Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Business Communication
Business Communication
Business Communication
COMMUNICATION
DR. SWARNALATHA V
Assistant Professor
Christ Academy Institute of Law
© Author
Unit 4- Reports
• For the benefit of learners, the subject matter has been written
clearly and simply.
I genuinely hope that this book will be able to spark students' attention
and pique their interest to explore more about business
communication.
Business Communication 5
Dr. Swarnalatha. V
Unit - II
Unit - III
Unit - IV
Unit - V
UNIT - I .......................................................................................................... 9
UNIT - II ...................................................................................................... 81
1. Definition
According to W.H. Newman and C.F. Summer Jr, “Communication is
an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions, or emotions by two or more
persons”.
2. Meaning
Human behaviour relies heavily on communication. It refers to all
human beings' innate need to communicate their thoughts, feelings,
knowledge, and ideas to others through the use of words (written or
spoken), body language, or signs. It is necessary to communicate. It is
a vital component of one's existence. Every living on the earth
communicates from birth to death, regardless of breed. Animals, birds,
trees, and people are all examples of this.
Signs and gestures are used to communicate. It can take both verbal
and nonverbal forms. It can be done using facial expressions, body
language, gestures, tones, words, writing, printing, telephones, and e-
mails, among other things. The eyes and nodding of the head convey a
message that is not conveyed by voice.
2. Meaningful message:
3. Media or channel:
4. Feedback:
4. History of communication
The whole history of communication is important but widespread. All
over the ages, mankind has established several methods of
communication to connect, engage, and interact with each other. As
technology and innovation have advanced, so have the chances to
communicate more quickly and efficiently.
1 https://open.lib.umn.edu/communication/chapter/1-1-communication-
history-and-forms/
Business Communication 15
Source: wordpress.com
2 https://learn.g2.com/history-of-communication#21st%20century%20
communication
16 Business Communication
• Ancient communication
• 17th-century communication
• 18th-century communication
• 19th-century communication
• 20th-century communication
• 21st-century communication
Ancient communication
This all changed after the printing press was invented. The Bi Sheng
and Wang Chen dynasties in China invented the first printing press in
the 1300s, removing the need to handwrite all paper messages. About
150 years later, Johannes Gutenberg of Germany crafted a modernized
version of the printing press that was able to mass-produce printed
materials.
Printing presses were found in cities all across Europe and were used
to print large amounts of materials that were meant for widespread
distribution. Written and printed materials became all the rage,
leading to even more innovations to create, duplicate and circulate
them.
17th-century communication
Before the 17th century, information was known and recorded, but
options to release it were limited. With newspapers acting as a
primary source of information, communication in the 17th century
began to reflect the modern-day communication model of sender and
receiver.
18th-century communication
In the 18th century, the public postal system was established. Letters
were sent before this period, but the system was flawed and
inefficient. Delivery could take months, and even when the mail did
reach its destination, it was left at a random public place.
The remodeling of the postal service allowed the sender and receiver
communication model to cater to personal information. Sure, a
newspaper can tell you about the health of the economy, but a timely
Business Communication 19
19th-century communication
As the 19th century came around, the great minds working towards
improving communication took a large step. Electricity was
incorporated into communication channels, coining the term
telecommunications.
The popularity of the electric telegraph was still at its peak when
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. The telephone
allowed two people to communicate verbally with devices that
converted the sound, as opposed to speaking face to face.
20th-century communication
The telephone became mobile in 1981, but the word mobile is used
loosely here. The first versions of the mobile telephone were not
intended to be carried around on your person like they are now. They
were heavy-duty pieces of equipment that were usually only found in
cars and trains.
The computer was invented towards the beginning of the 20th century,
but the features for communication were not created until the mid to
late 1900s. In 1965, online written communication expanded into an
email, completely changing the game. To make it even more enticing
for users, these systems soon adapted the means to share entire files or
photographs.
Then, after the personal computer (PC) was introduced in the 70s,
computer systems slowly became a common household tool, especially
for communication. The combination of a PC and the Internet made
written communication fast, easy, and convenient.
After reading that, we all know that email and PCs were just the
beginning of the most important innovations in communication. But
these origins can’t be forgotten. Every communication tool used today
was somehow influenced by simple ones from the long and never-
ending history of communication.
Business Communication 21
21st-century communication
Future…
“From smoke signals and pigeons to instantly connecting via video chat
22 Business Communication
around the world, society has seen drastic improvements in the way that we
communicate over the past centuries, and is continuing to move forward and
create new technology that complements or replaces existing technology”3
5. Importance of communication
3 https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/214969/00_OCN_Content/OCN_NEU_
eBook_Evolution-of-Communication_637-CTA.pdf
4 Anwesha Pathak, Shivangi Sinha, Astha Srivastava, Importance of
communication in Law, IJEAT, ISSN: 2249 – 8958, Volume-8, Issue-6S3,
September 2019.
Business Communication 23
a) Decision Making
b) Execution
5 https://www.coachingforchange.com/communication-skills-for-lawyers.html
24 Business Communication
c) Motivation
d) Leadership
e) Co-ordination
f) Controlling
g) Industrial Relations
h) Distinguishing Factors
i) Consensus
6. Objectives of Communication
To inform
understanding.
To persuade
To increase efficiency
To coordinate
communication.
To direct people
To motivate
7. Models of communication
In 1960, David Berlo expanded the linear transmission model with the
sender-message-channel-receiver (SMCR) model of communication.910
Later, Wilbur Schramm introduced a model that identified multiple
variables in communication which includes the transmitter, encoding,
media, decoding, and receiver.11
• Linear
• Transactional and
• Interactive model
• Lasswell’s Model
• Aristotle’s Model
• Helical Model
Information Sharing:
Feedback:
Influence:
Problem-solving:
Assists in Decision-making:
Facilitating Change:
Group Building:
Gatekeeping:
Motivating People:
Performance Feedback:
Job Instruction:
Controlling People:
Useful as Grapevine:
Emotive function:
******
CHAPTER – 2
TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
Introduction
So
urce: https://thebusinesscommunication.com/types-of-communication-
38 Business Communication
External communication
Internal communication
• Downward communication
• Upward communication
In this type, the message or information flow passes from the bottom
level to top-level management.
Example: Student raises any concern to teacher and from faculty to Head of
the Department and from Head to Principal.
Formal communication
• Written or oral
• Formal relation
• Prescribed path
• Organizational message
• Cautious effort
Advantages
• Permanent record
• Quick work
Often the rapid interaction is needed with the employees. To make use
of the formal downward communication, it is easy to talk to the staff
quickly. And so the ongoing work could be done timely.
• Discipline
The employees are bound to be mindful of their very own duty under
the formal communication system. Therefore, fundamentally it
generates control into the organization and related matters.
Both are very much indeed essential elements to carry out business
activity smoothly without any troubles. Formal communication is a
correct element of coordination. Therefore, coordinated activities can
be done properly and simply through formal communication.
42 Business Communication
• Delegation of authority
Disadvantages
• Authoritarian System
• Inflexible
• Costly
• Time-consuming
• Lack of initiative
Informal communication
Definition
Meaning
very quick and fast. This type of interaction is quite natural as folks
communicate with each other about their personal life, professional
life, as well as other matters.
13 https://www.peoplegoal.com/blog/what-is-formal-and-informal-
communication
Business Communication 45
Example: Employees of a company have come to know the profit margin of the
organization through the accounts department. Somebody among employees
spreading rumors or imagine and tells others that the company is going to
offer bonuses for its employees based on profit margin.
• Uncertain path
• Fast reply
Advantages
Disadvantages
• Cluster Chain
• Probability Chain
• Gossip Chain
A B c D E F G
In the above picture ‘A’ tells to ‘B’, and ‘B’ tells to ‘C’ and so on.
Cluster Chain
D N
O
F
B Q
I R
S
J
Probability Chain
T
This is the random process with which the information may go from
one person to just any other person or persons based on the law of
probability. In the below picture, ‘A’ randomly tells to ‘B’, ‘D’, and ‘C’.
Then ‘B’ tells to ‘F’, ‘C’ tells to ‘T’ randomly and this way
communication goes on.
G S
B F
I W
D
A
T
C
Business Communication 49
Gossip chain
B C
H
D
A
G E
F
1.3. Based on Media
Written communication
For example,
Definition
• Formal communication
• Aids as documentation
• Structure
• Building image
well.
• It’s being written form in nature hence changes are less flexible
and easily cannot be done.
Definitions
Better understanding:
Flexibility:
Media used:
Suitability:
Instant feedback:
Changeability:
Degree of formality:
Possibility of distortion:
• Not only does oral communication save time, but it really saves
a lot of effort and resources.
Non-Verbal Communication
You've also had several instances where words were confused or the
interpretation of words was vague. It's much more difficult to
understand anything in nonverbal communication. While we can often
infer what people are saying from their nonverbal communication,
there is no foolproof “dictionary” for interpreting nonverbal messages.
Definitions
Culturally determined:
Diverse meaning:
People can convey a verbal message and then directly address it with
nonverbal communication because nonverbal communication is so
deeply embedded, so unconscious.
Mostly unconscious:
The way you use your eyes, your facial expressions, gestures, and
body movements all convey your thoughts and emotions to others.
Informality:
• Eye contact
• Facial expressions
• Gestures
• Body Language
• Proximity
• Para-linguistic
• Humor
• Touch
• Silence
• Personal Appearance
60 Business Communication
• Symbol
Eye contact
Facial expressions
• "I'm happy"
• Affiliation
• Liking
As a result, smiling often can make you appear more likable, engaging,
humid, and approachable.
Business Communication 61
Gestures
You can be viewed as dull, rigid, and un-animated if you don't make
any gestures when speaking.
Arms, legs, hands, and head motions are all examples of gestures.
Gesture, according to some scholars, is a deliberate body movement
that expresses precise and conscious meaning.
For example,
The way you walk, chat, stand, and sit sends out a lot of messages.
People will perceive you as approachable, receptive, and welcoming if
you stand upright but not rigid and lean slightly forward.
Body Language
For example,
When nervous, a person can bite his nails or mash his hair. These are
normally unintentional. Leaning forward toward the speaker to show
interest, on the other hand, is an example of conscious body
movement.
Proximity
• Spinning
Business Communication 63
• Tapping
When you get closer (i.e., increasing proximity) you'll be able to make
more eye contact and give listeners more chances to speak up.
Para- Linguistic
• Tone
• Pitch
• Rhythm
• Timbre
• Loudness
• Inflection
Learn to vary these six elements of your voice for optimum teaching
effectiveness.
Humor
Strong nonverbal and verbal skills are needed to create a learning and
retention-friendly environment.
Touch
In our culture, for example, when someone touches you from the back
of the exam room, you assume he needs to know something.
Silence
Silence, for example, may mean that the individual receiving the
instruction does not understand the action that is needed, or it can also
Business Communication 65
imply approval.
Personal Appearance
Symbol
Mass communication
Source: https://leverageedu.com/blog/pu/types-of-mass-communication/
Intrapersonal communication
Interpersonal communication
That's not all, however. You're probably also paying attention to her
body language as she speaks, including her posture, gestures, and
facial expressions.
Conclusion
******
CHAPTER – 3
BENEFITS AND BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION
Introduction
1. Building trust
You will set specific goals and targets for your team if you have good
communication skills. This entails identifying positive ways to point
out when something isn't working and getting constructive input to
help people get back on track. They would be aware of their own roles
and duties, as well as those of their teammates, reducing the likelihood
of disagreements and misunderstandings.
5. It boosts participation.
People become more involved in their job as a whole when they feel
more secure in their work and understand what they need to do. You
will increase commitment and therefore happiness among your team
members by prioritizing effective communication.
6. Enhances performance
7. Encourages teamwork.
Team members will be able to rely on each other more with enhanced
communication. You won't make someone on your team feel like they
have to support the whole team. This improved division of labour
would foster positive feelings and relationships among team members,
resulting in higher morale and better work experiences.
• Linguistic Barriers
• Psychological Barriers
• Emotional Barriers
• Attitude Barriers
• Perception Barriers
• Physiological Barriers
Linguistic Barriers
Different workers will have different linguistic skills even though they
work in the same office. As a result, this will affect the communication
channels that run in the company.
Psychological Barriers
Emotional Barriers
The ease and comfort with which a person can communicate are
determined by their emotional IQ. Communication would be easier for
someone who is emotionally mature. People who allow their emotions
Business Communication 75
As the world becomes more globalized, every large office will have
employees from all over the globe. Several fundamental values of
society have different meanings in different cultures. From one culture
to the next, clothing, religions (or lack thereof), food, drinks, pets, and
general behavior can differ dramatically.
