Business Communication

The most basic of all human needs is the need to

understand and be understood.
Ralph Nichols (Communication Trainer)
COURSE OVERVIEW:
1) Role of communication in the business environment (within your organization, outside
your organization, within your country, outside your country)
2) Identifying the most effective methods for creating, sending and receiving messages.
(different technologies e.g. E-mail, fax, teleconferencing, videoconferencing, voice mail,
groupware)
3) Sources of written communication (writing of business documents e.g. letters, memos,
proposals and reports with correct formats)
4) Role of verbal and nonverbal communication skills in business (appearance, body language
and STS).
5) Role of cover letter and presentation of CV for job market.
COURSE OVERVIEW (Contd):

1) Role of communication in the business environment (within your organization, outside

your organization, within your country, outside your country)
a) Within your organization:
i. Horizontal Communication (communication at same level)
ii. Vertical communication (downward and upward)
(note: downward communication comprises of five functions of management.)
(note: effective downward communication results in effective upward communication.)
COURSE OVERVIEW (Contd):

Vertical communication
Functions of management
Planning Deciding in advance on what, how, and when something is to be done.
Organizing Breaking a plan into activities, grouping those activities, and allocating
resources to them.
Staffing Providing the organization with adequate, competent, and qualified personnel at all
levels.
Leading Issuing orders, instructions, guiding and counselling the subordinates in their work
with a view to improve their performance of work.
Controlling Measurement of accomplishments against pre-determined standards and
recording of deviations.
COURSE OVERVIEW (Contd):

b) Outside your organization:

i. Hard news (e.g. AGM results, quarterly earnings, launching of new product)
ii. Soft news (e.g. charity program, children foundation).
Some effective ways to communicate outside are.
. Press release
. Interviews
. Talk shows
. Letter to editor
. Press conferences
COURSE OVERVIEW (Contd):

c) Within your country:

Following factors could be different even in the same country.
Education
Religion
Social norms
Language
COURSE OVERVIEW (Contd):
d) Outside your country:
Following factors could be different when you go globally.
Country laws and regulations.
Economic conditions
Political conditions
Decision making
Ethics and norms
Dressing sense
Language
Religion
Silence
Time
Space
COURSE OVERVIEW (Contd):

2) Identifying the most effective methods for creating, sending and receiving messages.
(different technologies e.g. E-mail, fax, teleconferencing, videoconferencing, voice mail,
groupware)
3) Sources of written communication (writing of business documents e.g. letters, memos,
proposals and reports with correct formats)
a) Components of written communication
) Information on envelop (senders name and designation, receivers name and designation,
senders address, receivers address, subject line on bottom corner)
) Stationary and envelop (quality, color, size)
) Letterhead
(note: 7 Cs are very important for effective written communication, will later discuss in chapter 2)
COURSE OVERVIEW (Contd):

4) Role of verbal and nonverbal communication skills in business (appearance, body language
and STS)
Effective verbal (oral) communication is always dependent on nonverbal communication.
a) Components of nonverbal communication
) Appearance communicates (personal appearance, surrounding appearance )
) Body language communicates (gestures and postures)
) Silence, time and space communicates (STS)
(note: 7 Cs are very important for effective oral communication, will later discuss in chapter 2)
5) Role of cover letter and presentation of CV for job market.
EVALUATION:
Assignments and Quizzes 10%
Presentations 10%
Project 20%
Mid-term 25%
Final-term 35%
RECOMMENDED BOOK:

Effective Business Cosmmunication By Herta A.Murphy (7th edition)