Vietnam National University – HCMC

International University
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

COURSE SYLLABUS*
BA006IU
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Note: The outline with specific venue and time, and updated learning
materials for the current semester will be provided to the enrolled students
by the lecturer
1. COURSE STAFF

Lecturer: Phung Phuong Linh

Teaching Assistant:
Room: A1-304
Telephone: Available upon request
E-mail: pplinh@hcmiu.edu.vn
Consultation Hours: By appointment only

The best way to contact me is by email. Please give me at least 24 hours to respond to your
email. Also, please feel free to make an appointment to see me during the semester.

2. COURSE INFORMATION

2.1 Teaching times and Locations

Lecture: Phung Phuong Linh

Venue: TBA

2.2 Units of Credit

This course is worth 3 credits.

2.3 Course prerequisite: N.A

3. COURSE AIMS AND OUTCOMES

3.1 AIMS

This course is emphasized on giving student a comprehensive view of communication in

business. The lessons are going to explore the impact of communication in today business,
beside, they show the role communication in establishing a favorable outside the firm
environment, as well as an effective internal communications program. During the course,
student will be covered different types of business communication media. More important,
this course will develop an awareness of how to write a succinct written message in modern
business communication.

3.2 OUTCOMES

LO1. Identify the role and process of communication as a means of achieving organizational
objectives.
LO2. Define communication and explain communication barriers.
LO3. Identify the different types of writing performed by business professionals in each of
the various functional areas of business.
LO4. Strengthen perception skills by embracing professionalism; by recognizing nonverbal
responses; by improving listening skill; and by analyzing personal value systems; role and
status, and cultural differences in organizational communication.
LO5. Apply a clear, concise, convincing, and correct style of writing for business purposes.
LO6. Complete an accurate, complete resume and cover letter.
LO7. Conduct well-prepared interviews and complete follow-up employment
correspondence.
LO8. Demonstrate the ability to present effective oral reports.
4.0 Expectations
Attendance: University regulations indicate that if students are required to attend at
least 80 percent of class meeting (not more than classes absences) to be eligible to take the
final exam. Therefore, you might choose to use your absences for any reason, however,
please remember that the instructor reserves the right to fail students whose absences exceed
more than 3 times.
Workload: It is expected that the students will spend at least six hours per week
studying this course. This time should be made up of reading, research, working on exercises
and problems, and attending classes. In periods where they need to complete assignments or
prepare for examinations, the workload may be greater. Over-commitment has been a cause
of failure for many students. They should take the required workload into account when
planning how to balance study with part-time jobs and other activities.
Student Responsibilities:
 Student are expected to behave and to perform professionally while in class
 Please be ON TIME. The class’s door will be clocked after 15 minutes. If you really
need to be late, please let me know in advance (with acceptable reasons).
 There will be a break in every 45 minutes, therefore, DO NOT LEAVE in the middle
of the class meeting. If there is any special reasons, please ask for my permission.
 NO TALKING, reading newspaper, playing games, completing homework, wearing
hats/caps, etc. are not allowed while in class
 Do NOT disturb the instructor and classmates by using cell phones. Cell phones
must be put on the silent mode during class.
 Participation is worth 5 percent of the total grade. Please contribute ideas and answer
to questions raised
- Assignment Submission: Date of submission will be posted on the Blackboard site
and will also be informed in class. It is your responsibility to meet the deadline.
 Due to the extremely high number of assignments, NO late submission will be
accepted (both home work and assignment)
 All take-home assignments/projects must be typed.
 Assignment should be submitted in both hard and soft copies
- The following format must be used for all ‘typed’ assignments and projects:
 Times New Roman style;
 1.5 line spacing;
 The font size of 12 cpi;
 A cover sheet (APA style) must be included in all assignments and projects.
Keeping informed The students should take note of all announcements made in
lectures or on the course’s Blackboard. From time to time, the university will send
important announcements to their university e-mail addresses without providing a
paper copy. The students will be deemed to have received this information.

5.0 LEARNING ASSESSMENT

Assessment details
Participation 10%
Attendant 5%
Mid-Term Exam 20%
In-class/Take-home assignments 5%
Term Project 30%
Final Exam 30%
________________________________________
Total 100%
Mid-term exam/Final exam (closed/opened book exam)
Weight: 20%
Duration: 90 minutes at least
Assessment format: Multiple choice questions, short essays and a business letter

Final exam (closed/opened book exam)

Weight: 30%
Duration: 120 minutes at least
 Assessment format: Short-essay questions and a business letter/report/job application
package

Project Report (written assignment – 3000 words)

Weight: 30%

Each team is required to choose one topic and complete the following topics:

Your team is required to conduct a business proposal. This business proposal

should represent your group ideas in starting a new business. Imaging that your
team is trying to attract investors. Therefore, please make sure you are able to
convince them to invest money after reading your proposal.
- BOOK STORE
- SOUVENIR SHOP
- FOODS/DRINKS
- FASHION/ACCESSORIES SHOPS
Each team will have to do a presentation of the topic in class for maximum 10
minutes and to submit the written report (in both hard and electronic copies) to
lecturer on the day of presentation. One of the other groups in class will be
randomly chosen to be your group’s investors.

