Course Syllabus for: BUS-502.

1, BUS-502.2 (Managerial Communication)

(3 Credits)

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I.              CLASS AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

 
       Offline Class Time and Location       : Wednesday/Thursday and 6:30pm, buX
       Instructor                                                : Abureza M Muzareba, PhD (Sheffield,
UK)           
Office Location                                      : MBA office    
Email                                                       : ext.abureza.muzareba@bracu.ac.bd          
Consultation/Office Hours                 : Wednesday/Thursday 6:30pm – 9:00pm; and by
appointment.
Telephone/Mobile                                :+88 01713409403 (email contact is preferable,
for 'urgent' purposes use phone SMS)

 
II.            COURSE DESCRIPTION
 

Developing skills required for effective communication is pivotal to achieve success in any area
of business, even in personal life as well. This course is designed to help students develop those
skills which they should be able to utilize at different institutional levels. Along with theoretical
understanding, students should also develop practical knowledge from this course which would
help them apply their learning immediately in the workplace. Students will learn about different
cutting-edge technologies they need to master to become an excellent communicator in this
internet driven era. While this course requires students’ basic understanding of English language
and English grammar, they will also go through trainings which would hone their related
competencies. After successfully internalizing the contents of this course, students should be able
to communicate professionally which would foster their success in the measures they would
pursue.

  
III.          LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 
1.      Understanding diversified communication options and their implications in the digital
era
2.      Developing skills to design and compose business reports
3.      Developing skills to design and write effective communication materials
4.      Developing effective business presentation skills  
   
IV.         INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
 
1.      Students will understand different communication options and their respective
significances in the context of business, and will be able to use those intelligently.  
2.      Students will learn techniques that can help develop effective writing skills essential
for business.
 3.      Students will be able to craft sophisticated communication materials for business.
4.      Students will be able to develop effective presentation skills and utilize those skills in
real life contexts.
 

 V.           LEARNING RESOURCES
 
       Core / Required Reading: Essentials of Business Communication by Mary Ellen Guffey
and Dana Loewy, Cengage Learning, 10th Edition, 2016
       Recommended Reading:
   a) Lesikar’s Business Communication: Connecting in a Digital World by Kathryn Rentz
and Paula Lentz,  
   McGraw Hill, 13th Edition, 2014

b) Managerial Communication – Strategies and Applications, Geraldine E. Hynes and Jennifer

R. Veltsos, 7th Edition, SAGE, 2019
       Others: Will be shared in classes, as and when required

  
VI.         COURSE FORMAT
 
The course follows a mixed approach to knowledge development – learning concepts and
hands-on practice in classroom on contemporary issues. Class comprises the initial
classroom discussions on relevant topics and then students’ activities in dynamic
groups on assigned topics related to managerial communication. The end bit of the
course comprises group presentation on assigned topics and submission of report on
respective assigned topics.    
 
  
VII.       GRADING
1.      Class Attendance and Participation (0%):
Class attendance is vital and late attendance is strongly discouraged. Students’
participation through asking questions and sharing their views are highly appreciated
and contribute to good scores. Participatory learning is pursued throughout the
semester. In case of online classes, the weightage would be 0% and the 10% will be
added to term paper/case (item 5 below).  
2.      Homework/Assignments and class activities (30%):
Almost all the classes, except the ones with quiz or any form of test, have class
activities when students discuss in groups and brainstorm on assigned topics on
contemporary issues.
3.      Quizzes (20%)
There will be quizzes on every class which will test students’ concept on respective
topics and their understanding of the respective theories. Generally, short answers are
expected from students, if MCQ is not considered. The quizzes of the first two classes
will not be considered for grading but are essential for you to continue to the next
topics. Quizzes might be time-bound, so please check on for this and complete within
permissible time frame.  
4.      Midterm (20%)
Midterm examination does not consider MCQ to evaluate students’ knowledge, rather
students are expected to write detailed answers to theoretical and conceptual questions.
5.      Individual /Group Project/Term paper/Case etc. (10%)
 Both individual and group activities will take place on regular basis, usually on the
topics of respective class. This approach would facilitate both internalisation of the
knowledge as well as application of the classroom understanding. Students will form
dynamic groups everyday which will help them develop skills to work with peers in
heterogeneous groups. The last class will be the presentation session where each group
will present their assigned topic and submit a detailed primary research-based report. In
case of online classes, the weightage would be 20%.  
  
6.      Final Exam (20%)
Pattern of final examination will be similar to that of midterm examination, though will
be double in extent and rigor. Students will have to demonstrate their theoretical
understanding and their skills in applying theories in practice.   
 
 
Activities % of the Total
Assessment
Class Attendance (and Participation) 0%
Homework / Assignment 30%
Quizzes 20%
Individual / Group Project / Case / Term Paper 10%
Mid-term Exam 20%
Final Exam 20%
Total 100%
 Letter grades for the course will be based on the following scale - as specified in BRACU
catalog.

Range of Marks  Grade 
90   To  100  A 
85  To  <90  A‐ 
80  To  <85  B+ 
75  To  <50  B 
70  to  <75  B‐ 
65  to  <70  C+ 
60  to  <65  C 
57  to  <60  C‐ 
55  to  <57  D+ 
52  to  <55  D 
50  to  <52  D‐ 
<50    F 
  

For semesters with fully online classes, the above grading scheme might be changed as per the
instructions from BRACU authority.