Barriers to Attitude
Some people want to be left alone. They are introverts or people who
are socially awkward. Others prefer to be social or clingy at times!
Both of these scenarios have the potential to create a communication
barrier. Some people have problems with their attitudes, such as a
large ego and inconsiderate behaviour.
Barriers to Perception
Physiological Obstacles
The company should make assured that it is hiring the best people for
the job. The interviewer must ensure that the interviewee is fluent in
both written and spoken English. There should be a proper induction
program in place so that all workers are aware of the company's
policies. For required employees, proper training should be given (e.g.:
Voice and Accent training).
Noise is the primary contact obstacle that must be solved first and
foremost. It's important to pinpoint the source of noise and then
remove it.
Active listening:
Emotional State:
******
UNIT - II
CHAPTER – 1
NEED FOR BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Introduction
distributors, the media, the government, the general public, and so on.
• Factual
• Practical
• Persuasive
• Target oriented
Factual message
Practical
Persuasive
information.
Target oriented
1. Exchanging information:
5. Achieving objectives:
6. Problem-solving:
7. Making decisions:
1.Clarity
• objective
• content, and
• medium of communication.
• Avoiding jargon
Business Communication 91
• Avoiding ambiguity
Poor example:
Dear Ashok,
I would like to talk to you about the new client’s project which the
engineering team had discussed yesterday. I might need the help of
Peter from your team.
Regards,
Kashish
Good example:
Dear Ashok,
As you may know, we have signed up XYZ as our new client. I had a
meeting with the engineering team yesterday and had discussed the
campaign requirements for this project. Peter Thomas from your team
did a great job with the ABC social media campaign last time,
therefore I'd want him to work on the XYZ campaign as well. Would
you be available sometime tomorrow to discuss this further?
Regards
92 Business Communication
Kashish
2. Correct
Correctness implies
• At an appropriate time
• In a suitable style
Bad example:
Dear Danial,
Further to our conservation today, I am attaching the plan for the first
stage of the project. Hope the one weak deadline is okay with you and
your team.
Regards
Smith.
3. Complete
The message should be full, which means it should contain all of the
necessary information for the intended audience. The full information
answers all of the recipients' queries and assists the recipient in
making better decisions. Iterations, a lot of back-and-forths, and a
waste of time and effort on both ends are all consequences of
incomplete messages.
Bad example:
Hi all,
Thanks
Albert
Good example:
94 Business Communication
Hi all,
Thanks
Chris
4. Concrete
Bad example:
Good example:
“The jewel of the western hills is Hilltop Resort. Take a break from
your work. Get away from the chaos and stress of everyday life.
Hilltop is a great place to unwind and rejuvenate. Return refreshed
Business Communication 95
and revitalized!”
5. Concise
The message should be simple and direct. The sender should avoid
using long sentences and strive to deliver the message in as few words
as feasible. The concise message is more informative and aids in the
retention of the recipient's attention. Also, avoid using filler like ‘I
mean,' ‘sort of,' ‘for instance,' ‘basically,' and so on. Your message must
be precise, to the point, and short.
Bad example:
Hi Shamili,
I think we need to talk about the CSR campaign, I mean the one which
we need to do as a quarterly exercise. I think it is a great way of
enhancing our brand image. It would just be a visit to an orphanage
but we can sort of do other things too. For instance, we could take the
kids out for a short trip to a nearby park or zoo. Let us sit and talk
tomorrow.
Regards
96 Business Communication
Vaishali
The email is full of fillers and long words, wherein she could have
closed the email in just two sentences.
Good example:
Hi Shamili,
Regards
Vaishali
6. Consideration
Bad example:
Dear Sam,
Business Communication 97
Thanks for submitting the industry report. Finn will give you some
feedback on it. Finn also wanted to find out if you will be available for
the client meeting tomorrow. We will be discussing the budget for the
next phase of the project.
Regards
Sherlin.
The email was meant to be about the industry report that had been
submitted and the feedback for it. The meeting question had appeared
out of nowhere, and now it will divert Sam's attention away from his
priorities. Here the elements of connectivity and relevance are missing
in the message.
Good example:
Dear Sam,
Thanks for submitting the industry report. Finn will give you some
feedback on it. You will be receiving an email from him with detailed
comments.
Regards
Sherlin.
7. Courteous
It suggests that the sender must consider both the receiver's feelings
and viewpoints for the message to be positive and targeted at the
intended audience. The message must be non-biased and use language
that demonstrates respect for the recipient. In a business atmosphere,
98 Business Communication
Bad example:
Hi Antony,
Regards
Stalin
Good example:
Hi Antony,
Regards
Stalin
Conclusion
******
CHAPTER – 2
ERRORS IN COMMUNICATION
Introduction
1. Errors in communication
They are
• Wrong communication
• Partial communication
• No communication
15 https://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/poor-communications
Business Communication 103
Control form
People tend to obsess/ worry over what to say when they receive
unpleasant news. This could cause communication delays. This, in
turn, creates its own set of issues. It can be tough and unpleasant to
deal with adverse situations such as poor performance assessments,
disciplinary action, or terminated projects. Successful business
professionals communicate well and deal with the situation by
presenting facts and reasoning, rather than avoiding and putting it off,
which does not solve the problem.
Business Communication 105
Unconfirmed understanding:
• Low morale:
• Missed deadlines:
16 https://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/poor-communications
106 Business Communication
• Workplace conflict:
Your words are simply a small part of the message you provide to
your team. The effectiveness with which your communication is
delivered is highly influenced by your body language and tone of
voice. When dealing with staff, maintain a relaxed stance and facial
expression. Because this is a defensive position, keep your arms by
your sides rather than crossing them over your chest. While listening,
maintain eye contact, smile when appropriate, and nod your head
affirmatively.
This entails much more than simply asking, "Do you understand?".
You can always assume that if you ask employees directly if they
understand what you're saying, they'll say "yes," whether or not they
truly do. You can also assume the same thing about customers because
they don't always recognize they don't understand. Without putting
them on the spot, you can ask questions that infer whether or not they
"understand it." Then, if you discover that they don't entirely
understand what you've been attempting to say, you have another
chance to explain. But keep in mind that repetition isn't the same as
communication, so if they didn't get anything the first time, don't just
repeat yourself; find a fresh approach to communicate the information.
108 Business Communication
• Confirm Acceptance:
Finish your message with a precise "call to action." This is the point at
which you can put your abstract concepts or academic knowledge into
practice. Good ideas that aren't followed through on rarely stick
around. And, in most circumstances, the action should be reciprocal
(remember, communication is reciprocal), which means you must both
do your part and ask others to do theirs. You may find that your initial
exposure to these concepts is overwhelming, but if you focus on them
one by one, steadily improving your communication skills, you will
eventually acquire an extraordinary capacity to communicate in a
clear, crisp, and appropriate way that you can be glad of.
Uncertain goals
Cultural diversity
Poor leadership
Personal issues
Demoralization
opportunity to use their ideas and skills at work, they get discouraged.
Such personnel does not convey anything beyond what is required,
resulting in clogged lines of communication. Employees are more
creative, productive, and aware when they are respected.
1.3. No Communication
• It hinders progress
• Stay silent
• Staring blankly
• Mutual Hatred
• Low productivity
• Clarity of information
means that the communicator must first be clear in his mind about the
information he wishes to convey. Communication should always be in
plain, easy-to-understand language to avoid being misunderstood by
those who receive it.
• Adequacy of message
• Message Consistency:
• Feedback:
• Consultation:
• Choose a Medium:
Each channel has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Giving
a large list of instructions vocally, for example, isn't very useful, and
116 Business Communication
After deciding on the subject matter, the ideal way to transmit this
information should be selected. Oral and textual communication must
be thoroughly studied on all levels.
• Action to Support:
• Listening:
It necessitates that we focus not just on the clear ideas that another
person is conveying, but also on the implicit meanings, unsaid
phrases, and undertones that may be significantly more important.
Thus, if we are to know the inner man, we must learn to listen with the
inner ear.
*****
UNIT - III
CHAPTER – 1
BUSINESS LETTERS
Introduction- Business Letters
Business letters differ from personal letters in that they are structured
and formatted differently. A letter's structure is made up of several
elements. In official letters, the sections of a letter are arranged in a
specific order. Some sections of a business letter are required, while
others can be customized or optional. These various aspects, as well as
their location in the letter, should be familiar to the writer.
Printed business letters are still used for many significant, serious sorts
of correspondence, such as reference letters, employment verification,
job offers, and more, although email has surpassed it as the most
popular mode of communication. A business letter is sometimes useful
because it creates a permanent written record that the receiver may
take more seriously than other kinds of communication. Any sort of
correspondence sent between two parties is referred to as a business
letter. It can be about any subject and delivered by a variety of
channels, including email, normal mail, and hand delivery.
122 Business Communication
1. Meaning
2. Definition
Every firm must regularly advertise and develop its operations. The
business letter delivered to customers keeps all information about the
company's product and service up to date. It's also a micro-level
advertisement alternative. Customers' information is disseminated
across a vast area by agents and shops. It encourages goodwill. New
corporate relationships are being formed, and those that already exist
are becoming more powerful. Goodwill enhances an organization's
image and provides room for fair and ethical business practices. When
a letter is sent from an organization, it is categorized and filed when it
is received. Priorities can be set to guide future actions with outgoing
and incoming letter files. It has a high institutional value for assisting
in the expansion of trade and business or drawing a recession graph.
Legally, business letters are valid. They can supply enough proof to
resolve disagreements and doubts. Many concerns can be resolved if
letters are written through letters written by them, and transactions are
possible on reciprocal conditions.
Convey information
Demand generation:
Promotion of goodwill:
Business expansion:
Relationship building:
Supporting evidence:
Business letters are also used to keep track of documents. Letters can
be saved and referred to in the future.
To enquire about
To place an Order:
Problem-solving:
have one deficiency that detracts from the overall beauty of a complete
letter.
A bad letter looks out of place because of one or more of its flaws,
which could include any of the following:
• Long paragraphs
• Lack of customization
• A lack of courtesy
• Is it a source of ill-will?
• Incorrect address
Business Communication 127
• Incomplete address
Because this must be done in a competitive world, one bad letter might
pose a danger to the company's reputation. Letters that are poorly
written cause discomfort to the people who run the company and
create a negative impression on the firm.
A smart business letter can address the prospect while also paving the
way for the sales pitch. A well-written business letter can be a
powerful seller. An excellent business letter can enhance the
relationship with an existing customer and provide further
information.
1. Clarity
Imagine the embarrassment that occurs when people who are not
supposed to be invited show up at the site and are turned away, or
when people who are supposed to attend the meeting believe there is
merely an invitation and hence fail to show up! Any firm suffers when
this occurs as a result of a lack of clarity in communication. This is just
one example. There are multiple ways in which the letter's primary
goal is hampered by its lack of clarity. A letter writer should be aware
of this and take precautions.
2. Impact:
The letter should have the desired impact. Every letter has a goal, and
the letter should be clear about what it is for. The goal of creating a
letter isn't merely to communicate with a consumer. Every letter is
meant to have an impact that must be felt.
3. Relevant Information:
The letter should include all of the pertinent information that is part of
the message. The letter should include accurate and reliable facts,
figures, pictures, and any such material that is pertinent to the
130 Business Communication
communication's context.
4. Brevity:
Conciseness is the ability to say exactly what one wants to say in the
fewest possible words while maintaining completeness and politeness.
Conciseness eliminates excessive words and phrases, as well as
repeating sentences, keeping the letter focused.
5. Simplicity:
A letter written in a basic, easy, informal style with terms that are
easily comprehended grabs the reader's attention and makes an
impression. Simplicity in writing, on the other hand, does not always
reflect simple or plain concepts.
Though the thoughts are complex, and the subject is also complex,
how they are expressed or presented is kept simple. To convey
complex things and issues merely requires a great deal of
understanding and talent.
132 Business Communication
6. Timeliness:
Such letters reflect negatively on both the organisation and the sender
of the message, in addition to contradicting the goal of
communication. If the activity requested is so urgent, the sender owes
it to the recipient to make a clear indication of the urgency by assuring
quick communication.
