Credits: 3

Pre-requisites: None

Core / Optional: Optional

Aim(s):To provide the necessary tools to develop communication skills for effective business operations and professional conduct as engineering managers.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

1. analyse audience and related modes of communication for different situations.
2. demonstrate communication skills in writing and presenting.
3. apply communication skills in negotiating and conducting business meetings.
4. use effective communication strategies for conflict handling and counselling.
5. demonstrate communication skills in facing and conducting interviews.

Course Content (Only main topics & subtopics):

1. Understanding Your Audience: Understanding yourself, perception, and getting to know your audiences.
2. Different Communication Modes for Business Situations: Communication choices in businesses; techniques of communications; nonverbal communications; listening and critical thinking.
3. Effective Writing for Business: Letters, memorandums; proposals; reports; volumes; text; and emails.
4. Business Presentation: Preparation for presentations; presenting; use of presentation aids.
5. Conducting Business Meetings: Agenda; the role of the chair and members; meeting minutes.
6. Business Negotiations: Laying the groundwork, mutual gain and win-win situations; complex issues and ethics.
7. Communications in Handling Stress, Conflict and Counselling: Controlling stress through communication, conflict handling, and decision making; manager as a counselor.
8. Interviewing Skills: Facing interviews; conducting interviews.

Time Allocation:

Learning component	Hours
Theory	14
Small group activities	31
Assignments	–
Practical	–
Independent Learning	105

Marks Allocation:

Assessment	Percentage Marks
Continuous Assessments	50%
Final Assessment	50%

Recommended Reading:

• Locker, K. and Kaczmarek, S. (2003). Harvard Business Essentials: Business Communications. Harvard Business School Press.
• Malhotra, D. (2016). Negotiating the Impossible: How to Break Deadlocks and Resolve Ugly Conflicts. Pearson.
• Thill, J. V. and Courtland, L. B. (2017). Excellence in Business Communication. Pearson Education.