IBS Hyderabad
Academic Year – 2014-15
Course Handout
Course Name: Business Communication Semester: I
Faculty Name: Dr.G.Geethanjali
Room No: 107 Wing No: D
Consultation Hours: between16 hrs-17 hrs every Monday & Tuesday Email: gganjali@iyahoo.com
Course Objective
The module bestows on students opportunities to learn and practice business writing skills and prepare them for interviews, group discussions & making effective presentations. The module is exercise –driven & hands-on and covers the following areas
• Effective Presentation Skills • Types of business correspondence-Memos, letters • CV and Cover Letter • Business Proposals • Business Reports • Group Discussion & Interviews • Crisis Communication
Learning Outcome
The module will help students to
1. Prepare for making effective presentations
2. Demonstrate effective writing skills-Letters, memos, reports, business proposals, CV, cover letter
3. Conduct or participate in meetings and record the Minutes systematically
4. Communicate effectively during crises
Recommended Text Book: Business Communication Today-Courtland L.Bovee, John V.Thill and Abha Chatterjee-Pearson Education Asia
Suggested books: 1. BCOM: Lehman, Dufrene,Sinha-Cengage Learning 2. Business Communication-Meenakshi Raman & Prakash Singh-Oxford University Press 3. Effective Business Communication-Krizan,Merrier, Logan & Williams-Cengage Learning 4. Business Communication-Connecting at Work-Hory Shankar Mukerjee-Oxford University Press-2013
Course Outline
|S.No |Session |Topic\Area Covereed |Case |Case |Chapter |
| |No | | |Details |Reading |
|1 |1-3 |Effective Presentation Skills |Discussion | |6,16 & 17 |
| | |(input Sessions) | | | |
|2 |4 |Body Language |Discussion | |6 |
|3 |5-7 |Principles of Business writing |That’s the way |Department |1 ,2 &3 |
| | | | |Case | |
|4 |8 & 9 |CV and Cover letter |Discussion with Sample CVs | |7 |
|5 |10-13 |Effective Presentation Skills |Student Presentations | |6 |
| | |Current Corporate Analysis (CCA) | | | |
|6 |14 |Memos |Discussion –Sample Memos | |4 & 6 |
|7 |15-18 |Business Letters-Claims & Responses, Negative |Write right |Department |4,5,6 |
| | |messages | |Case | |
|8 | |Agenda & MOM |MAM! Minute the minute Minute |Department |2 |
| |19-21 | |Role Play & Exercise |Case | |
|9 |22-25 |Report Writing (including SIP report) |Discussion & Analysis of | |13,14 & 15 |
| | | |sample report | | |
|10 |26-29 |Effective Presentation Skills- Editorials |Student Presentations | |6 |
|11 |30-31 |Business Proposals |Discussion & Analysis of | |13,14 & 15 |
| | | |sample proposal | | |
|12 |32 |Note Making, Blogs, Podcasts, Tweets |Discussion | |4 & 7 |
|13 |33 |Crisis Communication |Crisis All The Way |Department |9 |
| | | | |Case | |
|14 | |English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT -1 and|Tests administered in the | | |
| | |2) (50 marks each) |First & Last week (Marks | | |
| | | |reduced to 10) | | |
Expectations from Students
a. Students must report to the respective sessions well before the announced time. Latecomers will not be permitted to join the class after the scheduled time. If late, the attendance for that session will be marked as absent.
b. Read the Case Study / material well prior to the class discussion. He/she is also expected to read the chapter indicated in the course plan as the faculty directs.
c. In the class discussion student is expected to participate actively and contribute to individual and group learning. Evaluation is based on active participation.
d. Evaluation is a continuous process at IBS. Every student needs to be aware of the timelines given in the section below. Absence from these evaluations will mean non awarding of marks in that particular component
e. Wherever applicable, group assignments require each student to contribute to the group effort. This enhances group effectiveness and leads to greater appreciation of working in groups.
f. Formal dressing is suggested for all students. Do not roam in the academic area/ attend classes in chappals / shorts / informal t shirts
g. Students are expected to show high regard and appreciation for in class discipline and desist from using mobile phones. This disturbs the class ambience and unnecessarily diverts attention of other students as well as the faculty member.
h. Each faculty has been given a scheduled consultation hour. Utilize this time to meet the faculty and clarify doubts if any, seek explanations and get mentored if needed.
i. Attendance is compulsory in all sessions. However refer to guidelines in your academic handbook for exceptions.
Evaluation Timelines
Keeping in line with continuous evaluation at IBS the following schedules have been drawn. Students are expected to go through the dates / sessions mentioned and prepare accordingly.
|Component |Component Number |Expected slot / due date |Marks declaration by |Weightage |
|Class Participation |1 |Session 10 |Session 11 |10 |
|Class Participation |2 |Session 20 |Session 21 |10 |
|Class Participation |3 |Session 30 |Session 31 |10 |
|Non Class |1 |Session 9 |Session 15 |10 |
|Participation | | | | |
|Non class |2 |Session 10 - 13 |Session 16 |10 |
|participation | | | | |
|Non Class |3 |Session 25 |Session 31 |30 |
|Participation | | | | |
|Non Class |4 |Session 26 - 29 |Session 32 |10 |
|Participation | | | | |
|Non Class |5 |English Language Proficiency | |10 |
|Participation | |Test(ELPT -1 and 2) | | |
| |Total |100 |
Performance till Midterm will be announced by end of session No. 16 in each course which means each student will know his / her performance in one CP and two NCPs. The final result will be declared after the second ELPT. Students not taking the evaluation according to the timelines mentioned above will not be given another opportunity excepting in rare circumstances of extreme illness or hospitalization. 