 
VIII.     TOPIC AND ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
 

       

Week / Topics Activities& Readings

Sessio Assignments
 
n
 

1 Communicating in the Digital- Discussion and related chapter one of the core text
Age Workplace case studies in
group/individual form
- Mastering the Tools for Success
in the Twenty-First-Century
Workplace

- Developing Listening Skills

- Learning Nonverbal
Communication Skills

- Recognizing How Culture

Affects

Communication

- Building Intercultural Workplace

Skills
2 Planning Business Messages Discussion and related chapter two of the core text
- Understanding the case studies in
Communication Process group/individual form
- Using the 3-x-3 Writing Process
as a Guide
- Analyzing and Anticipating the
Audience
- Using Expert Writing
Techniques to Adapt to Your
Audience
- Developing Additional Expert
Writing Techniques
3 Organizing and Drafting Discussion and related chapter three of the core text
Business Messages case studies in
- Drafting Workplace Messages group/individual form
- Organizing Information to Show
Relationships

- Composing the First Draft With

Effective
Sentences
- Developing Business Writing
Techniques
- Drafting Well-Organized,
Effective Paragraphs

 
4 Revising Business Messages Discussion and related chapter four of the core text
case studies in
 group/individual form
- Taking Time to Revise:
Applying Phase 3 of the Writing
Process

- Making Your Message Clear

- Enhancing Readability Through

Document Design

- Proofreading to Catch Errors

- Evaluating the Effectiveness of

Your Message
5 Short Workplace Messages Discussion and related chapter five of the core text
and Digital Media case studies in
group/individual form
- Preparing Digital-Age E-Mail
Messages
and Memos
- Workplace Messaging and
Texting

- Making Podcasts and Wikis

Work for
Business
- Blogging for Business
- Web 2.0: Social Networking
6 Positive Messages Discussion and related chapter six of the core text
case studies in
- Routine Messages: E-Mails, group/individual form
Memos, and
Letters

- Typical Request, Response,

and
Instruction Messages
- Direct Claims and Complaints
- Adjustment Messages
- Goodwill Messages
7 Negative Messages Discussion and related chapter seven of the core text
- Communicating Negative News case studies in
Effectively group/individual form
- Analyzing Negative News
Strategies
- Composing Effective Negative
Messages
- Refusing Typical Requests and
Claims
- Managing Bad News Within
Organizations
 
8 Persuasive Messages
- Understanding Persuasion in
the Digital Age
- Planning and Writing
Persuasive Requests
Discussion and related chapter eight of the core text
case studies in
group/individual form

- Writing Effective Persuasive

Claims and
Complaints

- Crafting Persuasive Messages

in Digital-Age Organizations

- Creating Effective Sales

Messages in Print and Online

 
9 Proposals and Formal Discussion and related chapter ten of the core text
Reports case studies in
- Preparing Business Proposals group/individual form

- Writing and Editing Formal

Business
Reports

- Conducting Primary and

Secondary
Research

- Documenting and Citing

Sources in
Business Reports

- Incorporating Meaningful Visual

Aids and Graphics

- Understanding Report
Components
10 Business Presentations Discussion and related chapter twelve of the core text
- Preparing Effective Business case studies in
Presentations group/individual form

- Organizing Content for Impact  

and
Audience Rapport
- Understanding Contemporary  
Visual Aids

 
- Preparing Engaging Multimedia
Presentations
- Polishing Your Delivery and  
Following Up
  
IX.          COURSE POLICIES
 
1.      Instructor’s Expectations of Students:
Students are expected to strive for excellence in acquiring knowledge – through
attending all classes from start to end; participating actively in class discussions;
preparing for class lectures in advance; spending at least two hours for each class-hour
on, self-study, completion of assigned tasks and preparation for class, quiz, exam,
presentation, etc.; and completing and submitting required tasks on-time.

 
Students are also expected to maintain a classroom environment conducive to learning,
be respectful of others’ opinions and be completely honest by implementing the highest
ethical standards. It is also expected that students will uphold this principle in all their
future endeavours, including their career activities.
 
2.      Academic Integrity:
Although group-study is encouraged strongly, all students/groups are expected to
complete all assignments individually. As such, one may not share, lend or borrow
another student’s (group’s) work in any manner - either on paper, by computer or by
word of mouth. Any cheating, plagiarism and other forms of scholastic dishonesty or
misconduct will result in the strictest disciplinary action - according to the BRACU
regulations (please refer to BRACU  Handbook).
 
3.      Make-Up:
No make-up quiz/exam will be administered and no late homework, assignment, case
or project will be accepted except for conflicts with official university business or
extreme emergencies. In the former case, please notify the instructor (at least) one week
in advance; in the latter case, please inform prior to the exam/quiz or immediately after.
Under both situations, students are expected to provide appropriate and authentic
documentation.
 
4.      “I” and “W” Grades:
A grade of “I“ (Incomplete) will be granted only as a result of most extreme
circumstances - beyond a student’s control and only after stringent verification of the
circumstance and approval. A grade of “I” is not given in lieu of an “F” or any other
passing grade. Any student who discontinues attending class, and who does not
officially drop the course/ withdraw from the university, will receive a grade of “F”.
 
5.      Disability:
Any student who has a disability that prevents the fullest statement of his/her abilities
should contact the instructor personally. All efforts will be made to devise the
appropriate accommodation in order to facilitate student’s successful completion of the
course.
 
6.       Others:
 
X.            DISCLAIMER
Every effort will be made to ensure that the information contained in this document is adhered
to, however, it is subject to change. Changes will be notified in class, in advance. Students are