Course Code: HMT215 Pre-requisite Courses: Writing Skills Credit Hours: Three (3) Semester: Third (3) Degree: BBA Program
Course Description: The course addresses the fundamental concepts of communication as applicable in a business environment. It is designed to give the student a sound idea of the factors and barriers involved in the communication process. It will also address concerns such as creating short and long reports meeting organizational requirements.
Course Objectives: This course has been designed to enlighten the students about:
1. The importance of flexibility and tact while interacting socially and professionally 2. The current communication practices in the business world 3. The norms of communication within and outside organizations 4. The strategies of message organization (inductive and deductive), choice of words and tone in accordance with the level of their audience and the nature of the context
Learning Outcomes: After completing this course a student will be able to:
1. List down the steps involved in the process of communication
2. Develop productive relationships by overcoming the barriers of communication 3. Generate effective written business messages 4. Formulate professionally written reports.
Teaching Methodology: Learning will be accomplished through lectures, outside readings, case analysis and student participation in classroom discussion and presentations. Grading will tend to focus on students’ overall personality rather than on one or two aspects
Code of Conduct: Students have to follow the rules stated below to avoid a failing grade in the course:
1|P age Understand and follow the University policy regarding attendance. Arrive in and leave the classroom strictly on time. Late arrival will be marked as absence. If you leave the classroom in the middle of a session even for a short while, you will be marked absent. Keep your cell phone off during the class. Do the assigned readings for a class before coming to the class. Maintain a disciplined, cordial, and respectful attitude towards the teacher and your fellow students. Submit your homework on the due date before the class begins. Do not plagiarize from books, journals, or the internet. Do not cheat (make someone else do your work or present work for some other course as work for this course). The teacher’s decisions about marks and grade will be final.
Course Contents:
Week Topics to be covered Remarks
1. INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS COMMUNICATION The utility/objectives of communication - Communication and managerial functions Leadership and communication 2. THE PROCESS AND BARRIERS OF COMMUNICATION The five steps of communication The Language barrier Quiz The perceptual barrier The emotional barriers Effective listening strategies 3. DIVERSITY AND CULTURE Quiz The pros and cons of diversity
2|P age Managing Diversity Intercultural Communication 4. ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION The Oral and Written mediums Letter, Memo, E-mail – Style and level of formality The formal and informal networks of communication 5. PLANNING BUSINESS MESSAGES Analysis Quiz Purpose Class Exercise Anticipation and Adaptation 7 C’s of communication – You attitude 6. WRITING AND COMPLETING MESSAGES Secondary & primary research The Outline Quiz Direct vs. Indirect pattern of Class Exercise organization Revising and proofreading 7. DIRECT MESSAGES – ROUTINE REQUESTS Requests for information / action Class Exercise Placing Orders
MID-TERM EXAMINATION 8. DIRECT MESSAGES – CLAIMS, INQUIRY REPLIES Quiz Product development process and Class Exercise commercialization Product life cycle stages and its
3|P age implications 9. GOOD NEWS / GOOD WILL MESSAGES Skillful handling of negative news in positive messages Quiz Positive replies to claims Class Exercise Good News announcement Thanks and appreciation 10 BAD NEWS AND REFUSALS Refusing requests for information / Quiz action Class Exercise Claim Refusals Bad News about company operations 11 PERSUASIVE MESSAGES The AIDA MODEL Quiz Emotional and Rational Appeal Class Exercise Maslow’s theory of needs and Benefit offering 12 SHORT REPORTS Types of Reports Assignment Objective of Reports announcement Solicited and Unsolicited reports 13 LONG REPORTS The structure of long reports The Prefatory pages Use of citations and references 14. WRITING RESUME AND APPLYING FOR JOB The job search process Assignment Resume formats Common problems in Resumes
4|P age 15 JOB INTERVIEW The Application / covering letter Types of Interview Class workshop The organizational fit Preparation to answer typical questions Follow-up FINAL EXAMINATION
Rescheduling of Class: The teachers at Iqra University are very particular about taking their classes, but in case of an emergency, an alternate teacher may conduct the class. Students are informed through SMS in case of rescheduling of a class.