7. Language:
Many printed letters are dual since they are written in both Hindi and
English. Business letters should be written in a language that the
potential, client, or addressee can understand. Choosing the right
language for a major multi-national or multi-regional organisation is
critical not just for advancing corporate goals, but also for ensuring
that specific people's emotions are not insulted.
While the letter writer may or may not reach grammatical perfection,
severe and visible grammatical flaws do not deserve indecent writing.
When in doubt, a good letter writer should double-check his grammar.
A business letter with obvious poor grammar, regardless of its other
advantages, leaves a negative impression on the reader.
A competent letter writer always tries to see things from the other
person's perspective. Empathy is another requirement for a good
writer. When a letter indicates insight and appreciation of the reader's
impact, it demonstrates empathy. It informs the reader about what
provokes their interest. In an excellent letter, the word "you" appears
Business Communication 135
more frequently than "I." An excellent letter helps the reader feel good
about themselves.
9. Writing style:
Style is related to the individual who is writing the letter and has a
particular personality. ‘Right words in proper places' is another
definition of style. Personal or impersonal, internal or external,
narrative or descriptive, rambling or focused, compassionate or harsh,
simple or longwinded can be described in a variety of ways. A basic,
informal, caring, and focused writing style performs well when it
comes to establishing a connection with the reader.
The right use of idioms and terms is also part of a good writing style.
The way concepts are employed in a language is referred to as idiom.
It is a unique way of expressing oneself in a language. English, like
every other language, has its own set of slang.
Thoughts and words must be in sync. It's important not to lose sight of
the main goal. The letter should inspire and drive the reader to act or
respond in the manner depicted in the illustration. Extreme emotional
states such as sadness, depression, wrath, frustration, or shock make it
impossible to write good letters. Such letters may lack the overall
approach so balancing is important for effective writing. A decent
letter, too, cannot be written in a hurry. It is necessary to devote
sufficient time to putting thoughts into words and selecting the most
acceptable ones for the situation. The writer should devote sufficient
Business Communication 137
time writing the letter, paying close attention to all essential aspects.
A positive attitude does not imply that one must say "yes" to
everything; after all, every firm has its own set of commercial reasons.
It has its own set of rules, standards, and requirements. If it is
commercially unwise and the specified rules are not met, one cannot
say yes.
As a result, good letter writing is the art of learning to say "no" but
wrapping it attractively. It's the art of expressing "no" in a pleasant
manner. It's the art of winning over a customer even if you're losing
the deal or transaction. The business proposal may or may not meet
expectations, but the message should nonetheless create a positive
impression.
******
CHAPTER – 2
TYPES OF BUSINESS LETTER
Introduction
While business letters are still important, they can harm your
professional reputation if they are riddled with grammatical and
spelling problems. A poorly structured business letter can also imply
that the writer is inexperienced, unprofessional, or lacks attention to
140 Business Communication
detail, all of which are negative first (or second) impressions that no
business owner wants to make.
In general, letters are divided into two categories: personal and non-
personal. Personal letters are informal letters designed to share
information or ask for favours. Personal letters are written to relatives
and friends. Personal letters are written in a casual, friendly tone.
Business letters, on the other hand, are non-personal and are typically
written in a formal tone.
For the sake of convenience, we can divide business letters into the
following kinds17
5. Collection letters
B. 1. Circular letters;
2. Sales letters
C. 1. Bank Correspondence;
2. Insurance Correspondence
3. Import-Export Correspondence
4. Agency Correspondence
D. 1. Application letters;
It's not difficult to learn the art of essay writing. A solid foundation for
writing excellent business letters can be built with a good command of
the language and regular reading and writing. A business letter is, in
truth, nothing more than an interaction- communication by post/mail.
If we had the opportunity to speak with the reader about the letter's
subject matter in person, we should write as naturally as possible.
There are various things we may do to make sure our letter is the
greatest we can write. The easiest way to determine whether our letter
is acceptable and effective is to put ourselves in the shoes of the
recipient and consider how we would respond to our message. Is it
likely to irritate or bother us? Is this the type of letter we'd want to get?
Would it compel us to follow the letter's instructions? We should read
the letter aloud or have it read to us by someone else. Our ears will
pick up on problems that our eyes might miss.
1. Stationery:
2. Typing:
3. Margin of safety:
4. Folding Techniques:
5. Envelope:
The envelope must have the same colour and quality as the letter it
holds. The envelope should be the same size as the letter's typed
paper.
1. Heading
2. Date
3. Inside Address
4. Attention line
5. Salutation
6. Subject
7. Reference
8. Body
9. Complimentary close
Business Communication 145
10. Signature
11. Enclosure.
1. Heading
2. Date
On the letter sheet, the date should be written in the top right corner.
It's usually written two or three spaces below the letterhead's last line.
(i) 10 July 1999, in the sequence of the day, month, and year.
(ii) July 10, 1999, in the order of month, day, and year. Both
approaches are valid.
3. Inside Address:
The inside address includes the names and addresses of the person or
company to whom the letter is addressed. It's usually two spaces just
above the attention line and two spaces just below date level. If there is
no attention line, it is placed in the left margin above the salutation.
The whole address, including the person's name, firm, street, and road,
should be written exactly as it appears in the source from which you
obtained the address. It's not a good idea to shorten the specifics.
Smt.
4. Line of Attention:
5. Salutation:
6. Subject:
The objective of the subject line is to inform the reader about the
message right away. The reader can tell what the letter is about just by
looking at it. Between the salutation and the first line of the body, this
line is usually typed in double space.
For example:
Dear Sirs,
7. Reference:
The body of a letter is the most significant component. The goal of this
Business Communication 147
10. Signature:
The writer's signature signifies his or her agreement with the letter's
subject matter. It's next to the complementing close.
11. Enclosure:
Here's a business letter template that one can use as a guide when they
need to create:
[Name]
[Company name]
[Street address]
[Phone number]
[Fax number]
[Email address]
[Date]
[Recipient's name]
[Company name]
[Street address]
[Subject]
[Body paragraph 1]
[Body paragraph 2]
[Closing paragraph]
Sincerely,
[Enclosures]
******
CHAPTER – 3
ENQUIRIES AND REPLIES
Introduction- Enquiries
1. Definition
• To request a catalogue
• To request folders
3. Types of enquiries
Depending on the goal, the information sought, and actions are taken,
different sorts of inquiries may be made. Enquiry letters are divided
into four categories:
• Solicited
• Unsolicited
• Favour and
form of enquiry.
An enquiry for a favour is made not for items but other information
such as a particular price or advantageous terms.
So, while there are various forms of enquiries, the bottom line is that
the success of an enquiry is determined by how it is written.
4.1. Dont’s
• Avoid apologies—do not say things such as, "We beg you to
send.....," etc.
Specimen Letters
Example 1: Ask a firm of furniture dealers to send their price list and
catalogue.
SUNNY FURNITURE
23 M.G.Road, Bengaluru.
Hubli
Dear Sirs
Kindly send us your latest illustrated catalogue and price list of ‘Home
Furniture’.
Yours faithfully
Kushal
Proprietor
MOTAWALA CONSTRUCTIONS
Dear Sirs,
Kindly send us your catalogue and price list for wholesale purchases.
Since our annual requirements in metal fittings of all kinds exceed Rs.3
lakh, we would like to place regular orders with you. Hence, please
quote your most favorable prices and terms.
Yours faithfully
21 February 2021
To
The Manager
Learn a Language
Connaught Place
Uttarakhand- 248001
Sir/ Ma’am
• Course material
• Class schedule
Please attach the complete brochure along with the letter. I look
forward to a quick response regarding the enquiry.
Thanking you
Yours truly
Kritika
Example 4: You are Sahil Tuteja, the Sports Secretary of your school.
Write a letter to Globe Enterprises, New Delhi, a leading firm
dealing in sports goods, requesting them to supply their trade
catalogue. You may mention the items you intend to buy and ask for
a discount on the catalogue prices.
ABN School
Mathura
10 March, 20XX
New Delhi
158 Business Communication
Dear Sirs
We have to buy sports material in bulk for various games and sports
for our school for the new academic session beginning w.e.f. 1st April.
Your firm has been mentioned to us as one of the best dealers in sports
goods.
I hope you will facilitate business by quoting the lowest possible rates.
I am confident that you will patronize us by giving some discount also.
Please mention the rate of discount on the catalogue prices.
Yours faithfully
Sahil Tuteja
Sports Secretary
REPLY LETTER
Introduction
The reply letter is the letter written in response to the enquiry letter.
Even if the response is unfavourable, enquiries must be responded to
as soon as possible. As a result, a reply letter is a letter written in
response to a letter of inquiry. The letter of response should be written
as soon as feasible. A timely response indicates that the seller is well-
versed in business etiquette and has genuine regard for the buyer's
Business Communication 159
concerns.
When the seller can provide, the response will include all of the
relevant information for the prospective buyer. The reply letter is
accompanied by attachments such as a quotation, catalogue, terms,
and conditions (credit, payment, discount, shipping, etc.), demo
copies, order form, special coupons, and so on. Any questioned
information should be responded to in the reply letter.
Replies should be written in the style of a sales letter and include all of
the information requested, which means that the reply letter might
include any additional information about all of the offers. The seller
may have introduced a new product or service that may spark the
attention of an existing customer or a potential customer for another
product.
Specimen Letters
The Proprietor
Modern Furniture
Belgaum.
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your enquiry of July 25. We are glad to enclose the
illustrated catalogue and price list of “Home Furniture”.
Our normal trade discount is 15% and 5% extra for bulk orders
Business Communication 161
The catalogue and price list will be described to you about our
products to your satisfaction. However, if you need further details or
assistance in meeting your customer’s special requirements, you
should feel free to write to us.
Yours faithfully,
Shyam Partner
Encl.:
1. Catalogue
2. Price List
Railway Road Aligarh Dear Sir, We thank you for your enquiry of 25th
February and are glad to know that you are interested in our products.
You will be happy to know that Aligarh Brass Fitting's items are
approved by the ISI. Using our fittings will give you the satisfaction
that you are using the finest fittings now available in the market and
are getting the maximum value for your money. The enclosed
catalogue will give you all the necessary details about the handles,
hinges doorknobs, etc. that you might be needing. You will find our
prices-F.O.B. any place in India- very competitive. Given the large
business promised, you will also get a special trade discount of 5
percent on all orders and an additional 5 percent on all orders
exceeding Rs. 25,000.
162 Business Communication
Yours faithfully,
Signature
Encl:
1. Catalogue
******
CHAPTER – 4
QUOTATIONS
Introduction
The customer used to check over all of the quotes and choose the one
that best met his or her needs. It isn't always the case that the cheapest
quote is the best. It is vital to go through all of the information
regarding the level of service provided, the projected completion time,
and so on. As a result, the quotation should aim to convince the buyer
of the merits of accepting the offer.
'On the spot' is what Loco means. As a result, the loco price refers to
the cost of items at the seller's factory or godown. Once the items have
left the seller's factory or warehouse, the buyer is responsible for all
costs associated with transporting the goods from the seller's
warehouse to the buyer's location. This is the most affordable price.
Free On Rail (FOR) price quotation covers the expenses of carrying the
goods to the railway station nearest to the seller plus the loading
expenses, freight, and unloading expenses are to be borne by the
buyer.
The cost of the products, as well as all expenses such as carriage to the
seller's nearest station, dock and loading taxes, and freight, are all
included in the Cost and Freight (C & F) price quotation. The buyer is
responsible for costs such as insurance, unloading, and cartage to the
buyer's location.
The cost of the products as well as any costs associated with delivering
the goods to the seller's nearest terminal are included in the Free
Alongside Ship (FAS) pricing quotation. In addition to the cost of the
products, the buyer is responsible for the costs of loading, insurance,
freight, and customs duty, among other things. This quotation is
popular in various nations, but not in India.
In Cash With Order (CWO) price quotation, the buyer has to send cash
along with the order, otherwise, the order may not be executed.
In Cash On Delivery (COD) price quotation, the buyer has to pay cash
Business Communication 167
Specimen Letter
From
Sarah Livingston,
SP Road,
Bangalore.
Date:29/9/20..
To
Ellen Pierce,
Centurion Company,
MG Road,
Bangalore.
I hereby write this letter to inquire about mobile phones that I wish to
purchase for my shop Germs Mobile Accessories. Centurion Company
is a reputed company in selling high-quality mobile accessories and
we aim at providing our customers with only the best.
1. VR Headset
2. Zoom lens
168 Business Communication
3. Solar charger
6. Selfie flashlight
Thank you.
