Business Communication
Business Communication
Business Communication
Code: ADMN 212
Level 6
Business Communication
Code: ADMN-212
Course Level:
Course Description: This course provides students with the theoretical and practical
framework for understanding and conducting effective oral and written communication.
Objectives:
1. To make the students understand about the process of effective communication.
2. To develop the skills of Business Communication.
Learning Outcomes:
On the completion of this course, they can handle the communication aspects of any business
organization very efficiently.
1. Text Books
Author Title Publisher Year
Court Bovee & John Business
V Thill Communication Prentice Hall. 2008
Today.
Excellence in
John V. Thill &
Business Prentice Hall. 2008
CourtLand L. Bovee
Communication.
Effective Business
Asha Kaul Prentice Hall 2003
Communication
2. e- Library Reserves
∙ http://www.emeraldinsight.com/insight
3. Internet
∙ Ebsco Business Source Premier: A database containing several hundred key
business and management journals with full text articles updated daily.
∙ Courseware: Specific research support resources and documents, selectively
posted to complement and build upon materials available in proctor’s
methodological text. Such documentation will typically be posted regularly.
∙ www.decalibrary.org
∙ www.ipl.org
∙ www.ncpublicschools.org
Delivery and Teaching Strategy: (Lecture, Online, Physical, blended, self directed
through CD, web based courses and DVD)
Assessment Strategy:
Syllabus Change Policy: This syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change
with advanced notice.
Course Contents:
UNIT I
UNIT II
UNIT III
Report Writing ـــBusiness report, Planning a business report, Types of Business reports- Periodic
report, Progress report, Research report, Recommendation report, Technical report, Examination
report, Graphs, Charts, Executive summary.
UNIT IV
Writing Business Memos ــــMemos, Circulars, Notices, Agenda, Minutes, Resume, Curriculum
Vitae, Press Release, Business letter, Types of letter, Format or business letter, Annual Report.
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UNIT I
Principles of Communication
Contents:-
Definition of Communication
Purpose of Communication
Process of communication
Elements of Effective Communication
Barriers to Communication
Types of Communication
Listening
Presentation Skills
Public Speaking
Practice Presentation.
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Definitions of Communication:
Purpose of Communication:
Process of Communication:
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● Message: message is the idea or feeling transmitted from the
sender to the receiver to achieve understanding.
● Encoding: encoding means translating information into a message
in the form of symbols that represents ideas or concepts.
● Channel: The sender has to select the channel for sending the
information. Communication channel is the media through which
the message passes. It is the link that connects the sender and the
receiver.
● Receiver: Receiver is the person who will receive the message and
decodes the message or interprets the message to achieve
understanding.
● Decoding: Decoding is the process of interpretation of an encoded
message into the understandable meaning. Decoding helps the
receiver to drive meaning from the message.
● Feedback: Communication is an exchange process. For the
exchange to be complete the information must go back to whom
from where it started (or sender), so that he can know the reaction
of the receiver. The reaction or response of the receiver is known
as feedback.
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Elements of effective communication:
Barriers to Communication:
There are many things that can hinder or prevent good communication.
Here are some of the most common barriers:
● Poor Skills: if the sender and receiver do not have proper skills to
communicate then communication may not be good.
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● Attitude: Communication can also be affected by a poor attitude
towards the other person, towards the subject.
Types of Communication:
There are two main types of communication and both the two types are
sub divided into three sub types:
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use of set of signs and symbols. It involves any type of
interaction that makes use of written words. Written
communication is very important in business situations, so it
is important for small business owners and managers to
develop effective written communication skills.
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c. Gesture: Gesture is the movement of hands, arms or the
head, etc. to express an idea, feeling or to emphasize speech.
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Downward communication comes after Upward
Communication have been successfully established.
Both Upward and Downward communications are
collectively called as “Vertical Communication”.
Listening:
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The three basic listening modes are:
Presentation skills:
Management is the art of getting things done. A Presentation is a fast
and potentially effective method of getting things done through other
people. In managing any project, presentations are used as a formal
method for bringing people together to plan, monitor and review its
progress.
But let us look at this another way: what can a presentation do for you?
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provide any necessary support. Senior management should be impressed
by your skill and ability so that they provide the resources so that you
and your team can get the job done.
