Identification
Prerequisites
Language
Compulsory/Elective
Required textbooks and
course materials
Subject
(code, title, credits)
Department
Program
(undergraduate,
graduate)
Term
Instructor
E-mail:
Phone:
Classroom/hours
Office hours
MGT 810-Business Communication –3 KU/6 ECTS
Economics and Management
Undergraduate
Fall, 2012
Shahla Sultanova
shehla.sultanova.sultan@gmail.com
Bashir Safaroglu122, Room# 45, MND 18:30-21:00
Business English
English
Compulsory
Core textbook:
Excellence in Business Communication John V. Till and Courtland L. Bovee Ninth
Edition
Addiotonal materials: will be sent to your emails.
Course website
Course description
This course is designed to give students a detailed introduction to business
communication, including its basic practical concepts and theories. It will also give
students opportunities to improve upon their writing skills.
This is an intensive course that will require a lot of preparation. I assume that you
have a good command of English and skills to communicate in English. These will not
be covered extensively in class. Please contact me as soon as possible if you feel you
need extra assistance. If you don‟t feel you have these basic skills, I strongly advise
taking Business English first.
You should also be aware that proofreading and revision are extremely important when
preparing business documents. All writing assignments submitted should be final
drafts and of the quality you would feel comfortable submitting to your supervisor.
Only error-free documents will receive an “A.”
Course objectives
Learning outcomes
Teaching methods
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to learn to think
clearly and appropriately about how to communicate in the business world.
Students will be able to:
 Understand the principals and theories involved in constructing business
correspondence.
 Document sources within a paper or report.
 Improve upon writing skills
 Master editing and revision skills.
 Design, research, and write an effective resume, letters and other business
correspondence.
 Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills.
 Prepare and deliver effective oral presentations.
 Communicate orally in one-on-one, small group and large group situations.
Lecture
Group discussion
Experiential exercise
Case analysis
Simulation
Course paper
Others
X
X
X
Evaluation
Methods
Midterm Exam
Case studies
Class Participation
Assignment and quizzes
Project
Presentation/Group
Discussion
Final Exam
Others
Date/deadlines
Percentage (%)
25
10
15
Presentation and leading
class discussion
35
15
100
Total
Week
Policy
Date/Day
(tentative)
1
01.10.2012
2
08.10. 2012
3
15.10. 2012
4
22.10.2012
5
29.10. 2012
6
05.11 2012
7
8
12.11.2012
19.11.2012
Tentative Schedule
Topics
Introduction.
The Concept of Business Communication. Its role in modern
business environment. Overview of syllabus.
Team Work 1
Advantages and disadvantages of team work. Characteristics
of effective teams. Guidelines for collaborate writing. Group
Dynamics. Hidden agenda. Phases of group development.
Conflicts within groups.
Planning Business Messages
Introduction to planning, writing and completing business
messages.
Analyzing the situation. Defining your purpose. Specific and
general purpose.
Developing audience profile. Identification of primary
audience and determination of audience composition.
Selecting the right medium. Oral, written and electronic
media.
Writing Business Messages.
Audience’s Needs; You attitude.
Bias free language. Strong words, effective sentences.
Relationship with audience; establishing credibility,
protecting company’s image.
Controlling your style and tone, suing conversational tone
and plain language.
Writing Business Messages 2
Composing business messages; choosing strong words,
understanding denotation and connotation finding words that
communicate well.
Completing business messages.
Revising business messages; Evaluation of content,
organization and style.
Reviewing readability. Sentence length, paragraphs, bullets,
lists.
Designing multimedia documents; formatting memos and
formal letters.
Textbook/Assignments
Ch.2/ Quiz in class
Ch.4/Quiz in class
Ch.5/Quiz in class
Ch.5 Quiz in class/
Leading class discussion
and presentation
Ch. 6 Quiz in class/
Leading class discussion
and presentation
Midterm Exam
Writing positive and persuasive messages
Planning, writing and completing positive and persuasive
message.
Starting and explaining the request, justifying the request.
Ch. 8-10. Quiz in class/
Leading class discussion
and presentation
9
26.11. 2012
10
03.12. 2012
11
10.11.2012
12
17.11.2012
13
24.11.2012
14
07.01.2013
15
Will be
announced
Examples of routine request. Asking for information and
action, asking for recommendations.
Sending positive messages; starting the main idea, providing
necessary details and explanation.
Developing market and sales messages; assessing audience
needs, analyzing the competition
Writing negative messages.
Planning, writing and completing negative message.
Developing negative messages; choosing the right approach,
direct and indirect approach.
Adapting to the audience; cultural variations, internal versus
external audience.
Planning and writing reports and proposals. 1
Analyzing the situation. Gathering information. Organizing
information.
Supporting messages with reliable information
Planning and writing reports and proposals. 2
Composing reports and proposal; drafting the content.
Report introduction, body and close
Writing and completing research and proposal
Drafting proposal content; proposal introduction, body and
close.
Revising reports and proposals. Component of formal repots.
Main and supplementary parts of reports.
Designing and Delivering Oral and online presentations
Adapting the presentation to audience
Selecting design elements. Finalizing slides and support
materials.
Hand gestures, eye contact.
Building Careers and Writing Resumes/ interviewing for
employment
Writing your resume; keeping it honest and adapting it to
audience.
Completing the resume.
Understanding the interviewing process; What employees
look for in an interview.
Final Exam
Ch. 9 Quiz in class/
Leading class discussion
and presentation
Ch.11-12/ Quiz in class/
Leading class discussion
and presentation
Ch.11-12/ Quiz in class/
Leading class discussion
and presentation
Ch.13/ Quiz in class/
Leading class discussion
and presentation
Ch.14/ Quiz in class/
Leading class discussion
and presentation
Ch. 15/ Quiz in class/
Leading class discussion
and presentation