MA5500 – Business Communication

 

 

 

MA5500 – Business Communication Course Information Semester 5 Course Code MA5500 Course Name Business Communication Credit Value 3 Pre-requisites None Core/Optional Optional

Hourly Breakdown

Theory 14 Small Group Activities 31 Practical – Assignment – Independent Learning 105

Course Aim

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

Intended Learning Outcomes

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

Course Content (Only main topics & subtopics)

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

Teaching/Learning Methods

  • Lectures
  • Student Based Activities

Assessment Strategy

Continuous Assessment 50% Final Assessment 50%
Small Group Activities: 30% Quizzes: 20% Theory: 50% Practical: – Other: –

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.