely use Global North (GN) mHealth apps such as Medscape for diverse purposes, including aiding health-related decisions and accessing pharmaceutical and disease information. Apps like Medscape offer valuable information on diseases, conditions, and medical procedures, proving highly beneficial for treating patients in critical care situations in Global South (GS) countries like Nepal. mHealth apps have significantly transformed healthcare delivery in resource-limited, low-income GS countries such as Nepal, enhancing accessibility and efficiency in medical services. Twelve Nepalese healthcare practitioners were interviewed about their perception and use of GN mHealth apps, with a particular focus on Medscape. They indicated the need for designing culturally sensitive and context-appropriate mHealth technology and suggested that GN mHealth tools should be tailored to the diverse needs of underserved and underrepresented GS users to promote inclusivity and self-efficacy

—Translations of abstract by Victoria A. Garcia and Zhongen Xi

TEACHING CASE

Integrating Professional Preparedness Eportfolios Within an Undergraduate Engineering Curriculum, J. Dyke Ford and D. Crawford

To better prepare our students to communicate their preparedness to potential employers, we integrated ePortfolios within existing undergraduate design courses. We also designed a new portfolio studio course. We assessed assignments and surveyed participants to understand students’ takeaways and approaches on the ePortfolio classroom instruction and assignment. Results from 147 assignment submissions across three classes indicated that although most assignment submissions demonstrated effective communication of engineering skills, a considerable number of submissions lacked in clarity, professionalism, or relevance. Extended instructional time on ePortfolios could benefit students. More focused instruction could be integrated into existing courses or in a standalone portfolio studio course. Our design of this future course was informed by our assessment of student artifacts as well as what we learned about students’ perceptions of ePortfolios from the 130 survey responses.

—Translations of abstract by Ming Yang and Victoria A. Garcia