Yours Sincerely,
Sarah Livingston
To
Kay Ventilation
Mumbai.
My house is 4500 square feet and used two individual central air
conditioning units. There are about 6000 feet of ventilation piping that
Business Communication 169
Kindest Regards,
Azhil.
Because we haven’t had the pleasure of trading with you before, and
to show how much we value your potential business, we will give you
a one-year discount of $11,000 per month, providing you agree to
terms within the next 30 days.
We look forward to working with Shirts Zone and hope this is the
beginning of a long and prosperous relationship.
Yours Sincerely,
Ajeet Kalyana
August 1, 2013.
170 Business Communication
Shahkanj, Agra.
Yours sincerely,
Biharilal, Manager
ABC LIMITED
Ref: MQ/EXP/23/2615
To :
Johannesburg,
SOUTH AFRICA.
Dear Sirs,
In your enquiry, you have mentioned that in the event of an order, the
items should be air freighted. Though we feel that despatching by ship
will reduce the landed cost, urgency in getting the motors fast.
Quantity: 1000Nos
Kindly note that the necessary import license and special duties as
stipulated by your government will be taken care of by you. The
transaction will be between us two and as such no intermediary
agency will be involved.
In case you would like to test one toy motor before confirming the
order for the entire quantity, we will be pleased to airfreight one unit
absolutely free of cost.
We do hope that our offer is in line with your requirement. Should you
require any further details, please feel free to contact us. You can rest
assured that we will reply to you promptly.
Yours faithfully,
(GEORGE K. THOMAS)
MARKETING MANAGER
Business Communication 173
******
CHAPTER – 5
ORDERS AND EXECUTION
ORDER LETTER
• Payment information
An order letter must include all of the details about the items being
requested. The following are examples of such information:
176 Business Communication
• Quantity
• Catalogue number
• Model number
• Colour
• Size
• Weight
• Unit price
The method of payment for the requested items' prices must be clearly
stated. The vendor will only accept the order letter if the two of them
can agree on a price payment method. The following is a list of
payment information:
• Payment date
Business Communication 177
2. Execution of an order:
When the seller is unable to fulfill the order in line with the terms and
circumstances stated in it, complications may occur. In this instance,
the selling firm should not execute the order until it has determined
whether the buyer intends the transaction to be executed on conditions
other than those specified in the order. To persuade the buyer to
accept the terms supplied by it, the latter may have to use a lot of good
business skills.
Specimen Letter
5 January 2021
178 Business Communication
To
Dear Sir
I would like to place an order with you for the following books.
Kindly ensure that the books are of the latest edition and in proper
state. It is a request to deliver these books latest by 5 January 2021 and
bills for the same shall be cleared at the time of delivery. Please offer a
suitable discount on the purchase.
Thanking you
Yours faithfully
Vaibhav
Business Communication 179
Library Manager
Color World
15; New Market, Delhi.
Manager,
Sales Division
To
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your quotation and the price list. We are glad to place
our first order with you for the following items:
Since the above goods are required immediately as our stock is about
to exhaust very soon. We request you to send the goods through your
“Motor” van as the carriage inward is supposed to be borne by you.
We shall arrange payment within ten (10) days. Please send all
180 Business Communication
Yours faithfully,
Mohammed Inshad
Purchase Manager,
Color world.
Goverdhan Chowraha,
Mathura.
The Manager,
Dear Sir,
We have come to know that you supply the HCL PCs. We place an
order of 50 HCL PCs at the rates given in your catalogue excluding the
packing charges. We hope that the consignment would reach us within
15days of the placing of this order with you. Our cheque to cover your
bill will be sent to you as soon as the goods reach us and are found
satisfactory.
Please send the consignment on time and also take special care in
packaging the goods so that they may reach us in good condition.
Yours sincerely,
Business Communication 181
Madan Mohan.
16 February - 20...
To
The Manager,
Dear Sir,
We heartily thank you for your order of the 2nd February for some of
our publications. But we regret to say that we are unable to execute
your order at the present as our stock of these books is exhausted.
The books ordered are being reprinted and we expect them to be ready
for sale by the end of this month. We are, therefore, keeping your
order before us and unless we hear from you to the contrary, we shall
be glad to execute your order as and when the books are ready for
sale.
Yours Faithfully,
182 Business Communication
Vasu
Manager
*******
CHAPTER – 6
COMPLAINTS AND ADJUSTMENTS
Introduction
Customers that are happy with their service might become key
partners for any company. Customer testimonials always have a
greater influence than any promotional efforts. Customer happiness is
critical to the success of any organization. When a customer discovers
when something goes wrong with the goods or equipment, his
confidence is affected; the response must be tailored to this and regain
his self-assurance. The company must know whether or not the
customers are satisfied. Because many clients, when they are
dissatisfied, simply stop transacting, rather than complaining. By
lowering the risk, the seller goes to great lengths to satisfy the buyer's
inconveniences. However, it is impossible to eliminate difficulties
because customers' expectations may be higher than the seller's offer.
184 Business Communication
Customers are becoming more aware of their wants and needs, as well
as the laws that safeguard their rights. As a result, it is even more
critical to resolve consumer concerns peacefully so that they do not
disseminate negative information about the seller. A company's poor
reputation and irresponsible attitude can be harmful to its success. In
today's world of increasing competition, it's critical to assure customer
happiness and respond quickly to any dissatisfaction.
2. Types
3. ADJUSTMENTS
Calculated compensation
Buyer beware
The customer isn't believed by the seller. The buyer is regarded as the
least significant by the seller. In most cases, the seller will not listen to
the customer's objections. Customers are viewed as mere manipulators
by them.
Possible adjustments:
Even if the buyer complains about the inconvenience, the seller has the
option to negotiate or make additional adjustments. Either of the
policies may be followed by the vendor. If the seller follows the first or
second policies, the seller will make modifications. When the vendor
follows the third policy, however, the complaint is simply ignored.
The vendor may compensate the customers by selecting one or more of
the following adjustments or a combination of adjustments.
• Financial compensation
• Goods replacement
Specimen Letter:
H.No.58 Block-D
Sector 26, Rohini
New Delhi- 110085
11 February 2021
To
Customer Service Manager
Ganesh Electronics Pvt. Ltd.
Rohini, New Delhi- 110085
Dear Sir
The music system worked properly for one month but it has not been
functioning properly for the past three days. The sound breaks whilst
the songs are being played and the system hangs multiple times.
Coupled with this, the songs stop playing abruptly and require the
system to be restarted. Since the music system is still in the warranty
period of six months, I wish to get it replaced at the earliest.
I request you to look into this matter without any delay and provide a
new working music system of the same brand. I have enclosed a copy
of the bill of purchase for your reference. Looking forward to your
early response.
Thanking you
Yours truly,
Business Communication 191
Gauri
Revathi Multimedia
Kolkatta
Sales Manager
Long-Lasting Electronics
Kolkatta - 200
This is to inform you that the goods we ordered from your company
have not been supplied in exact quantity as ordered.
I am writing to ask you to up for the shortcoming and ensure that such
occurrences do not happen again. Otherwise, we may have to look
elsewhere for our supplies.
192 Business Communication
Yours sincerely.
Purchasing Officer
1.8.2013
Noida-20311, India.
Dear Sir,
Yours sincerely,
Anil Mehta.
Purchase Manager
B.S. Street,
Pune.
Pune.
As per your claim and details regarding the matter, it has been found
that your claim of Rs. 10000 for the broken furniture stands
legitimately. We have already dispatched the cheque through
registered mail at the address provided by you. It will reach your
doorsteps within 2 working days. The damage to your items was a
result of a mishap whilst transporting them. It was an unfortunate
accident and a big mistake that the items were not checked before
delivery. We take all the responsibility for the damage and the
inconvenience caused to you.
I must remind you to keep the damaged items in the same condition in
which you received them until our representatives can inspect them.
The inspection should take place within 2 weeks. You will be informed
beforehand so that you can provide us with the timings which suit you
the most.
Sincerely,
Richard Brooke
Mumbai
Dear Richard
This is about your complaint dated 15th January 2018. We are very
sorry that a broken bicycle had been delivered to your address. We
take these things very sincerely and can sympathize with you for the
inconvenience caused to you due to us.
Thanking You
Yours sincerely
Joe Mendes
Business Communication 195
*******
CHAPTER – 7
NOTICES, RESPONSE & ANNOUNCEMENT
Introduction
• Title:
• Date:
The date on which the notices were published is printed after the tile
on the left-hand side. Because this is a formal document, the date is
significant because these records are kept on file.
• Heading:
• Body:
After the heading, the body of the notice is written in a concise and to-
the-point manner. The body of the notice contains the most important
information.
• Writer's Name:
At the end of the notices, we write the writer's name and designation.
Business Communication 199
Content
• What:
• Where:
• When:
This is the event's or meeting's time and date. The timeframe of the
event should be given if possible so that participants may plan their
time accordingly.
• Who:
• Whom:
The last element to consider is who to contact or reach out to. This
specifies who should be contacted for further information.
200 Business Communication
Specimen of notice
Example 1:
On the occasion of Diwali, your housing society has planned a feast for
all its members. As the chairman of your society write a notice inviting
all the members of the society to this gathering. Provide all the
necessary details.
Ans:
NOTICE
Diwali Gathering
XYZ
Business Communication 201
New York-1000
Notice is hereby given that the statutory meeting of the company will
be held on March 30, 2012, at 12 p.m. in the registered office of the
company according to section ……………. Of company Act. 1994.
Mr. John
Secretary
Of directors.
Dear Sir,
Sincerely yours
John
Secretary
Agenda:
1. ……………………………
2…………………………….
3……………………………
3. Response
A response letter should answer the question posed in the initial letter.
Carefully read the original letter. Find out what the writer requires
Business Communication 203
and start thinking about how you can give the information.
2. If you don't already know, find out what information the letter
requests:
You may not be aware of the information requested in the letter you
received. Before responding to the letter, do everything you can to
figure out how to address the writer's question.
• The letter could, for example, inquire about the status of a job
application. If you're not involved in the recruiting process, call
the hiring manager to inquire about the status of your
application before responding.
• If the person to whom you delivered the letter may take some
time to react, it's a good idea to inform the original writer that
you've passed the letter on to someone who is better prepared
to respond. This informs the writer that their message has been
received and is being processed.
204 Business Communication
Always begin with a courteous salutation, such as "Dear," and then the
person's name. Instead of using a generic greeting like "To Whom It
May Concern," greet the person directly. This seems cold and
impersonal as if the request was handled by a machine. Instead,
addressing the person by their first name is more personal and
demonstrates that this response was written with care.
• Use the titles Mr., Mrs., or Ms., followed by the person's last
name, if you don't know them personally. Use this instead if
the person has a well-known title, such as Dr.
• If you don't know the person's gender, call them by their first
name.
• As a general rule, start the letter with the same name and title
as the person who signed it. If they signed their letter "Dr.
Johnson," for instance, start your letter with "Dear Dr.
Johnson."
Let the reader know you're responding to their letter in the opening
sentence. This informs the reader that their letter has been received
and processed, as well as the message's purpose. [5]
• If you are not the person to whom the recipient addressed the
letter, state where you received it. "Our customer service agent,
Michelle Harris, forwarded your mail to me," for instance.
Business Communication 205
Get to the point of the letter after the introduction. Answer each issue
or concern raised in the person's initial letter to the best of your ability.
Make certain you've covered all of the bases so the person is satisfied
with your response.
• Explain what the original letter was asking for, and then
respond to the inquiry. “Your letter, for example, inquired as to
who the contact person for media queries is. Janet Walters is
the person in question. Her phone number and email address
are as follows.”
You may not always be able to meet a person's request. Tell it like it is.
Don't try to soften the blow with a long-winded response. A
straightforward, direct response to their inquiry would be much
appreciated by your receiver. To avoid offending your recipient,
remember to always be nice and apologize while doing so.
• Ask the person for a response if you think you might be able to
answer the question with more information. “I'd like to
respond to your inquiry, but I need to learn more about your
206 Business Communication
Always be gracious and thank the recipient for their letter, whether or
not you were able to fulfill their request. This demonstrates that you
value their time and attention, as well as maintaining a healthy
relationship with the letter writer.
• Write your name, title, firm (if relevant), and address in the
upper left corner. Write the date beneath that. Finally, include
the person's full name and address in your response.
• Use 1-inch (2.5 cm) margins around the border of typed letters.
The text should be single-spaced with two spaces between
paragraphs.
