Introduction
Many of the changes in today’s dynamic workplace are linked to communication. These include rapidly evolving communication technologies, the globalization of business, the emerging “knowledge” economy and a changing work environment. As future professionals in this new global workplace, you will need to equip yourself with a good foundation in these skills.

At an individual level, as students of management, your success in the professional world will greatly depend on your communication skills. Students with good reading, writing, speaking and listening skills will have a competitive edge during their placement and in their careers.

Course Objectives
1. To develop a conceptual understanding of the process of business communication.
2. To provide tools and strategies to improve communication skills in writing, speaking, and listening.
3. To inculcate the process of critical thinking and reflection.
4. To introduce techniques that foster effective teamwork.

Instructor: Shobhana Madhavan
Telephone (office): Ext 444

Instructions for students:
While the principles of business communication have been well established, the practice is the hard part. Each student would benefit from this course to the extent that efforts are made to internalize the knowledge and skills through practice.

1. Students are expected to read the assigned text for deeper theoretical understanding.

2. All assignments have to be word-processed in standard font size of 12, with a spacing of 1.5. Do not use too many font types in one document.

3. Late assignments will be marked down 10% for each day of delay. Exceptions will only be made if you have a valid reason and inform me more than a day in advance of the due date.

4. Please proofread (or have a friend proofread) your assignments before submission. Many errors can be corrected if you proofread your work before final submission.

5. Any assignment suspected of plagiarism will be marked zero. Plagiarism is presenting another person’s work as one’s own.

6. Please keep all your assignments and examination papers until the end of the semester. This will help you to assess your improvement in the course and identify areas of further improvement.

7. Please bring a few sheets of blank paper to each class for in-class exercises.

Course Material
The prescribed text is Basic Business Communication by Raymond V.Lesikar, and Marie. E. Flatley. 10th edition. 2005. Tata McGraw Hill. This book is on reserve in the library.

Another reference text on reserve is:
Guffey, Mary Ellen. 2000. Business Communication: Process and Product. Thomson South Western Publishers.

There are a number of other good business communication texts available in the library that elaborate the basic principles of the subject in a lucid manner.

Group NGO Project
20% of the evaluation component will be based on an NGO communcation project. Groups will have to choose any social issue they are interested in – illiteracy, pollution, child labour, nature conservation, women’s empowerment, etc. – and set up an imaginary NGO which addresses this issue. Students have to then create either a website or a brochure for this NGO. This will be followed by a presentation in class on the NGO, its mission, objectives, activities, achievements, and an appeal for participation to the audience.

Course Evaluation