National University of Singapore
Business School Graduate Division
BMA 5014 Advanced Business Communication
GENERAL INFORMATION
LECTURER
Mr James Stephen
OFFICE
CELC 03-15
TELEPHONE
6516-8876
EMAIL
elcjds@nus.edu.sg
Course Objectives
This course aims to help students become better communicators in business and professional
contexts. Students will engage in a wide range of activities involving oral and written tasks
which will emphasise fluency and accuracy. Through these tasks students will have ample
opportunity to practise their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
Course Content
The key topics covered will be:

Written Communication Skills. For students to write purposeful letters, memos or
emails in any given situation, paying attention to the reader’s needs, the reader-writer
relationship and the communication context.

Oral presentation skills. For students to become confident speakers and be able to
deliver persuasive presentations.

Meetings/ group discussion skills. For students to become more effective meeting
participants and to ensure more productive meetings.

Report-writing skills. For students to understand the fundamentals of report-writing
and develop analytical skills required to produce persuasive reports, characterised by
a critical and interesting discussion of data, logical conclusions and feasible
recommendations.

Interpersonal / Intercultural communication skills. For students to become aware of
important factors at play when communicating across cultures so that they may be
skilful communicators with audiences of diverse backgrounds in the global business
environment.
Course Assessment
The assessment for this module is based purely on 4 assignments and your class participation
cum pedagogical blogging on prescribed topics accounting for a total of 100%.

The breakdown for the CA is as follows
Letter
Report
Oral Presentation 1
Oral Presentation 2
*CP /Google Docs
(*CP=Class participation)
15%
30%
15%
20%
20%
Course Attendance
You should attend all classes. If you have to miss a class for a valid reason, please drop me
an email in advance, if possible.
Prescribed Textbook
Leadership Communication (2010), 3rd International Edition, Barrett, D. J., McGraw-Hill
Publications.
Useful References
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8.
Business Communication Today (2008, 9th ed) by Bovee, Courtland L. and Thill,
John V. Upper Saddle River, NJ : Pearson Prentice Hall, c2008. 9th ed. HF5718 Bov
2008
Business communication : Asian perspectives, global focus / Irene F.H. Wong,
Michael D. Connor, Ulrike M. Murfett, Wong, Irene F. H. (Irene Foong Heng), 1941Singapore ; New York : Pearson Prentice Hall, c2006. 2nd ed. HF5718 Won 2006
Business English: writing in the workplace / Blanche Ettinger, Edda Perfetto.
Ettinger, Blanche. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall, c2008.
4th ed. HF5718 Ett 2008
Communication skills for business and professions / Paul R. Timm, James A. Stead.
Timm, Paul R. Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Prentice Hall , c1996. HF5718 Timm
Effective organisational communication : perspectives, principles, and practices /
Richard Blundel, Kate Ippolito, Blundel, Richard. Harlow, England ; New York : FT
Prentice Hall, 2008. 3rd ed. HF5718 Blu 2008
Presentation skills for managers / Jennifer Rotondo, Mike Rotondo. Rotondo,
Jennifer. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001. HF5718.22 Rot
I wasn’t prepared for that. (video) HSSL Library HVC 1247. [This video
demonstrates particularly the importance of knowing your audience well. It’s
presented in a very funny way, with British comedienne, Dawn French.
Power Writing: Techniques for success. (video) Central Library CVC 12099. [This
video will give you tips on how to write more powerful and effective business letters.]