Description:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to explain the role of communication in the business environment and identify the most effective methods for creating, sending and receiving messages. In addition, the student should be able to use effective oral and written communication skills in business; write and evaluate business documents, including letters, memos, and reports using the principles of correct style, organization and format; and prepare an effective oral business presentation. 3 hrs./wk.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Communicate effectively within an organization.
2. Demonstrate effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills.
3. Explain the importance of speaking and listening effectively when communicating with people of other cultures.
4. Identify and describe the technologies available in creating, sending, and receiving messages.
5. Demonstrate reading skills leading to efficient summarizing, outlining, and identifying of the main points.
6. Demonstrate listening skills that help to improve the communication process.
7. Write correspondence using the principles of correct writing style, organization, and format as will be exhibited through a) direct request messages, b) good-news and goodwill messages, c) bad-news messages, d) persuasive messages, e) employment messages.
8. Identify the basic rules of report writing in short and long reports and proposals.
9. Prepare and deliver an effective oral presentation.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Foundations of Business Communication
   A. Organizational Communication
      1. Describe how managers use communication.
      2. Contrast formal and informal communication channels.
      3. Explain how organizations communicate with outside audiences.
      4. Describe how companies successfully communicate in a crisis.
      5. Explain the six factors that contribute to effective business
communication.
   B. Understanding Business Communication
      1. List the general categories of nonverbal communication.
      2. Explain the four channels of verbal communication.
      3. Identify the steps in the communication process.
      4. Describe communication barriers and how to overcome them.
   C. Intercultural Communication
      1. Define culture and intercultural communication.
      2. Identify the general skills to help communicate in any culture.
      3. Identify common sources of misunderstanding.
      4. Explain the importance of speaking and listening effectively when
communicating with people from other cultures.
   D. Communicating Through Technology
      1. Identify the communication role of electronic mail and Internet
technologies in today’s business organizations.
      2. Describe the technologies available for group communication.
      3. Assess the ways technology is changing business communication.

II. The Writing Process
   A. Planning Business Messages
      1. Describe the three categories in the composition process.
      2. Define the general purpose, specific purpose, main idea, and
topic of each business message.
      3. Analyze the needs of the intended audience.
      4. Select the appropriate channel and medium for transmitting each
message.
   B. Composing Business Messages
      1. Identify the characteristics of a well-organized message.
      2. Arrange ideas in direct or indirect order, depending on the
audience’s probable reaction.
      3. Identify the four organizational plans for short messages and the
two organizational plans for long messages.
      4. Define style and tone and describe how to use a style and tone
appropriate to the document’s subject, purpose, audience, and format.
      5. Explain how to use the “you” attitude to interest the
audience in the message.
      6. Compose an appropriate e-mail message.
   C. Revising Business Messages
      1. Edit messages for content and organization, style and
readability, mechanics and format.
      2. Select the most correct and effective words to make the point.
      3. Rewrite sentences to clarify the relationships among ideas and
create interest.
      4. Identify the elements of paragraphs.

III. Letters, Memos, and Other Brief Messages
   A. Direct Request Messages
      1. Compose direct request messages following the direct (deductive)
organizational plan.
      2. State the main idea of each direct request message.
      3. Provide sufficient detail for each direct request message to
enable the reader to comply with request.
      4. Close each direct request message with a courteous request for
specific action.
      5. Utilize proper style, tone, and format.
   B. Good News and Goodwill Messages
      1. Identify the appropriate time to write good-news and goodwill
messages.
      2. Compose good-news and goodwill messages using the basic
organizational pattern to fit each message.
      3. State the main idea.
      4. Encourage reader to take the desired action.
      5. Utilize proper style, tone, and format.
   C. Bad News Messages
      1. Choose correctly between indirect and direct approaches to a
bad-news message.
      2. Compose bad-news messages establishing the proper tone from the
beginning.
      3. Present bad news in a reasonable and understandable way.
      4. Close messages so that the audience is willing to continue a
business relationship with the firm.
   D. Persuasive Messages
      1. Utilize effective planning strategies in developing persuasive
messages.
      2. Organize persuasive messages according the AIDA plan.
      3. Compose an effective persuasive letter around selling points and
benefits.
      4. Describe the steps in the collection process.

IV. Reports and Proposals
   A. Short Reports
      1. Define what is meant by a business report.
      2. Identify the qualities of a good business report or proposal.
      3. Utilize proper report format, style, and organization based on
six factors: who, what, when where, why, and how.
      4. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of electronic reports.
   B. Planning Long Reports
      1. Develop a statement defining the problem to be solved and a
statement defining the purpose of the report.
      2. Identify and outline the issues to be analyzed.
      3. Prepare a work plan for conducting the investigation.
      4. Organize the research phase of the investigation, including the
identification of secondary and primary sources of data.
      5. Draw sound conclusions and develop practical recommendations.
   C. Completing Long Reports and Proposals
      1. Identify the necessary parts of a formal report and proposal.
      2. Prepare and assemble the parts of a formal report in the proper
order, using appropriate format.

V. Employment Messages
   A. Resumes and Application Letters
      1. Analyze work skills and qualifications.
      2. Choose the best organizational plan to market skills.
      3. Utilize the appropriate format and style for an effective
resume.
      4. Prepare an effective resume.
      5. Write an effective application letter that gets a prospect an
interview.
   B. Employment Interviews and Follow-Up
      1. Explain the steps in the interview process.
      2. Identify the various types of interviews.
      3. Predict the types of questions the candidate is likely to
encounter.
      4. Describe the most common types of messages required to follow up
after an interview.

VI. Oral Communication
   A. Listening, Interviewing, and Conducting Meetings
      1. Summarize the skills involved in being an effective listener.
      2. Describe how groups make decisions.
      3. Discuss the preparations and duties necessary for productive
meetings.
   B. Speeches and Oral Presentations
      1. Categorize speeches and presentations according to their
purpose.
      2. Identify the steps required in the planning process.
      3. Develop an introduction, a body, and a close for a long
presentation.
      4. Select, design, and use visual aids that are appropriate for a
presentation.
      5. Describe the four methods of delivery.
      6. Explain the techniques required to be an effective public
speaker.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

Minimum of four exams/quizzes        50%
Letters, memos, reports, projects    40%
Oral presentation                    10%
  Total                             100%

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.