Marking criteria (project report and case presentation)

Marking Criteria Marks Learning outcomes/attributes

Defining problem
Applying model
Input data
Developing a solution
Analyzing the results,
sensitivity analysis
Presentation of the result
20 Clear, concise statement of the problem.
Ability to structure problems in accordance
with theoretical frameworks to solve them.
10 Ability to select or develop a suitable
model. Ability to give compelling
arguments and reasoning to support
analysis.
10 Ability to conduct applied research to gather
data/information.
Ability to analyze the data
20 Ability to get solution by using the computer
and test the solution.
10 Ability to analyze the results; to get the
solutions with small change in model or
input data.
30 Ability to present and give some
explanation of the result and withdraw a
 lesson about the problem approach.

Grading

The letter grade will be followed by the University suggested rule:

90-100: A+, 80-90: A, 70 – 80: B+, 65 – 70: B, 55 – 65: C+, 50 – 55: C, 30 - <50: D+,

10 - <30: D

5.6 Special Consideration

Request for special consideration (for final examination only) must be made to the Office of
Academic Affairs within one week after the examination. General policy and information on
special consideration can be found at the Office of Academic Affairs.
6. ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the presentation of the thoughts or work of another as one’s own (definition
proposed by the University of Newcastle). Students are also reminded that careful time
management is an important part of study and one of the identified causes of plagiarism is
poor time management. Students should allow sufficient time for research, drafting, and the
proper referencing of sources in preparing all assessment items. The university regards
plagiarism as a form of academic misconduct, and has very strict rules regarding plagiarism. 1
7. STUDENT RESOURCES
Textbook:
 Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communicationt, 10th edition,
Thompson South Western.
Reference books:
Lesikar, R. V., & Flatley, M. E. (2008). Business communication: making connections in a
digital world (11th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Penrose, J. M., & Rasberry, R. W. (2004). Business communication for managers: an

advanced approach (5th ed.). Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western.

Bienvenu, S., & Timm, P. R. (2002). Business communication: discovering strategy,

developing skills. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

8. COURSE SCHEDULE

Week Content Activities

1 - Course introduction - Activities 1: course introduction

1
This is adapted with kind permission from the University of New South Wales.
 - Unit 1: Business Communication in the - Discussion 1: Skills needed in today
Digital Age workplace
- Discussion 2: Inter-cultural
communication

2 - Unit 5: Professionalism - Professionalism - Discussion 2: Obstacles in

at work: business etiquette, ethics, communication
teamworks - Activity: team generation
- Activity: team introduction

3 - Unit 5: Business Presentation - Topic: TBA

4 - Unit 3: Positive Message - Composing a Positive Message

5 - Unit 3 (cont): Negative Messages - Composing a Negative Letter

6 - Unit 3 (cont):
 Electronic Messages and Digital Media
- Discussion: Don’t Push That Send
 Persuasive Messages
Button
- Composing a Persuasive Letter

7 1- RESERVED FOR THE GUEST SPEAKER

2- MIDTERM REVIEW

8
MIDTERM EXAM – GOOD LUCK
(TBA)
10 - Unit 6: Employment Communication - Discussion: What will make your job
application package stand out?
- In-class activity: Complete your
Résumé (individual work)
- Team take-home assignment:
Completing Your Job Application
 Package (individual work)

11 - Unit 6 (cont): Employment - Discussion: Is having a LinkedIn

Communication account important?
- In-class activity: Completing your
LinkedIn profile

12 - Unit 4: Business Research and Reports - Discussion: Writing an Executive

Summary That Means Business
- In-class Assignment: Composing an
Executive Summary; and a Letter of
Transmittal

13 - Unit 4 (cont): Proposals, Business Plans, - Discussion: Making your Proposal

and Formal Reports Come Out on Top
- Extra Lecture 1: Dining Etiquette - In-class Assignment: Completing the
- Extra Lecture 2Non-verbal Communication Formal Business Report

14 + 15

From 8.00 am
Final Project Presentation
– 1.00 pm)
16 YOUR FINAL PROJECT DUE (The written version)

TBA FINAL EXAM – GOOD LUCK

*