2. Make the receiver believe you are pleased to receive their request.
• Never convey the impression that you are irritated with the
individual who is writing to you. It's preferable to be overly
208 Business Communication
4. Announcement
On November 14th, join us for a special BBQ and live music in the
morning. On that day, we'll give you an extra 10% off anything in our
store.
Our entire stock must be sold! Come see us at 345 Greenlawn Road in
Lousiville for some fantastic furniture at unbeatable pricing!
Sincerely,
Grecian Furniture
Business Communication 211
Dear Sir/Madam,
With thanks
Yours faithfully
Vinod.
******
UNIT - IV
CHAPTER – 1
REPORTS
Introduction
The term report comes from the Latin word 'reportare', which means
'to bring back.' Over time, it has come to mean that the information
acquired is unbiased and evidence-based over time.
1. Definition
2. Importance of report
Reports are written for a wide range of purposes. The following are
Business Communication 217
1. Precision:
2. Factual Specifications:
3. Relevance:
4. Reader Focus:
5. Credibility of Recommendations:
7. Brevity:
8. Format Specification:
Each report has its own format. That has to specify properly. For
example, the technical report follows a standard format that contains a
cover page, a title page, and a table of contents, appendices, table of
contents, and list of illustrations
9. Illustrations:
10. Homogeneity:
11. Documentation:
Types
220 Business Communication
On the basis of
legal formalities On the On the On the basis of On the basis of the
to be complied basis of the basis of nature of number of persons
with frequency of function subject dealt entrusted with the
issue with drafting of reports
• Formal
• Informal
Informal Report:
Formal Report:
Non-statutory reports are formal reports that are not required by law
but are created to assist management in formulating policies or
making other crucial decisions. A report can be classified as periodic
or special depending on how often it is published.
• Periodic
• Special
• Informative
• Interpretative
• Fact-finding report
• Performance report
• Technical report
• Reports by individuals
224 Business Communication
Individual reports give our clients the essential information they need
to verify who they're dealing with, and they can also be used to keep
track of existing customers to ensure safe and secure business.
Individual reports are those submitted by the Branch Manager,
Personal Manager, Marketing Manager, Company Secretary, Auditor,
Solicitor, and others. These reports are closely tied to their respective
departments' activities.
Reports on matters that affect more than one department are often
required, or they are so significant that more than one person is
assigned to them. Committees or sub-committees are constituted in
such instances to prepare reports. These reports are formal in language
and impersonal in tone, and they are written after the members have
discussed carefully and cautiously.
(ii) How much time has been scheduled out for the report's
preparation?
(i) It's possible that the reporter was told to write a specific type of
report, or that there were standards to follow. However, in the vast
majority of cases, he will have to decide whether to make an informal
or formal report and if a formal report, whether it is a statutory or non-
statutory report. A reporter must be clear on the lines along which he
will design the content, form, and style of the report from the outset.
(ii). The amount of time the writer has been given to create the report
can provide useful insight into the type of report that is expected. If
time is limited, an informal report outlining a key feature of a problem
may be acceptable. However, if there is enough time to perform a full
investigation of the problem and, if necessary, conduct some research,
the reporter will be required to prepare a formal report with precise
conclusions and, possibly, specific recommendations.
(iii). Before choosing the type of report required, keep in mind the goal
of the report. If the writer is asked to prepare a report on whether his
company should open a new branch that will require a significant
initial investment, or whether merging into or collaborating with
another company is a good idea, these are very important issues that
require very carefully written formal reports.
(iv) Just as it's critical to remember the report's aim, it's also critical to
be continually aware of what exactly has to be researched and studied.
Such understanding will prevent a lot of unnecessary work while also
assisting in the inclusion of everything relevant to an issue and making
the report a full document in every way. Assume that a bank's
Development Manager has been asked to submit a report on the
feasibility of opening a branch in a new colony. What exactly will be
examined? (a) Is this a residential, business, or industrial community?
(a) Is it primarily industrial or commercial properties? (c) If it's a
residential neighborhood, how many people live there, what is their
overall style of living, and what is their potential saving capacity? Will
226 Business Communication
(v). While going over the company's old files or doing a market
survey, the owner is likely to come across several interesting details
that look to be important but aren't. It will be difficult to resist the urge
to incorporate them in the report.
(vi) Last but not least, consider who will be reading the report. If the
report is intended for the Research Director, it should include a
complete, step-by-step summary of the investigations conducted, as
well as detailed, minutely reported findings. If, on the other hand, the
report is being sent to the Managing Director, who you know has
implicit faith in you and is more interested in your ideas, they must be
highlighted both at the beginning and at the end. This is nicely stated
by B. Maude.21
6. Preparing a report
It's time to get down to business. Once you've determined the aim of
producing a report, the people for whom it's intended, the data to be
studied and included, and the amount of time you have available, as
well as the type of report you'll be writing, it's time to get to work. The
following five steps to writing a report are proposed in Write Better,
Speak Better.22
• Taking notes
• Making an outline
Note-taking:
Outlining:
Once the final pattern of the report has emerged in the writer's
thoughts, he should create an outline to help him write it. The problem
is described, the facts are documented, briefly investigated, and a
logical conclusion is reached in this framework. Although an outline is
not required, it can be highly useful when creating a systematic report.
Business Communication 229
The final step is to write the report. It will be necessary to switch back
and forth between the outline and the notes regularly. A basic draft of
the report is first created. It is then rewritten, trimmed, and polished. If
the writer has more time on his hands, he may find it beneficial to
return to his rough copy after a couple of days. Because of the short
time frame, his revision work will be quite valuable. The writer should
also ensure that the report's language is basic, clear, and devoid of
grammatical errors. It's now time to type it up and submit it in a
suitable format.
******
CHAPTER – 2
LAYOUT OF REPORT
Introduction
The structure of a good business report must be clear, short, and easy
to understand for the target audience. Business reports, as the name
implies, are required to give data followed by required analysis to aid
senior management, investors, or business teams in making wise
decisions.
Business reports are widely employed in firms, and any executive who
can create an efficient report writing style would benefit greatly.
Business reports exist in a variety of formats, ranging from large
formal reports to shorter departmental reports. As a result, the writing
style should relate to the content of the report.
1. Letter form
2. Memorandum form
Introduction:
The terms of reference and the subject of study are presented in the
introductory lines. In this section, the writer explains the difficulty he
is facing in light of the terms of reference and the surrounding
circumstances.
Findings:
Recommendations
Sample Memo
Memorandum
Business Communication 233
01 January 2017
You are requested to extract the details of the buyers buying more than
Rs. 5,000/- per month within 10 days and send the details to the head
office. Individualized offers will be given from the head office for each
customer in next 7 days.
I. Introductory parts
I. Introductory Material
(a) Forwarding
(c) Preface,
234 Business Communication
(d) Acknowledgements,
(e) Contents,
(a) Introduction
(ii) Methodology
(b) Findings
(c) Conclusions
(d) Recommendations
(a) Appendix
(c) Bibliography
(d) Glossary
(e) Index
Title Page:
The title page identifies the report, as its name implies so that it can be
given to those who are authorized to receive it. The title page should
also provide enough information to allow the report to be easily
retrieved once it has been stored. This page should be well-designed
because it is the first thing the reader sees, and first impressions are
crucial!
Table of Contents:
The table of contents lists the main sections or chapters that appear in
the report and the page number for each.
Executive Summary:
Introduction section:
The opening should state the report's goals and objectives as well as
provide background information on the topic under investigation or
discussion. Furthermore, the report's author(s) should describe how
the data included in the report was acquired, as well as how the report
is formatted.
so that the reader can easily follow the author's line of reasoning. The
most important findings are usually placed towards the beginning of
the section. To split huge sections of text down into smaller
paragraphs, utilize a system of headings, subheadings, and numbers.
Conclusions Section:
The main findings are evaluated in this section. Any findings drawn
should be fair and unbiased, and should not be used to showcase the
author's personal preferences.
Recommendations:
Bibliography:
Appendices:
Glossary:
Signature:
The person(s) who has (have) filed the report must date and sign it. If a
report prepared by a committee or a sub-committee is extremely
significant, all members of the committee or sub-committee may sign
it; otherwise, the Chairman's signature will suffice. Only the assenting
members may sign the report if it is not unanimous. Members who
disagree with the majority report may submit a separate minority
report or sign the majority report with a note of disagreement.
Finally, proofread the report before printing to check that there are no
spelling issues and that the page numbers in the table of contents
corresponding to the pages on which the report's headers appear!
******
CHAPTER – 3
FORMS OF REPORT
Introduction
There are a variety of reasons why reports are written. They will be
expected to assess performance, monitor ongoing activities, plan for
the organization's future needs, do market research, and produce
standardised data and so on.
Covers
Contents
Front Matter:
Title page
The title page includes the publication's actual, correct title. The date of
publishing could also be included on the title page (month and year
with no comma between them).
Acknowledgments:
On the back of the title page, there are acknowledgments. The author
mentions or expresses gratitude in this section.
Executive summary:
End matter
The primary text of the report is called the body of the report.
Disclaimer
Appendixes:
When essential information is either too long or too detailed to fit into
the report's main text, it is supplied in one or more appendices.
Appendices may also incorporate charts or graphs.
2. Periodic Reports
Both progress reports and site reports have a lot in common. Progress
reports keep track of overall business activity as well as individual
improvements. A site report examines business operations as well, but
it also contains suggestions for improvement. A feasibility report, the
last type of periodic report, is intended to examine whether a change
of strategy is possible or in the best interests of the company.
This guide will walk you through the steps of creating a successful
periodic report for your company, business unit, or site. This strategy
is universal and can be used practically anywhere, and it is guaranteed
to impress, inform, and influence.23
Step 1: Gather the facts and data you'll need to fill out your report.
23 https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Periodic-Report
242 Business Communication
The report should start with a broad remark about how the
facility/organization/unit did over the period, indicating whether it
was average, excellent, or below par. Next, if there were major hurdles,
state them as briefly as possible and refer to a section of the report
where the obstacles are detailed in greater depth. This part must be
concise, therefore just include a maximum of two unresolved
difficulties, preferably one.
These are the resources that allow you to realize your goals, such as
people, machinery, facilities, energy resources, budget, cash, and so
on. If any of these presented a problem throughout the time, identify
the person/office to whom you addressed the problem and what action
was taken (or is being done) to resolve it (include the dates of the
communication and other relevant details). Include the hazards linked
Business Communication 243
Step 5: Describe the activities that occurred during the time period.
Allow someone to assist you with this final step if at all possible.
Verify that the facts are correct and that they are conveyed most
straightforwardly feasible using plain language. Check any grammar
and spelling issues, then make any required corrections.
Send in the report and make sure to follow up on the action items.
activities.
5. Report to Creditors
6. Auditor Report
• The company that has been audited and what their accounting
method is
• Conclusion
• A management report
Unmodified Opinion
Issued for any audit in which the auditor is satisfied that the financial
statements present an accurate and fair picture of an enterprise's
operations and transactions over a while. A ‘Clean Report' is an audit
report that has an Unmodified Opinion. Users of financial statements
and annual reports of an enterprise gain confidence from an
unmodified report. It gives the appearance that the financial
statements are reasonably free of errors and that the results presented
are accurate and fair.
Modified Opinion
A Modified Opinion is issued in the audit report when the auditor has
particular findings during his or her audit and determines that an
Unmodified Opinion cannot be issued owing to the nature of the
findings. An auditor's decision to provide a Modified Opinion is based
on two main factors:
• Adverse Opinion
• Qualified Opinion
250 Business Communication
• Disclaimer of Opinion
Adverse Opinion
Qualified Opinion
Disclaimer of Opinion
the only reason, the major goal of such investigations is to acquire any
proof or information regarding any corporate wrongdoing.
Investigations may also be conducted to determine a company's profits
and losses, as well as its assets and liabilities.
• The evidence
• The analysis
252 Business Communication
• The conclusion
• Executive Summary
• Complaint Summary
• Investigation Summary
• Conclusion Summary
• Factual Background
• Evidence Considered
• Findings of Fact
• Conclusion(s)
• Exhibits
Make a page for certificates. Have the investigators and report writers
attest to the accuracy and completeness of the data in the report. All
signatures should be validated.
Write an introduction that explains the goal of the inquiry. Give some
background information and say whether or not this is a part of a
bigger investigation. If that's the case, specify the following step. “This
investigation was conducted to evaluate whether there is sufficient
evidence to prosecute one of the parties with criminal misconduct,” for
example. The results will be presented to a grand jury as the next
step.”
