Business 85: Business Communications

Business 85: Business Communications

Greetings and Welcome to Business Communications!

I look forward to working with you this quarter as we explore the fundamentals of

business communication focusing on its use as a problem-solving tool. This can arise in several different business communications situations including resolving ethical issues, solving management problems, crafting company policies, reporting information, selling a product or idea, and managing customer relations, to name a few. The goal is to equip students with the principles and practice needed to approach these challenges with a creative and analytical mindset that produces effective communication deliverables.

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to acquaint you with the conventions associated with business communication as a genre and to enable you to apply these conventions effectively in a variety of business writing contexts.

Upon completing this course, students should be able to:

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor: Sandra Spencer

Office Hours Held: From Monday, January 4, 2021 to Friday, March 19, 2021 Office Hours: Mon & Wed 9:30 am to 11:10 am

Location: Online - Email and via ZOOM

Telephone: N/A

Mailing Address: 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014 Email Addresses: [email protected]

If you have questions at any time, I encourage you to contact me immediately. I will respond to you as soon as possible usually within 24 hours or the next scheduled office hour.

1. Use correct grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and fundamental business writing techniques.

2. Compose business emails, memos, and letters for routine, bad-news, persuasive, and job campaign situations.

3. Plan, research, and compose a report.

4. Develop visual aids and incorporate them appropriately into your business documents. 5. Develop conclusions, recommendations, and an executive summary.

6. Utilize technology available to the business writer including word processing software, graphics software, e-mail, the Internet, and electronic job campaign software.

7. Appreciate the value of diversity to meet communication objectives.

8. Be prepared to write formal and informal documents in upper-division College of Business courses.

9. Be prepared to successfully write formal and informal documents throughout your business career.

10. Be prepared to successfully write formal and informal documents to meet your personal and civic responsibilities.

Topics Covered:

This course is divided into the following four units. Follow the Course Calendar of readings, assignments, projects, and required exercises to ensure that you submit all of your work by the required due dates.

Part One: Communication in the World of Work

We will examine the role and importance of communication in business with a focus on viewing this as a form of problem solving. We will define professionalism and describe the skills needed to be effective communicators. The three main categories of business communication are identified along with the two types of communication networks used, and a review of the business communication process. An emphasis is placed on writing effectively for your audience given the purpose of the communication and medium used.

Part Two: Essential Components of Business Communication

This unit covers addresses the importance of the appearance of the communication as it is a reflection of you and your company. Here we explore designing documents with visual appeal, use of appropriate images, the role of color, font choice and layout to enhance readability and receipt of the intended message. In addition, we will examine the format of letters, memos, formal and informal reports, and brochures; as well as, crafting effective sentences and paragraphs. Concepts of word choice, sentence types, paragraph development, writing etiquette, and ethics are reviewed with the goal of building “goodwill”. Toward this end, we must always be mindful of our audience and consider these principles in light of the dimensions of cultural differences. This unit will also require small-group peer editing exercises.

Part Three: Structures and Strategies for Common Business Documents

In this unit you will write a good-news and neutral messages, bad-news messages, persuasive messages and proposals, and will explore researching and writing reports.

Part Four: Strategies for Oral communication and the Job Search

This unit covers delivering business presentations and speeches; putting interpersonal communication skills to work in conversations and meetings; as well as communicating effectively in the job search. This unit may include a group project.

Connect Activities

The course requires weekly open-book activities that are completed before class via Connect. Activities are timed. Questions are randomized.

You are to complete the activities individually unless specifically instructed otherwise.

Collaborating on or sharing information related to the quizzes will be considered a violation of academic integrity. Activities will be made available and must be completed per the dates on the Course Schedule.

Technical Difficulties: Connect does go down. Wireless connections are often unstable.

Therefore, do not wait until the last minute. Technical difficulty is not a valid reason for missing a due date. Manage this unknown by planning your academic activities accordingly and avoid last minute submissions.

For assistance with technical issues or information related to this course, please contact Connect (www.mhhe.com/support).

Student Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, students should be able to:

1) Describe and apply the principles of written and verbal business communications 2) Develop and use a variety of communication strategies that are effective in different

business situations

3) Identify the most effective written and oral communication skills that fit personal communication style and situation

Course Objectives

• Discuss and develop strategies for success in comprehending and demonstrating mastery of business communications concepts

• Analyze business communication problems and determine the appropriate message and medium to achieve desired goals

• Explain and differentiate between key business communication tools and their use in business communication problem-solving

Course Requirements & Design

The course is comprised of 7 instructional modules (covering 15 chapters), plus one midterm and a final. It is intended to be completed in 12 weeks, working 6 to 10 hours per week. Each module consists of a combination of reading assignments from the textbook (see required materials section), online assignments, in-class group assignments, practice problems, and chapter quizzes.

In the on-campus “face-to-face” section, a significant portion of class time is devoted to collaborative group assignments. This approach helps reinforce the material as it is presented and facilitates identifying challenging areas more quickly. The fully online section includes some online group assignments.

