BBA141 Business Communication Skills Course Outline PDF

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT BBA141 – Business Communication Skills Course Outline 1.1. Course Title: BBA141 – Business Communication Skills 1.2. Required Text:  Harvard Referencing Style - Hartley, P., & Clive, G. (2002). Business Communication. Lon...

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT BBA141 – Business Communication Skills Course Outline 1.1. Course Title: BBA141 – Business Communication Skills 1.2. Required Text:  Harvard Referencing Style - Hartley, P., & Clive, G. (2002). Business Communication. London and New York: Routledge. - Matthew, A. (2004). Smart Thinking. Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. - Urmila, R. (2010). English Language Communication Skills. New Delhi: Himalaya Publishing House. 1.3. Instructor Details: 1.3.1. Name: Mushima Muke 1.3.2. Availability: TBA 1.3.3. Email: [email protected] 1.4. Course Overview: This course introduces students to business communication skills by focusing on communication processes, models and language skills such as listening, reading, writing and speaking. 1.5. Prerequisite (s): NONE 1.6. Credits: 3 1.7. Course Objectives: 1.7.1. Define the communication process and related concepts. 1.7.2. Explain the nature and importance of verbal and nonverbal communication. 1.7.3. Make notes from written and spoken sources. 1.7.4. Develop effective reading skills. 1.7.5. Use language features for clear and accurate business communication. 1.7.6. Make oral business presentations using different forms of rhetoric. 1.7.7. Organize business essays and presentations. 1.7.8. Write and present various business communication tools 1.8. Course Policies 1.8.1. Attendance, punctuality and participation Each student is expected to attend at least 80% of all lectures. All students are expected to be punctual for lectures. Students are implored to place high value on reading and understanding modules and all assignments. It is the responsibility of the student to ask questions where necessary. This can be done in class or via email. 1.8.2. Instructional approach Lectures will be conducted in “dialogue” form (online sessions). This means the instructor or/and class member frame(s) an issue, provide(s) structure for dialogue, and ask(s) provocative questions; the class then addresses the topic as a group. Dialogue includes full participation and attentive listening; it is collaborative and not competitive. Peer assessment method will also be employed during the tutorial sessions. 1.8.3. Assignments All Assignments will be posted on the Student Learning Management System (Moodle) Portal. 1.8.4. Course Pass Mark Requirements: At least a 50% overall score. 1.9 Grading and Assessments Grading is based on total points received by the student throughout the course. The total possible points are calculated indicated in the lesson plan below.  Assignment 1 – 10%  Mid Semester Exam 1 – 20%  End of Semester Exam – 70% 1.10 Weighting # Topic Weighting (%) 1 Communication Process 10 2 Internal and External Communication 10 3 Business Correspondences 30 4 Academic and Professional Writing 5 5 Verbal and nonverbal communication 5 6 Meetings 10 7 Presentations 5 8 Interview Skills 5 9 Digital Social Media 5 10 Critical thinking 5 100 Course Title: Business Communication Skills Course Description This course is designed to equip students with the essential communication skills required in the business world. Through a combination of theoretical concepts, practical applications, and real-world scenarios, students will develop proficiency in written and verbal communication, critical thinking, and digital social media usage. 1. Communication Process 10% 1.1 Learning Objectives: - Understand the basic elements of the communication process. - Identify barriers to effective communication. 1.2 Outcomes: - Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of communication models. - Evaluate and address common communication barriers. 2. Internal and External Communication 10% 2.1 Learning Objectives: - Differentiate between internal and external communication. - Understand the importance of effective internal communication for organizational success. 2.2 Outcomes: - Develop strategies for improving internal communication within organizations. - Analyze the impact of external communication on corporate reputation. 3. Business Correspondences 30% 3.1 Learning Objectives: - Master the principles of professional email and business letter writing. - Develop skills in crafting clear, concise, and persuasive business correspondences. 3.2 Outcomes:  - Create professional documents such as business letters, CVs and emails suitable for various business contexts. - Demonstrate an understanding of the etiquette of business correspondence. 4. Academic and Professional Writing 5% 4.1 Learning Objectives: - Acquire academic and professional writing skills. - Understand the differences between academic and business writing styles. 4.2 Outcomes: - Produce well-structured and academically sound written documents. - Adapt writing style to suit professional contexts. 5. Verbal and Nonverbal Communication 5% 5.1 Learning Objectives: - Recognize the impact of verbal and nonverbal cues in communication. - Develop effective verbal communication skills. 5.2 Outcomes: - Exhibit awareness of nonverbal cues and their interpretation. - Enhance verbal communication through voice modulation and language selection. 6. Meetings 10% 6.1 Learning Objectives: - Understand the dynamics of effective business meetings. - Develop skills in planning, facilitating, and participating in meetings - Write minutes and action taken sheets for business meetings. 6.2 Outcomes: - Organize and lead productive business meetings. - Contribute constructively to team discussions. - Write and present meetings and action taken reports 7. Presentations 5% 7.1 Learning Objectives: - Master the art of delivering impactful presentations. - Utilize visual aids and technology for effective presentations. 7.2 Outcomes: - Deliver compelling and persuasive presentations. - Use presentation tools proficiently. 8. Interview Skills 5% 8.1 Learning Objectives: - Prepare for job interviews effectively. - Develop effective communication strategies during interviews. 8.2 Outcomes: - Demonstrate confidence and professionalism in job interviews. - Respond to common interview questions with clarity and precision. 9. Digital Social Media 5% 9.1 Learning Objectives: - Understand the role of social media in business communication. - Develop effective communication strategies for digital platforms. 9.2 Outcomes: - Utilize social media for professional networking and branding. - Evaluate the impact of social media on business reputation. 1.10 Critical Thinking 5% 1.11 Learning Objectives: - Develop critical thinking skills for effective decision-making. - Apply critical thinking in analyzing and solving business communication challenges. 1.12 Outcomes: - Demonstrate the ability to think critically about business communication issues. - Propose creative solutions to communication problems.