Explain how the previous findings differ from those in the current
study, if appropriate.
SPECIMEN REPORTS:
Example 1: Independence Day was celebrated in your college.
District Magistrate, SRI MANJUNATH, I.A.S was the Chief Guest.
Write a report on the function describing all the activities that took
place. Assume you are a Student Union Chairman.
From
Sales Manager,
Calcutta.
To
Sales Director,
Calcutta.
It is a fact that annual sales during 1999 have dropped down by 35%
compared to the figures in recent years. After intense study, I have
reasoned out the causes for the downtrend. I give below the same.
You will agree with me that the company has increased the price of all
the products ranging from 10% to 25% at the beginning of 1999.
Surprisingly, our immediate competitors have reduced their prices
ranging from 5% to 12%. Given this, the gap between ours and these
competitors has increased.
It is a known fact that our quality of the product is quite good and
everyone knows in the market that our competitors sell products of
equally good quality. Under these circumstances, it is obvious that a
higher-priced brand cannot expect to win in the rat race.
In the past, our company was very popular for extending excellent
after-sales service. For your information, the same has not been the
case in the last two years. For technical products, servicing plays a
major role in the acceptance by customers.
While I checked up with our Service Manager, the reasons for the
deterioration in the quality of service, I am told that in the last two
years, many service engineers have left the organization to take up
lucrative jobs in middle-east countries.
Business Communication 257
While prices have been increased, the only way to match the prices of
competitors is to alter our discount structure. When the volume of
business is high, a good discount should be offered
While the annual sales target, is fixed, everyone in the sales force
should be given an attractive incentive for crossing the sales target for
the year. This will motivate them well.
I have come out with my reasoning regarding the drop in sales and
suggested a suitable remedy. I request that the management can look
into my recommendations and implement them so that we can take
off.
SALES MANAGER
258 Business Communication
From
R. Mahesh Kulkarni,
Marketing Manager,
Mumbai.
To
Marketing Director,
Mumbai.
MARKETING STRATEGY
Before getting into the propagation of the new product, the actual
market segments which will use this product will be listed. They are
the same as below.
(3) Aquaculture
All the possible users coming under the above market segments will
be identified from various directories relating to them. They will be
Business Communication 259
MARKETING MANAGER
******
UNIT - V
CHAPTER – 1
PRESS NOTES AND SPEECHES
Introduction- Press notes
In the field of public relations, news releases are commonly used (PR).
The goal is usually to gain favourable media attention for the PR
professional's client and/or to provide publicity for the client's
products or events. A press release is a piece of information that gives
reporters the essential information they need to write a story.
Scheduled events, personal promotions, awards, new products and
services, sales and other financial statistics, successes, and so on are all
examples of news items that can be announced through press releases.
1. Origins
Ivy Lee wrote the first contemporary press releases. At the time of the
1906 Atlantic City train crash, Lee's firm was collaborating with the
Pennsylvania Railroad. Before different versions of the tale, or
assumptions, could be spread among them and reported, Ivy Lee and
the corporation worked to send the very first press release made
directly to the media. In addition to bringing journalists and
photographers to the scene, he was using a press release to create open
communication with the media.
1. Create a headline:
The font size of a bold headline is usually greater than the body
material. In certain instances, traditional press release headlines
employ the present tense and remove "a" and "the," as well as versions
of the verb "to be."
Extracting the most main keyword from your press release is the
simplest way to build a news release headline. Give a sensible and
attention-getting statement using these keywords. The same criteria
apply if a summary sentence follows the headline. Using keywords
early in the press release can improve your presence in search engines
and make it easier for journalists and readers to understand the
material. Examine the first step's actions and consider how each one
may be a press release headline.
The body copy of the press release should be brief. Long sentences and
paragraphs should be avoided. Excessive use of jargon and fancy
words should be avoided. Make an effort to keep things simple and
avoid using unnecessary words. The press release should be
summarized in the first paragraph (two to three phrases), and the
following information should expand on it. In today's fast-paced
environment, neither journalists nor other readers will read the full
press release if the first few paragraphs pique their interest.
The reader should be informed on who, what, when, where, why, and
how by the use of the words who, what, when, where, why, and how.
Consider the following elements as you go through the checklist, using
the example above to create our press release:
Business Communication 267
Once the fundamentals have been established, fill in the blanks with
information on the people, products, items, dates, and other aspects of
the news.
Be concise and to the point. A press release should not exceed three
pages in length. The text should be double-spaced if you're mailing a
hard copy.
The more newsworthy your press release copy is, the more likely it is
to be chosen for reporting by a journalist. Learn what "newsworthy"
means in a particular market and use that information to entice the
editor or reporter.
When a journalist uses your press release as the basis for a story, he or
268 Business Communication
she must logically mention your company in the article. Journalists can
then use this section for company information.
"Contact" section. If you don't have a specialized team for this, you'll
need to appoint someone to act as a liaison between the media and
your employees.
• Office address
• Timings of Availability
• Email addresses
• Website address
8. Use three # (hash) symbols centered precisely beneath the last line
of the press release to signal the end of the press release.
Source: https://www.smartsheet.com/press-release-templates
Business Communication 271
4. Press Reports
Press reports are reports of events and actions that are published in
newspapers and magazines for the news to reach a large number of
people at the same time. Although a reader may not be interested in all
of the events and activities mentioned in newspapers and periodicals,
he may come across topics that spark his attention. Some of the news
piques the reader's attention and piques their curiosity. We, as social
animals, are always fascinated by what is going on around us. The
news, together with expert opinions, editorials, and special articles,
provided by the press, not only satisfies our interest but also educates
us in our daily lives.
News value:
Feedback:
Conciseness:
The press writer must always keep in mind that the readers' time is
valuable, and they should not feel as if they are wasting it by reading
too long news. He should avoid using unnecessary words and
providing useless information. However, his conciseness and brevity
should not come at the expense of fullness and clarity.
Reported Statements:
The news reports should be written in the past tense and indirect
speech.
• Headline
• Lead: The lead of a press report means the first one or two
paragraphs of the report.
• Body
• Conclusion
Business Communication 273
St. Stephens College conducted its annual sports meet in the first week
of December. Draft a press report of the occasion in detail. (KSLU,
June/July 2015)
This week's annual sports day was conducted in our college. It was
going to be a huge program of the year. The chief guest was an ex-
student of our college who has achieved Padma Shri and is settled in
New York.
All the students have taken part in those games which are their
strength as well as the game that they like. The students were already
divided into different houses, like Gandhi house, Nehru House, Shivaji
house, and Tagore house.
Then the sports events started athletic where the first event students
started to do 100mtr, 200mtr, and 400mtr races. Then the relay race
was organised, the shuttle race was also there.
Then cricket and football were organised in the biggest ground of the
school chief guest was taken there and then students started playing
due to scarcity of time the innings was of only four overs.
274 Business Communication
Basketball was the most interesting event of the day. Indoor games
were also played and winners were decided. After that prize
distribution was held position holders have given medals certificates
as well as a gift too. Rest everyone received participation and
volunteering certificates by the chief guest.
Example: 2
Report of Sub-Committee
To
The Directors,
New Delhi.
I. Terms of Reference
II. Procedure
The Sub-committee held three meetings on the 13th 29th January and
28th February. The members also met the Government and Municipal
authorities to enquire about permission, licenses, water, and power
connections.
Business Communication 275
III. Findings
The sub-committee felt that Indore is the most suitable city for a
glassworks factory. The choice seems to be appropriate owing to the
local market as well as export facilities. Other conditions are described
below:
(b) Staff and workers: Supervisory staff and skilled and unskilled
labourers are available. It is a big trade centre. Dewas and
Pithampur are the areas where lots of industries are available.
The salaries and wages are higher than in the other cities but
the quality of work is of a high standard. Highly qualified
technicians and designers receive very high salaries in Indore
but the market will compensate for the expense of such staff. If
the existing staff leaves, replacement is possible.
IV. Recommendations:
******
Chapter – 2
Speeches
Introduction
1. Types of Speech:
• Argumentative speech
• Persuasive speech
• Informative speech
Example:
• An introduction:
• Linkage:
The emphasis now shifts to delivering all the information that is the
major thrust of the presentation, once you've piqued your audience's
interest in the introduction and correctly linked it using appropriate
words. All of the information you obtained during your study will
now be wonderfully woven together and expertly explained to answer
the queries your audience is likely to have.
• The conclusion
• Scripted Speech:
The speechwriter is not the same as the speaker; the speaker may have
little or no knowledge of the complexities of the topic because he or
she merely reads what is written on paper. In this scenario, the
questions posed are a significant challenge for the presenter and can be
embarrassing at times. Because they are seldom involved in the
creation of their speeches, a person making a speech utilizing ROS
(Read-Only Strategy) without appropriate rehearsal may get
pronunciations wrong and avoid inquiries at the end of the exercise, as
politicians do. However, due to its convenience, this is the most
common kind of speech employed by politicians and celebrities.
280 Business Communication
The most significant benefit is the convenience, as well as the fact that
those who are particularly shy or unskilled can conceal their flaws
behind a paper that has already been produced for them. Also, if the
speechwriter does a good job, the speech presenter may not need to
have a comprehensive understanding of the subject. It is useful for
people who must deliver multiple talks in a short period and have
little or no time to prepare.
When only the main points of a speech are written down, the rest is
completed on the spot during delivery. In a religious event, the
preacher might, for example, write down a theme and religious texts
while leaving the connecting lines to the delivery process. When the
speechwriter and the one who gives the speech are the same people,
this strategy, which combines ROS and spontaneity, works well.
Delivering a semi-scripted speech prepared by someone else becomes
very impossible otherwise. Wherever possible, the writer and
presenter must put up a significant amount of effort during rehearsals,
which may not always be forthcoming.
A highly adaptable and inventive system that merely takes down vital
information in order, leaving related words to be delivered afterward.
The benefit of this is that the speech creator can shift routes if the
environment does not allow particular lines of thought or language
use. Because it is outlined rather than written, it is easy to adjust to
changing circumstances at the event place, such as mood, time, and
language compatibility. However, this strategy works best when the
speechwriter is also the speaker, or when the latter has an equal
understanding of the subject and shares comparable viewpoints as the
former.
Business Communication 281
This is a speaking genre that does not require any prior scripting. It is
also known as freestyle or spontaneous. Its success is entirely
dependent on the speaker's capacity to improvise, that is, to generate a
spontaneous reaction to the circumstance in real-time. As a child of
circumstance, this has shown to be the most successful speaking style
that does not fail to engage the audience.
4. Speech by Chairman
• Opening Paragraph:
Those of you who have seen our 2009-10 financial statements and read
our Directors' Report will realize that the level of dividend distribution
is well warranted by your company's financial success. The reasons
and conditions that led to these outcomes were explored in the
Directors' Report, and I have no intention of repeating that analysis.
Instead, given that this is our fiftieth Annual General Meeting, it may
be more relevant to analyze the character and performance of your
282 Business Communication
• Body of letter:
We showed the film We Are Hawkins today, just before the AGM, and
many of you saw it. In 75 minutes, that film tells the story of how the
company we own has operated over the last 50 years. It tells the story
in the words of people who are familiar with the company, whether
they work for it, deal with it, or use its products. I hope that those of
you who have seen this film have a better understanding of what your
company is about and how it has achieved the results it has so far.
The financial results for the second quarter of 2010-11 are satisfactory.
Net sales are Rs.61.8 crores, up 15% over the previous year's June
quarter. The company's net profit after tax is Rs.8.1 crores, up 14%
from the previous year's June quarter.
• Closure:
Chairman’s Speech
24 https://www.ge.com/in/ge-td-india-limited/chairmans-speech
Business Communication 283
As you are aware, with the nationwide lockdown that went into effect
in March of 2020, all activities except a few essential suppliers or
supplies were stalled. As a result, the Company had to temporarily
close some of its manufacturing facilities. Though the T&D factories
were allowed to operate during this lockdown phase, the production
could not be carried out at full capacity due to the unavailability of
skilled manpower and movement of material, and other similar
restrictions. However, your Company continued to carry out
manufacturing operations, though at a very limited capacity.
During the year, the Company, unfortunately, reported a loss after tax
of Rs. 303 crores. This was primarily due to some bad debts, warranty
provisions, delays in customer projects, and circumstances created by
Business Communication 285
I would like to switch to just a brief outlook. The Indian power sector
is witnessing steady growth, even though we had a bit of a hiatus in
that due to the lockdown. But with the total installed power
generating capacity of approximately 370 gigawatts as of March 2020,
India has emerged as the world's third-largest electricity producer. The
financial year 2019-2020 also witnessed a large volume of green energy
corridor projects with extra high voltage EHV substations.