Modules are to be completed sequentially. Students may work ahead, but there are grading penalties for completing assignments late.

Please note: It is required that you establish a regular and active presence in the course. Your participation is important, as it will enhance the learning dynamics in the course for everyone. It will be measured in part by your completion of the individual interactive exercises online, group assignments, discussion posts (online class only), AND your required progress report communication with the instructor.

The textbook readings, Connect exercises, LearnSmart/Smartbook tutorials, and other

assignments in the lesson modules are all intended to help the student achieve mastery of the material, which is then tested in the quizzes, written assignments, midterm, and final.

BI-Weekly Communication With Instructor

You are required to post a private “progress report” message to the instructor AT LEAST every other week, updating me on your progress in the course. This is to begin at the end of the second week of instruction. The preferred time for receiving this message is by Saturday night, but the deadline is Monday morning at 9:00 am.

Note: To send your message, please go to the Canvas web site and select the “Progress Report” link. It is typically the last activity listed within each weekly module.

Evaluation

Grading will be based on the following components & scale: (Note: “Plus/Minus” grading is also an option at the instructor’s discretion.)

Six Components of Grade

_Percentages

Chapter Quizzes:

25%

Midterm:

15%

Final:

15%

Online & Written Assignments

35%

Class Participation

*

instructor, attendance, ,

group exercises & helping others)

10%

Thirty-five percent (35%) of the grade is based on the required online and written assignments, thirty percent (30%) is based on student performance on the midterm and final, and twenty-five percent (25%) is based on student performance on the weekly lesson quizzes. The remaining ten percent (10%) is based on class participation, group exercises and other collaborative work.

% of Total

Possible Points

Letter Grade

Required Materials

** NOTE: See the “Submitting Assignments” section below for more information about Connect **

1. Rentz, Business Communications – A Problem Solving Approach, 1st _{edition. Irwin} McGraw-Hill, Inc., 2017

2. Connect to accompany Business Communications – A Problem Solving Approach, 1st edition (Purchase includes access to an e-book.)

Note: If you do NOT want a hard copy of the text and the e-book alone is sufficient for you, you may purchase access to Connect online which includes access to an e-book. Price for the two is about $90. If you also want a hard copy, a loose-leaf upgrade is available for an additional $25 (plus shipping). Access to Connect may be purchased online at the Connect course web site:

https://connect.mheducation.com/class/s-spencer-bus-85---winter-2021---online-delivery

3. Access to the Internet at a speed of 28.8K or higher.

4. If using IE or Netscape, please use Internet Explorer 5.0 (or higher) or Netscape 4.0 or higher.

Submitting Assignments

Most of the assignments are to be accessed and submitted online in Connect via the Canvas portal. Students can access Canvas in a variety of ways:

- Log into MyPortal and click the Canvas app

- Click the Canvas link on the top of any De Anza web page and use their MyPortal credentials to log in - Go directly to https://deanza.instructure.com and use their MyPortal credentials to log in.

Once in Canvas, you need to register to obtain access to the content in the publisher’s

“Connect” website (see instructions below). McGraw-Hill’s Connect is a web based assignment and assessment tool required for this course. Connect is designed to assist you with your coursework based on your needs.

NOTE: Connect is integrated with Canvas so once your account is established, you may access Connect from within Canvas by clicking the “M H Connect” link in the menu bar on the left. To register for Connect, go to the M-H tab in Canvas and click “Register Now”. If you need assistance to register, please refer to the video clips on the bottom of the Connect screen. If you purchased a new book from the De Anza Bookstore, an access code was bundled with it. Use this code to register. If you have a used book or purchased the text elsewhere, you will need to purchase an access code.

To purchase an access code you will select “How To Buy Access Online”. If you have any issues while registering or using Connect, please contact McGraw-Hill’s CARE team at

http://www.mhhe.com/support .

Assignment Calendar and Deadlines

The best way to achieve mastery of the material is to complete each of the activities listed below for every lesson. You are to begin with lesson one and proceed sequentially to lesson twelve.

For each module you are to do the following: ¨ Read the assigned chapter(s)

¨ View the Powerpoint presentation slides

¨ Review the LearnSmart/Smartbook tutorials (Located within Connect) ¨ Complete the assigned Connect exercises

¨ Submit the Chapter quiz(zes). (Located within Connect)

¨ Submit any other Homework Assignments when specified. (Located within Connect)

The “Assignment Calendar”* lists the assignments that contribute toward the final course grade. These graded assignments - which include quizzes, the midterm, homework, written assignments and/or projects, and the final - have due dates as indicated on the calendar. In order to complete all course requirements by the end of the quarter, I strongly encourage you to adhere to the schedule as closely as possible. Therefore, please plan to submit the assignments each week on the

indicated dates.*

(* See Assignment Calendar document and/or Canvas calendar.)

INSTRUCTOR’S NOTE

Any student who is having difficulty with the course is strongly encouraged to see me

immediately. I welcome your questions and will do everything I can to be available to assist you. I truly want you all to succeed. I look forward to an exciting and challenging quarter with you!