NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY

Centre of Excellence in higher

Education
The First private
university in Bangladesh
School of Business and Economics
Department of Management

Communication Skills for Managers

EMB 500

Course Name:
Course Code
& Section No:
Semester

Spring 2015

1. Instructor
Name:

Elana Nichols
980

2. Office
T-TH-F: 6-7

3. Office Hours:
TBA
4. Office Phone:

Elana.Nichols@northsouth.edu

5. Email Address:
6. Department

Management

7. Links:

North South University Website:

http://www.northsouth.edu
School of Business Website:
http://www.northsouth.edu/academic/sob/

8.
COURSE & SECTION INFORMATION
Class Time &

Tuesday 7:00-10:30 pm NAC-992

Location
Course
Prerequisite(
s)
Course
Credit Hours
Course
Description

3.0
This course examines communication tools and techniques
in different business settings; Participants will learn effective
ways of conducting official correspondence and writing
business reports form a real-life perspective; major topics
will include communication process, models of
communication, principles of effective verbal and non-verbal
communication, writing and presenting research reports and
communicating with stackholders.

Course
Objectives

Learning
Outcomes

Help students understand the importance of realistic

business communication process with real life
business scenarios.
Familiarize students with communication, audience,
message, culture, and other related strategies.
Teach students writing skills covering composition
techniques, document design, editing, and
appropriate style for writing.
Demonstrate students with learning document
designing for high skill value, clear progression, and
linkage.
Enhance speaking skills of a public nature in meetings
and presentations.
Familiarize students with persuasive skills of tell/sell
and ask/answer question in different situations
Teach students effective interpersonal speaking skills.
Demonstrate how to design presentation and slide
master and other visual aids.
Teach students nonverbal delivery skills, relaxation
techniques and listening skills as well.
To become competent communicators in public,
private, within and across cultures.
Students must learn the role of their communication
choices and behavior with within their social context.
Students should understand the factors that affect the

potential success or failure of their communication

efforts.
Students are expected to learn effective presentation
skills and learn to converse and control meetings and
discussions.
Students are expected to be able to learn techniques
of persuasion, answering questions in hostile
situations and developing effective listening skills.

LEARNING RESOURCES & TEXTBOOK(s)

Author

Title

Mary Munter
and Lynn
Hamilton

Guide to
Managerial
Communicati
on

Courtland L Bovee &

John V Thill

TEXTBOOK(s)
Edition &
Year
Tenth Edition
(2013)

Publisher

ISBN

Pearson

97801329713
31

REFERENCE BOOK
Excellence in Business
Communication

Seventh Edition

TEACHING STRATEGY
Instructor will introduce the concepts through class lectures and discuss
various aspects of the concepts with examples. Students are strongly
advised to go through different chapters of the textbook carefully to keep
themselves abreast of the discussions in class. Practical examples of
different business communication situations will be explained and students
will be invited to participate.
ASSESSMENT STRATEGY AND GRADINGS SCHEME
Grading Tool
Points
First Midterm Exam
15%
Second Midterm Exam
20%
Group Report and Presentations
20%
In-class Discussions/Role-playing
15%
Activities
Final Exam
25%
Attendance
5%
Total
100%

The Final grade will be percentage of the accumulation of all points received
over the course as follow as per NSU Grading Policy:
100% - 93%
=D
92% - 90%
F
89% - 87%
86% - 83%
82% - 80%