And finally, I take the opportunity to truly thank the Board members,
and particularly our Independent Directors who are with us here
today, for their continued leadership and unwavering support to the
288 Business Communication
I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to the 65th Annual General
Meeting of your Company.
25 https://www.ttkprestige.com/investor-relations/chairmans-speech
Business Communication 289
The Annual Report for the year has already been circulated. This
Annual Report contains both stand-alone and consolidated financials
incorporating the business operations of the UK Subsidiaries. The
Directors Report vividly covers the impact of the first incidence of
Covid-19 on the company during the year under report, the impact of
290 Business Communication
the second wave that commenced during the fag end of FY 21, the
current standing point, outlook, and future strategy.
Your company had to deal with the following major challenges during
FY 20-21.
Lockdown that started during the second fortnight of March 2020 and
continued during a major part of Q1 of FY 21
Keeping the momentum of the launch of new SKUs with most of the
channels other than online just limping to normalcy.
sale of Rs.200 crore during the last three quarters. Your company
recorded robust growth from August 2020 onwards up to mid-March
2021 i.e., when signs of second have started hitting the markets. Your
Company’s innovative ‘Svachh’ range of pressure cookers and other
new models of appliances were well accepted by the ultimate
consumers.
Prestige exclusive Channel has been expanded and we now have more
than 620 stores in place.
Dividend:
Finances:
Ranking:
Your Company is ranked within the Top 300 listed companies of India
based on market capitalization.
Going Forward:
consumer.
Your Company has launched the ‘Judge’ brand to tap the value-
seeking consumer segment hitherto unaddressed by your company.
This brand will also accommodate product categories not addressed
by the flagship brand Prestige. The positing and planning of this brand
is such that it will not cannibalize the Prestige space and that the
margin and ROCE profile will further the cause of increasing the
earnings per share.
As regards FY 22, while April ‘21 started as per plans, the lockdowns
caused by the second wave of the pandemic have impacted the
originally planned domestic sales for May and June. However, both
sales and profit for the first quarter are expected to be well ahead of
294 Business Communication
Acknowledgment:
shoulders. The significance of its beautiful story is that this nation has
gained respect from the world for the democratic route chosen by it.
We can proudly say that India has never invaded any country in its
10000 years of history.
On this occasion, our thoughts turn first to Mahatma Gandhi, the man
behind our struggle for freedom and the martyrs who made the
supreme sacrifice for our country's liberty. We are also reminded of
the relentless struggle of our great patriots who liberated our
motherland from colonial rule.
Gandhiji was seeking liberty from both foreign rule and the
indigenous social chains that had long incarcerated our society. Every
other Indian was guided on a path of self-belief and hope for a better
future. Democracy gives us the right to live freely as proud citizens of
a country. Today, we are fortunate to live in one, due to the vision and
sacrifice of our freedom fighters.
There is a big celebration each year in New Delhi at Rajpath, where the
national anthem is sung after the Prime Minister hoists the flag. Also, a
salute is given to the national flag by firing 21 guns with the national
anthem, and flowers are also showered via helicopter. All the forces
take part in parades. In the end, we can not merely say that 15th
August is solely about freedom. This day is a plethora of emotions, it
reminds us of the pain of being enslaved; of the strength in unity; it
defines sacrifice, it gives us an example that some wars can be won
with non-violence and of all the things, it makes us value and cherish
the freedom we have today. It is our responsibility, as proud citizens
of this country, to sincerely perform our duty and progress together
for the growth and development of our country. Keeping the sacrifices
of our ancestors in mind, we should take an oath, to carve a better
future for our motherland.
Jai Hind!
296 Business Communication
Jai Hind!
It is with great regret that I have to announce that Shri S.S Darbari will
not be able to continue his association with us. He has just informed
me that he is going to the U.S.A. on a Government mission and has
been forced to resign all his directorships including ours.
Business Communication 297
It gives me great pleasure to propose the name of Shri M.S. Arora for
the directorship of our firm.
******
UNIT - VI
CHAPTER – 1
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Introduction
2. Meaning
Social skills, people skills, soft skills, and life skills are all terms used to
describe interpersonal skills. “The abilities you require and employ in
order to communicate and engage with others.”
• Listening attentively
• Teamwork
• Responsibility
• Trustworthiness
• Leadership
• Motivation
• Flexibility
• Patience
• Empathy
The ability to solve difficulties and make sound decisions are also
advantages of interpersonal skills.
If you lack certain abilities, now is the time to work on them. It will
change the way you interact with coworkers and how you see
yourself.
Communication
• Nonverbal communication
• Public speaking
• Verbal communication
Conflict Management
• Conflict resolution
• Constructive criticism
• Counseling
306 Business Communication
• Mediating
• Problem-solving
Empathy
• Caring
• Compassion
• Diplomacy
• Diversity
• Helping others
• Kindness
• Patience
• Respect
• Sensitivity
• Sympathy
Leadership
Even if you are not a manager, having some leadership experience and
ability is essential. Leadership necessitates the ability to motivate and
support people while also assisting a team in achieving excellence.
This includes, for example,
• Encouraging
Business Communication 307
• Inspiring trust
• Instructing
• Management
• Mentoring
• Motivation
• Positive reinforcement
Listening
• Active listening
• Curiosity
• Focus
• Inquiry
Negotiation
• Negotiating
• Persuasion
308 Business Communication
• Research
Positive Attitude
Employers want to hire people who will make the workplace a better
place to work. They're looking for persons who are nice and upbeat.
This really doesn't mean you have to be the most outspoken/
extroverted person in the company, but you should be willing to build
healthy relationships with your coworkers. This includes the
following:
• Behavioral skills
• Developing rapport
• Friendliness
• Humor
• Networking
• Social skills
Teamwork
• Collaboration
• Group facilitating
• Team-building
• Teamwork
Business Communication 309
• Limited vocabulary
• Emotional outbursts
• Communication selectivity
• Cultural variations
Acknowledge others:
Avoid distractions:
Take classes:
Get a mentor:
Record yourself:
******
CHAPTER – 2
LISTENING SKILLS
Introduction
3. Modes of Listening
When we are more concerned with pushing our own point of view
than in comprehending or investigating someone else's point of view,
we are not listening. We either listen for opportunities to seize the
floor or weaknesses or weak points that we may target. While we
pretend to be paying attention, we are impatiently waiting for an
opening or we are either internally formulating our rebuttal and
planning the devastating comeback that will demolish their argument
and make us the victor.
• Look for the feelings or intent behind the words, not just the
content of the words. The message is not the dictionary or
technical meaning of the words or code utilised by the sender.
• Resist the need to respond to queries right away. The code may
take the form of a question. When people ask questions, it's
often because they want to express themselves and aren't
interested in hearing a response.
Dimensions of Space:
Infrastructure:
Speaker's speed:
Many times, listeners do not pay attention and pay close attention
since the speech contains no real information.
If the speaker uses high-tech jargon and difficult words, the listener
will have no idea what those words signify. Instead of listening to the
speaker, they will try to figure out what those words imply.
Business Communication 319
******
CHAPTER – 3
PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS
Introduction
Public speaking is not only speeches and public talks also used in
professional presentations, training activities, and motivational
speaking. Consultants, trainers, managers, priests, salespeople, and
teachers, for example, all have reasons to speak in front of others on
occasion.
For the following reasons, good public speaking skills can have a
significant impact on your career:
When you can express yourself clearly and efficiently, you are always
at your best. You can achieve this by honing your public speaking
skills. After all, the full value of your information is only appreciated
when you can demonstrate and use it.
If you have the opportunity, interview three to seven people from the
audience. Find out what their problems are so you can provide them
advice.
Negative ideas about public speaking can make it difficult for you to
deliver the incredible speech and information you possess. Turn
negative ideas into good ones instead of allowing them to dominate.
1. Plan beforehand:
You are not required to write out your entire speech. However, you
should have a plan in place that works for you.
Your speech will flow more naturally if you use an outline. You won't
have to be concerned if you forget what your next point was because
you'll be able to go to your outline.
326 Business Communication
You can speak with confidence if you practice your speech and take
notes on how you speak, the tone of your voice, your body language,
and other things. Then keep a close eye on yourself and make notes on
how you sound and appear. Make the necessary changes.
You can slow your pulse rate and process what you're doing and
saying if you take a few moments to breathe. Long, steady breaths will
assist you in maintaining a clear mind and a relaxed body. Also,
remember to smile. Smiling causes our brains to release endorphins,
which make us feel good. Also, remember to stay hydrated. When
you're dehydrated, you can't think as clearly and you're more likely to
grow sleepy.
If you know you'll be speaking in the morning, make sure you get a
good night's sleep. Then, as soon as you feel rejuvenated and
motivated, put on the outfit you had planned to wear.
sleep. Exercising, watching a movie, and reading are all good ideas.
Make an effort to get eight hours of sleep each night so that you can
wake up feeling revitalized. Plan your clothing ahead of time so you
only have to put it on. Wear something that makes you feel beautiful
and gives you confidence.
You should fully warm up both your voice and your body before
giving your speech. Stick out your tongue and recite a nursery rhyme
to open up your throat and boost the volume and richness of your
voice. Then repeat the rhyme regularly once more.
2. Introduce yourself:
Simply stating your name and who you are can suffice as an
introduction. Explain why you've decided to speak today. You can
also be more casual if the atmosphere allows.
Then, with a transition sentence such as, “Today I want to share with
you...”, you can move on to a quick synopsis of the speech. This shows
that you aren't taking the audience for granted and that there will be a
conclusion. Audiences enjoy knowing that you will stop talking at
some point. Instead of losing out early, this will keep the audience
more engaged. Stating your outline also allows you to go over it again
before beginning your speech.
Make eye contact with your audience and employ facial and hand
328 Business Communication
Make sure you talk slowly and clearly enough for everyone to hear
you. Pay attention to your voice's cadence. You don't want to be a
robotic automaton. To assist communicate a certain mood, feel free to
be a little eager or talk a little quieter.
6. Embody energy:
Your audience, like you, will have energy. The audience will grab if
you are nervous. Lead the audience's energy rather than following it.
You shouldn't need to glance down and read from your plan after all
your practice and engaging the audience. However, you may want to
double-check it from time to time to ensure that you've covered all of
the essential aspects.
Business Communication 329
You can leave your outline on the podium if you're giving a speech.
Feel free to take a step away from the podium while speaking. You can
also make use of your outline as a guidepost. This anchor is a safe
place you can always go back to. Take a moment to catch your breath,
consider what you've said, and double-check that you're on course.
Great public speakers are those who appear to be having some fun
while doing so. You should be pleased that you have the opportunity
to share your knowledge and that others are interested in hearing
what you have to say.
You might want to summarize your main points and restate your
thesis at the end of your speech. Then, in your concluding statement,
make an effective, thought-provoking, and action-oriented statement.
Thank your audience for listening to you and for being such a fantastic
listener. Then, if anyone has any questions, ask them. Because you
know your subject so well, answering inquiries shouldn't be difficult.
******
CASE STUDIES
Case Study: 1
Case: BellSouth’s Crisis Communication Plan
Bellsouth has issued a proactive crisis communications press release
which provides a useful case study in good practice. The release helps
to build BellSouth’s reputation as a well-prepared provider and also
anticipates problems which may occur following a disaster, educating
and preparing stakeholders in ways which should help to mitigate
post-disaster difficulties.
• Ensure that your home and business are equipped with the
proper telephone services to re-route communications in the
event of a service interruption. BellSouth offers products like
BellSouth(R) Voice Mail, Crisis Link(SM), Remote Access Call
Forwarding, Call Forwarding Don't Answer and Call
Forwarding Busy Line.
• Make sure that your cordless and wireless phones all work
properly and are charged and that batteries and car chargers
are available.
• Consider downloading new tools that will give you the latest
weather forecasts and traffic updates. Cingular offers tools
such as My-Cast Weather, available for download at
www.cingular.com/media, to help you stay up-to-date over
your wireless device.
• Use your phone for necessary calls only, leaving lines open for
emergencies.