Finally; presentations can be fun. They are your chance to speak your
mind, to strut your stuff and to tell the people what the world is really
like. While you hold the stage, the audience is bound by good manners
to sit still and watch the performance.
Public Speaking:
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a
structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain
the listeners.
Practice presentation:
You can meet the needs of your audience best by personally connecting
with them, and by practicing your presentation. Be sure you:
If possible, practice your presentation in the very place you'll deliver it.
Use your visuals when you practice so they integrate well into your talk.
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UNIT II
Written Communication
Contents:
Writing
Forms of Written Communication
Advantages of written Communication
Stages of Writing
Proof Reading
Writing Style
Punctuation
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involves any type of interaction that makes use of written words. It is
one of the two main types of communication, along with oral / spoken
communication.
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● Written communication can be edited and revised several times.
● Written communication provides a permanent record of the
messages.
● Written communication increases customer / client satisfaction.
● Written communication improves inter-organizational efficiency.
● Written communication enhances in the community and the
industry.
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d-Determine the idea to be included: The core idea of the message
should be defined. Make a list of the points to be included.
4-Writing the letter: Now time has come to write your first draft of
your message. Though it is a first draft you should try to write a message
that satisfies the requirement.
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Sentence Structure
Punctuation
Word usage
Capitalization
Format of the letter
In general you make sure the final letter is effective and perfect in every
respect, and the best you can capable of writing.
Situation and purpose: The writer needs to tailor style to the situation.
For example, the same person writing a letter to the same reader would
use a different style
Sentence forms: A writer controls not only the density of prose but its
distribution. Within the rules of grammar, the writer can arrange words
in many ways. A sentence may state the main proposition first and then
modify it; or it may contain language to prepare the reader before stating
the main proposition.
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Diction: Depending on the mode in which the writer is writing, diction
can also pertain to the writer's style. it is best to examine the diction
against a number of spectrums:
● Density
● Length
Punctuation:
Punctuation is the use of standard marks and signs in writing to separate
words into sentences, clauses and phrases in order to clarify meaning.
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ix.Quotation mark (“ “) set of either quoted words or words used with
specific significance.
Punctuation
Symbol
Mark
Apostrophe '
Colon :
Comma ,
Dash —
Ellipsis ...
exclamation
!
point
Hyphen -
Parentheses ()
Period .
question mark ?
quotation
"
mark
Semicolon ;
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UNIT III
Report Writing
Contents:
Business report
Planning a business reports
Types of business reports
i.Periodic reports
ii.Progress reports
iii.Research reports
iv.Recommendation reports
v.Technical reports
vi.Examination reports
Graphs
Charts
Executive Summary
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Business Report:
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3. Conducting research to collect supporting information: A lot of
reports would require some form of data collection. Many times
investigative research might be needed. It is important that the
process and methods used for research are explained. Data which
is collected during this process should be presented clearly in the
report. Recommendations and proposed solutions have to be
studied and reviewed in this process.
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5. Technical reports: Technical Reports focus on the how of
products and processes, and generally written by engineers,
research scientists, and others associated with research and
development.
A graph:
A graph is a diagram displaying data; in the graph shown below it
shows the relationship between two or more quantities, measurements or
indicative numbers that may or may not have a specific mathematical
formula relating them to each other; A diagram displaying data, in
particular one showing the relationship.
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A chart:
A chart is a visual representation of data, in which "the data are
represented by symbols, such as bars in a bar chart, lines in a line chart,
or slices in a pie chart". A chart can represent tabular numeric data,
functions or some kinds of qualitative structures. Below is a pie chart:-
\\\\\
An executive summary: Executive Summary is a term used in business
for a short document that summarizes a longer report, proposal or group
of related reports in such a way that readers can rapidly become
acquainted with a large body of material without having to read it all. It
will usually contain a brief statement of problem or peoposal covered in
the major document(s), background information, concise analysis and
main conclusions. It is intended as an aid by business managers.
An executive summary will / may:
● Be written in non-technical language.
● Have a conclusion.
● Make a recommendation.
● Summaries more than one document.