=A

79% - 77%

= C+

= A-

76% - 73%

=C

= B+
=B
= B-

72% - 70%
69% - 67%

= C= D+

60% - 66%
Less than 60% =

CLASS ROOM RULES OF CONDUCT

1. Cellular phones should be TURNED OFF/ SILENT MODE during class.
2. Students are advised to frequently refer to the Student Handbook of
North South University on the following link:
http://www.northsouth.edu/student-code-of-conduct.html
3. Academic Integrity Policy:
Academic dishonesty of any type will be punished as per NSU Rules.
This includes,
but is not limited to plagiarism (copying others work
in part or in total) and copying during exams. In addition, classroom
etiquette is to be maintained at all times. This means that when the
Instructor is speaking or when students are presenting their ideas, the
class should listen carefully. Questions from students are always
welcome, but chattering among class members causing distractions
are not allowed.
Taking or other forms of communication with other students will not be
allowed
during exams. The no talking requirement will remain in
force during the exam and until all students have handed their exam
scripts to the instructor. Talking during the exam will disqualify the
student from taking the exam. Any student engaging in misconduct will
be dealt with according to North South Universitys Student Code of
Conduct.
EXAMS, QUIZ & MAKE UP POLICY
Students will submit written assignments on designated dates. Late
submission of assignments will be penalized.
Make-up exams for the two Midterms may be allowed, provided there
are sufficient convincing reasons. There will be no make-up exams of
the Final Exam.
All Exams will be based on broad question. Students will be required to
write short essay-type answers reflecting their proficiency in English

Language. There will be no Exam based on multiple choice

questions.
Cell phones are prohibited in exam sessions.

GROUP ASSIGNMENTS (GROUP SHOULD HAVE 5/6 MEMBERS)

Class will be divided into groups of 5/6 students at the beginning of the
semester. Each group will be assigned a topic to write a short
dissertation report. This will enable students to interact among
themselves and develop cooperative teamwork culture, which is
essential for the success of an organization. The group will present the
report verbally 8/9 weeks after the beginning of semester. The topics
will be drawn from contemporary social, economic, business sectors of
Bangladesh.

LATE ASSINGMENT POLICY

Students failing to submit their class assignments or group reports on
schedule will be penalized.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
In order to foster a collaborative learning experience where shared student
participation is important, attendance is critical. There may be situations
when a student may miss class due to illness or an emergency. In such
cases, students are still responsible to ensure that assignments are
submitted on time. Arriving late for class is a gross violation of discipline and
etiquette. Late entrants into class disrupt normal flow of discussion of the
class. Instructor can debar a late student from attending class. North South
University stipulates that students who are absent 25% or more from their
classes will be considered failed or even such absences are excusable.
COURSE ADJUSTMENTS
The instructor can make adjustments in the Course, keeping the overall
objective of the Course in mind.
COMMUNICATION POLICY
Instructor may use SMS or Email to communicate with students. Students are
required to submit their mobile and email address at the beginning of the
semester.
APPROPRIATE USE POLICY

All members of the North South University community must use electronic
communications in a responsible manner. The University may restrict the use
of its computers and network systems for electronic communications subject
to violations of university policies /codes or local laws or national laws. Also,
the university reserves the right to limit access to its networks through
university-owned or other computers, and to remove or limit access to
material posted on university-owned computers.
STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
North South University will provide special attention to the requirements of
students with disabilities. Students with disabilities are encouraged to
contact their instructor to ensure that their needs are met. The University
through its Special Need section will exert all efforts to accommodate special
needs.
STUDENTS COMPLAINTS POLICY
Students at North South University have the right to pursue complaints
related to faculty, staff, and other students. The nature of the complaints
may be either academic or non-academic. For more information about the
policy and processes related to this policy, students may refer to the
students handbook.
Chapters to be
covered
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.

Topics
Communication Strategy
Audience Strategy
Message Strategy
Channel Choice Strategy
Culture Strategy
General Composing Techniques
Special Composing Challenges
Document Design for High Skim
Value
Clear Progression and Linkage
Effective Paragraphs and
Sections
Editing for Brevity
Choosing a Style
Tell/Sell Presentations
Questions and Answers
Consult/Join Meetings
Nonverbal Delivery Skills
Relaxation Techniques
Listening Skills
Designing Presentation as a
whole
Designing Your Slide Master
Designing Each Individual Slide
Using Visual Aids

COURSE
CONTENTS

FINAL COMMENTS:
First of all, remember active participation and on hand experience of dealing
with others are the best ways to learn and gain knowledge. Therefore, be
prepared to be active in class. A substantial portion of our time every week
will be devoted towards discussion, debate and other activities about
different topics of managerial communication.
Second, please understand that your instructor is here to help you, to be with
you, and to walk through the difficult steps as long as you co-operate.
Instructor of this course will be available for all of you. Feel free to stop by
when something bothers you and we will try out level best to help you out.
You can always email me, write me, or make an appointment with me when
you need me. I will be there for you.
GOODLUCK