Questions
(Source: http://www.continuitycentral.com/news01908.htm)
Case Study: 2
PowerPoint Presentations: An easy way to get
the point across
PowerPoint used to be for businesses only. It was taught in classes for
use as a presentation tool to really make you stand out. These days it is
taught in school for any purpose. People still use it in business but
others use it to show off their vacation pictures instead of a projector
slide show. The program has made it very easy for anyone to use and
customize it. What’s really nice is that if you aren’t sure where to start,
it has templates to give you ideas. Or you can even use the template
and just add your own words and images. Presentation Skills Training
& Sales Training Programs to Develop Your Skills & Increase
Productivity.
It is up to the presentation creator. And for those that want every page
different, there are templates for individual pages as well. So it can be
customized to any format you desire. And even with using the
templates, these can be modified. If you like the layout but want to
add text at the bottom, it’s easy to do by adding a text box there.
Another nice feature is that a template you like can also have the color
scheme changed by clicking a box and picking the colors you prefer.
when you desire. Each page can have images and words show up
when you need it too so that if you have something you want the
viewing group to focus on longer, you can make it so.
While in a slide show you can even have an onscreen pointer to point
out the points you want to make. This may seem redundant with
bullet use, but some things may be more important than others and
this is how you present it in PowerPoint.
Question
(Source:http://www.effectivepresentationskills.com/infobank/presentations.ht
ml)
Case Study: 3
Case: A True Tale of a Case Interview Gone
Bad
A Jobseeker's True Story...
realized at the time that this was the job, I would have been nervous,
too, perhaps. I was anxious all right, but it had little to do with the
company. If I had been interviewing for a similar paying job at Bob's
Wholesale Hardware, I would have felt the same. The Truman scholar
from Cali and the Yalie to my left – info I would soon pry out of them
– each seemed to be focused on some mental mantra that they were
repeating in their heads. Both looked like they were trying to remind
themselves that they were brilliant enough and also decide exactly
which fine feat they should talk about as their greatest
accomplishment, or use for some clever analogy in their interview. I,
too, had considered these questions, but not knowing what to expect, I
figured I would simply say what I believed. Probably, my biggest
mistake.
I think I made three mistakes during this interview: (1) I felt as though
I was always trying to give some nebulous right answer and falling
Business Communication 345
Walking out of the room back to the sofas, I felt that it had gone fairly
well. I had shown some strengths, found some connections with her
(she was human). I wasn't sure whether I had done well or poorly on
the case question, but couldn't think of anything I left out. With
hindsight, I could have been a little more efficient and structured but
still think I did all right.
Nothing Ken did or said put me at ease or made me feel like the
interview was anything other than adversarial. I also knew that the
346 Business Communication
Again, I knew he was less concerned about the number I came up with
as opposed to my process, but he was no help. I asked him all sorts of
questions, and he just shrugged his shoulders and sat tight-lipped
until after the fifth attempt he finally said, "To answer your one
question, you can assume that the seats are empty and the tank is full."
Well I figure the Concorde seats about 300 people, so the 757 probably
somewhere around 350-375.
Business Communication 347
"Actually, it’s more like 500," helped Ken again, "and you have two
more minutes."
I could barely stand up after our time was up; my legs were weak. Ken
started down some stairs, and I mentioned, "I need to pick up my
umbrella and briefcase from the waiting area," and he said, "OK, meet
me at the door afterwards."
I didn't know what to make of it all, but I was scared. I could hardly
keep the tears back as I headed for the job I so desperately wanted out
of. I had a bad feeling in my stomach.
Two weeks later I received a voice message from Ken, and over the
next week and a half of phone tag, I could scarcely wonder whether I
was nixed, or they wanted to take another look. When we finally
connected, he seemed to be friendlier than I remembered. It hurt all
the more when he said, "I've got some bad news..."
I asked why they felt they weren't interested, and he said I took too
long to answer some questions and seemed to be unsure with
numbers. That hurt. Throughout the day, I rapid-fire numbers and
calculations on the spot as a financial consultant and am always one of
the first with an answer. And I have been told time and time again that
my biggest strength is being able to communicate a point quickly. Yes,
I stumbled in the interview, but it still seemed ironic.
Although it sounds like I did not prepare for this interview, I did. I,
348 Business Communication
however, did not prepare the right way or understand really what I
was getting myself into. Those approaching consulting interviews
need to know what is expected in interviews of various types of
companies and positions, I obviously was clueless. I was especially
clueless about the rigidity and formality of these interviews.
Question
Analyze the case and find out what went wrong with the interview.
(Source: http://www.quintcareers.com/bad_case_interview.html)
Case Study: 4
Improving the Listening Skills of Managers at
Procter & Gamble
Introduction
The managers of Procter & Gamble (P&G) are highly trained
professionals. They work under heavy time pressures and tight
deadlines. As a result of this, the managers were not listening
effectively to customers and co-workers.
LEAD GROUP
To improve the listening skills of the employees and managers, the
Research and Development (R&D) department conducted a
programme for middle managers and technical leaders. A group
‘Leaders Effect. A Difference (LEAD) was formed to attend that
programme. The objective of the LEAD group was to increase
innovation and build lasting relationships to increase long-term
networking.
The seeker was assigned the role of practicing the skills of helping
others on work issues. The helper was assigned the role of practicing
listening and training skills to assist the seeker to think, feel, and plan.
Over time, the LEAD group program was effective in motivating the
listening skills of managers. The LEAD group approach met the
business need for improved coaching by managers and was successful
in establishing communication with broader network of employees.
Discussion Questions:
Speak Slowly
Avoid Idioms
“Hit the nail on the head”, “Step up to the plate”, and “The silence is
deafening” are idioms you may use in everyday conversation.
However, none of them translate into Chinese easily. If you use them
in a business meeting in China and your translator is unable to
interpret them accurately, your meaning may be lost. When
communicating through a translator in China talk most
straightforwardly and directly possible.
352 Business Communication
Don’t Interrupt
There are many companies in China which can provide translators for
business meetings. Before hiring one speak with them to verify their
English language ability and to learn if they have experience
translating for foreign companies. Additionally, you may want to
consider hiring a native English speaker who is fluent in Mandarin
and will be able to interpret for you in a way which is easier for you to
understand.
Be Understanding
Even if you take all of the tips we’ve given and have great translators,
Business Communication 353
Question
Does culture of any country, China in this case, affects the conduct at
meetings?
(Source:http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-behave-at-a-
business-meeting-in-china-2011-3)
Practice Letters
2. Some steel cupboards and filing cabinets which you had ordered for
your office have been delivered to your office in a damaged condition.
You have reason to believe that they were carelessly handled while
being transferred from the trucks to your office rooms. Write, asking
the supplier to get the goods replaced immediately.
4. Place an order for 300 boxes of coloured magic crayons subject to the
manufacturers agreeing to pack them in specially designed boxes for
Diwali presentation for no additional charge
354 Business Communication
7. Write a quotation letter for pressure cookers. Place an order for the
same on Jagadish traders, Kolkata. Draft the order giving the
necessary instructions.
8. Place an order for 500 sets school uniform for the age group between
9 to 14 for boys required by National High School to Mssrs. Universal
Garments Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore to be supplied within 21 days from the
date of the order, failing which, a penalty clause has to be included in
the order.
9. St. Stephens College conducted its annual sports meet in the first
week of December. Draft a press report of the occasion in detail.
WEB LINKS
https://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/poor-communications
https://open.lib.umn.edu/communication/chapter/1-1-communication-
history-and-forms/
https://learn.g2.com/history-of-
communication#21st%20century%20communication
https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/214969/00_OCN_Content/OCN_NEU_
eBook_Evolution-of-Communication_637-CTA.pdf
https://www.coachingforchange.com/communication-skills-for-
lawyers.html
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Periodic-Report
https://www.ge.com/in/ge-td-india-limited/chairmans-speech
https://www.ttkprestige.com/investor-relations/chairmans-speech
Previous year question papers
Second Semester of 5 Year B.B.A., LL.B. Examination, June/July 2015
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Q. No. 7. St. Stephens College conducted its annual sports meet in the
first week of December. Draft a press report of the occasion in detail.
360 Business Communication
Q. No. 8. Write short notes on any two of the following. Marks: 2×8=16
(c) Teleconferencing.
(a) Confirm an order given by telephone for 100 pocket calculators for
your school.
(b) Some steel cupboards and filing cabinets which you had ordered
for your office have been delivered to your office in a damaged
condition. You have reason to believe that they were carelessly
handled while being transferred from the trucks to your office rooms.
Write, asking the supplier to get the goods replaced immediately.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
2. Answer one essay type and one short note question from each Unit.
UNIT – I
OR
Telephone Communication.
OR
Grapevine Communication.
UNIT – II
OR
OR
UNIT – III
Q. No. 3. (a) Place an order for 300 boxes of coloured magic crayons
subject to the manufacturers agreeing to pack them in specially
designed boxes for Diwali presentation for no additional charge.
Marks: 15
OR
OR
UNIT – IV
OR
OR
Routine reports.
UNIT – V
Business Communication 363
OR
OR
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
2. One essay type and one short note question or problem from each
Unit have to be attempted, which is referred as Part (a) and Part (b) in
all the Units.
UNIT – I
OR
OR
UNIT – II
OR
OR
UNIT – III
OR
OR
UNIT – IV
OR
(b) Write a note on: Office Report and Investigation Report. Marks: 5
OR
Auditor’s report.
366 Business Communication
UNIT – V
OR
OR
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
2. One essay type and one short note question from each Unit have to
be attempted.
UNIT – I
OR
OR
UNIT – II
OR
OR
Unit – III
Q. No. 3. (a). Messrs. G.S. Bhat and Bros. complain that 100 tins of
condensed milk ordered by them arrived in a damaged condition.
Draft a complaint about it asking for its quick replacement. Marks: 15
OR
Write a quotation letter for pressure cookers. Place an order for the
same on Jagadish traders, Kolkata. Draft the order giving the
necessary instructions.
OR
UNIT – IV
OR
Write a report on the theft of student’s moped from the college scooter
stand. Draft with recommendations.
OR
UNIT – V
OR
As a Chief Guest, draft the speech you would make on the closing
ceremony of a Trade Conference held in Dharwad.
OR
3. One question from Part (a) and one from Part (b) should be ttempted
in each unit.
UNIT – I
OR
OR
UNIT – II
OR
OR
UNIT – III
OR
OR
UNIT – IV
OR
OR
When and why the reports of enquiry and investigation are drafted
and undertaken?
UNIT – V
OR
OR
BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
2. One essay type and one short note question or problem have to be
attempted from Part (a) and Part (b) in each Unit.
UNIT – I
OR
OR
UNIT – II
OR
OR
UNIT – III
Business Communication 373
OR
OR
UNIT – IV
OR
(b) There have been constant complaints from your customers about
late delivery of goods and shortage in the goods supplied.
OR
UNIT – V
OR
OR
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Q. No. 8. Write short notes on any two of the following: Marks: 2x8=16
(a) A college laboratory intends to buy glass jars, chemicals, acids etc.
As the principal of a college, draft a letter asking ‘Orient Chemical
Traders’ for their catalogue and quotation. The letter should stress that
substantial concession is expected as it is an educational institution.
(c) Place an order for 500 sets of school uniform for the age group
between 9 to 14 for boys, required by National High School to Mssrs.
Universal Garments Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore to be supplied within 21 days
from the date of the order, failing which, a penalty clause has to be
included in the order.
Business Communication 377
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
2. One essay type and one short note or problem question from each
unit have to be attempted.
UNIT – I
OR
OR
UNIT – II
OR
OR
UNIT – III
Q. No. 3. (a) i) Place an order with Kirti Fruit Centre, Bangalore for the
supply of different types of fruits required by you. Ask them to
despatch the fruits through lorry transport and to supply the best
quality fruits. Marks: 15
OR
ii) Explain how do you write a letter of enquiry from the “Jeevan
Sports of Hubli, dealing in sports goods to be addressed to the ‘Sky
Line Sports’ of Pune enquiring about the sports materials.
OR
UNIT – IV
OR
OR
UNIT – V
firm? Marks: 15
OR
ii) Draft a press release on getting the award for the highest exports.
OR
BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
2. One essay type and one short note question have to be attempted
from Part (a) and Part (b) in each Unit.
UNIT – I
OR
OR
Benefits of communication.
UNIT – II
OR
OR
UNIT – III
Business Communication 381
OR
OR
UNIT – IV
OR
OR
UNIT – V
OR
382 Business Communication
(b) Prepare a suitable press release to announce that your company has
signed an agreement with a company in Japan for the production of
compact discs and CD players. Marks: 5
OR