Final: 23-2-16

ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

(Department of Business Administration)

Course: Business Communications (525/5530)

Level: MBA

Semester: Spring, 2016

CHECKLIST

This packet comprises the following material:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Textbook
Assignment No. 1 & 2
Course Outlines
Assignment Forms (2 sets)
Schedule for Submitting the Assignments

In this packet, if you find anything missing out of the above-mentioned material, please
contact at the address given below: The Mailing Officer
Mailing Section, Block # 28
Allama Iqbal Open University
Sector H-8, Islamabad.
Tel: (051) 9057611, 9057612

Ms. Mobashira Alvi

Course Coordinator

ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

(Department of Business Administration)

WARNING

1. PLAGIARISM OR HIRING OF GHOST WRITER(S) FOR SOLVING

THE ASSIGNMENT(S) WILL DEBAR THE STUDENT FROM
AWARD OF DEGREE/CERTIFICATE, IF FOUND AT ANY STAGE.
2. SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENT(S) BORROWED OR STOLEN FROM
OTHER(S) AS ONES OWN, WILL BE PENALIZED AS DEFINED
IN AIOU PLAGIARISM POLICY.
Course: Business Communications (525/5530)
Level: MBA

Semester: Spring, 2016

Total Marks: 100
Pass Marks: 40

ASSIGNMENT No. 1
(Units: 15)
Note: Attempt all questions.
Q. 1 Discuss the role of ethics in business communication.

(20)

Q. 2 You are the HR Manager of XYZ Corporate. Write a message to your employees
informing them of the new HR policies drafted.
(20)
Q. 3 You are the Operations Manager in a firm. Write a persuasive message to your boss
to take steps for HR development in your department.
(20)
Q. 4 Different technologies are available for business communication. Discuss their use
according to demand of communication.
(20)
Q. 5 Discuss the barriers to communication in detail. Also list down strategies to
overcome these barriers.
(20)

GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT No. 1:

You should look upon the assignments as a test of knowledge, management skills, and
communication skills. When you write an assignment answer, you are indicating your
knowledge to the teacher:

Your level of understanding of the subject;

2

How clearly you think?

How well you can reflect on your knowledge & experience?
How well you can use your knowledge in solving problems, explaining situations,
and describing organizations and management?
How professional you are, and how much care and attention you give to what you do?

To answer a question effectively, address the question directly, bring important related
issues into the discussion, refer to sources, and indicate how principles from the course
materials apply. You must also be able to identify important problems and implications
arising from the answer.
For citing references, writing bibliographies, and formatting the assignment, APA format
should be followed.

ASSIGNMENT No. 2
Total Marks: 100
Pass Marks: 40
This assignment is a research-oriented activity. You are required to submit a term paper
and present the same in the classroom prior to the final examination. Presentation
component is compulsory for all students. You will have to participate in the activity fully
and prepare a paper of about 15 to 20 pages on the topic allotted to you. The students are
required to prepare two copies of Assignment No. 2. Submit one copy to your teacher for
evaluation and the second copy for presentation in the classrooms in the presence of your
resource persons and classmates, which will be held at the end of the semester prior to
final examination.
Include the following main headings in your report:1.
Introduction to the topic
2.
Important sub-topics
3.
Practical aspects with respect to the topic
4.
Review of theoretical and practical situations
5.
Merits, demerits, deficiencies or strengths of the organization with respect to your topic
6.
Conclusions and recommendations
7.
Annex, if any
You must use transparencies, charts or any other material for effective presentation. You
are also required to select one of the following topics according to the last digit of your
roll number. For example, if your roll number is D-3427185 then you will select topic
3

No.5 (the last digit):List of Topics

0.
Non-Verbal Communication
1.

Cultural Variables and Communication

2.

Good News Messages

3.

Short Formal Reports

4.

Strategies for Successful Presentation during Job Interview

5.

Strategies for Successful Interpersonal Communication

6.

Short Formal Proposals

7.

Cover Letters

8.

Strategies for Reducing Stage Fright

9.

Persuasive Speaking

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
DETAILED COURSE OUTLINE (525/5530)
UNIT 1

AN OVERVIEW OF COMMUNICATION
Defining communication
Importance of communication
Communication process
Concepts of communication
Barriers in communication
Nonverbal communication
Principles of effective communication

UNIT 2

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION IN CONTEXT

Business communication and the global context
Background to intercultural communication
National cultural variables
Individual cultural variables
Business communication and ethics
Influences on personal ethics
Communication and ethical issues

UNIT 3

UNIT 4

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Managing information within organization
History of technological developments
Challenges to the organization made by new technologies
E-mail & others technologies for communication
Defining e-mail
Using e-mail
Understanding how e-mail works
Understanding the internet
Establishing security
Voice mail
Groupware
CD_ROM database
Teleconferences
Faxes
Managing information out sides the organization
MESSAGE DESIGN
Process of preparing effective business messages
Five planning steps
Basic organizational plans
Beginning and ending
Composing the message
The appearance and design of business message
Business letters
Memorandums
Special timesaving message media
Good-news and neutral messages
Organizational plan
Favorable replies
Neutral messages

UNIT 5

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: MAJOR PLANS FOR

LETTERS AND MEMOS

UNIT 6

UNIT 7

Bad-news messages
The right attitude
Plans for bad-news messages
Negative replies to requests
Unfavorable unsolicited messages
Persuasive written messages
Organization of persuasive messages
Persuasive request
Persuasive sales letters

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: REPORTS

Short reports
Suggestion for short reports
Informational memorandum reports
Analytical memorandum reports
Letter reports
Long (formal) reports
Prefatory sections
Supplemental section
Presentation of the long reports
Proposals
Purpose of proposal
Kinds of proposals
Parts of proposals
Short proposals
Long formal proposals
Writing style and appearance
STRATEGIES FOR ORAL COMMUNICATION
Strategies for successful speaking and successful listening
Strategies for improving oral presentation
Strategies for reducing stage fright
Strategies for improving listing skills
Strategies for successful informative and persuasive speaking
Purpose of informative and persuasive speaking
Kinds of informative and persuasive speaking
Audience analysis for informative and persuasive speaking
Organization for informative and persuasive speaking
Supports for informative and persuasive speaking

UNIT 8

UNIT 9

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL INTERPERSONAL

COMMUNICATION AND GROUP MEETINGS
Strategies for successful interpersonal communication
Dyadic communication
Interviewing
Telephoning
Dictating
Strategies for successful business and group meeting
Background information
Purpose and kinds of meetings
Solving problems in meeting or groups
Leadership responsibilities in meeting
Participants responsibilities in meetings
How to take minutes of the meeting?
THE JOB APPLICATION PROCESS
The written job presentation
Self assessment
Market assessment
Resume (vita, qualification brief)
Cover letter to resume
The job application process interviews and follow-up
Successful presentation for the job interview
Successful follow-up messages after the interview
Successful negotiating

Recommended Book:
Murphy A. H. Effective Business Communication

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