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UNIT IV
Writing Business Memos
Contents:
Memos
Circulars
Notices
Agenda
Minutes
Resume
Curriculum vitae
Press Release
Business letters
Types of letters
Format of business letters
Annual report
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Memos:
Circular:
Notice:
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Agenda:
The agenda is usually headed with the date, time and location of the
meeting, followed by a series of points outlining the order of the
meeting.
● Welcome/open meeting
● Support for absence (what ever that is)
● Approve minutes of the previous meeting
● Matters arising from the previous meeting
● A list of specific points to be discussed — this section is where the
bulk of the discussion as well as decisions in the meeting usually
takes place
● Any other business (AOB) — allowing a participant to raise
another point for discussion.
● Arrange/announce details of next meeting
● Close meeting
Minutes:
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Minutes, also known as protocols, are the instant written record of a
meeting or hearing. They often give an overview of the structure of
the meeting, starting with a list of those present, a statement of the
various issues before the participants, and each of their responses
thereto. They are often created at the moment of the hearing by a
typist or court recorder at the meeting, who may record the meeting in
shorthand, and then prepare the minutes and issue them to the
participants afterwards. Alternatively, the meeting may be audio
recorded or a group's appointed or informally assigned Secretary may
take notes, with minutes prepared later. However it is often important
for the minutes to be brief and concentrate on material issues rather
than being a verbatim report, so the minute-taker should have
sufficient understanding of the subject matter to achieve this. The
minutes of certain entities, such as a corporate board of directors,
must be kept and are important legal documents.
Resume:
Press release:
Business letters:
Types of letters:
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7. Letter of recommendation: This type of letter is written to
recommend a person for a job position. The letter states the
positive aspects of the applicant's personality and how he/she
would be an asset for the organization. Letter of recommendation
is even used for promoting a person in the organization.
Body Paragraph 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
...................................................................
Body Paragraph 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
...................................................................
Body Paragraph 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
...................................................................
.................................6
Closing (Sincerely...), 7
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Signature 8
Enclosures (2) 10
Typist Initials. 11
The block format is the simplest format; all of the writing is flush
against the left margin.
1.Your address:
the return address of the sender of the letter so the recipient can easily
find out where to send a reply to. Skip a line between your address and
the date. (Not needed if the letter is printed on paper with the company
letterhead already on it.)
2.Date:
put the date on which the letter was written in the format Month Day
Year i.e. August 30, 2003. Skip a line between the date and the inside
address (some people skip 3 or 4 lines after the date).
3.Inside address:
The address of the person you are writing to along with the name of the
recipient, their title and company name, if you are not sure who the letter
should be addressed to either leave it blank, but try to put in a title, i.e.
"Director of Human Resources". Skip a line between the date and the
salutation.
4.Salutation:
Dear Ms./Mrs./Mr. Last Name:, Dear Director of Department Name: or
To Whom It May Concern: if recipient's name is unknown. Note that
there is a colon after the salutation. Skip a line between the salutations
and the subject line or body.
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5.Subject line (optional):
makes it easier for the recipient to find out what the letter is about. Skip
a line between the subject line and the body.
6.Body:
the body is where you write the content of the letter; the paragraphs
should be single spaced with a skipped line between each paragraph.
Skip a line between the end of the body and the closing.
7.Closing:
Lets the reader know that you are finished with your letter; usually ends
with Sincerely, Sincerely yours, Thank you, and so on. Note that there is
a comma after the end of the closing and only the first word in the
closing is capitalized. Skip 3-4 lines between the closing and the printed
name, so that there is room for the signature.
8.Signature:
your signature will go in this section, usually signed in black or blue ink
with a pen.
9.Printed name:
the printed version of your name, and if desired you can put your title or
position on the line underneath it. Skip a line between the printed name
and the enclosure.
10.Enclosures:
if letter contains other document other than the letter itself your letter
will include the word "Enclosure." If there is more than one you would
type, "Enclosures (#)" with the # being the number of other documents
enclosed that doesn't include the letter itself.
11.Reference initials:
If someone other than yourself typed the letter you will include your
initials in capital letters followed by the typist's initials in lower case in
the following format; AG/gs or AG:gs.
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Annual report:
● Chairman's report
● CEO's report
● Auditor's report on corporate governance
● Mission statement
● Corporate governance statement of compliance
● Statement of directors' responsibilities
● Invitation to the company's AGM
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