Aims

1. Maximise personal business communication skills, necessary both within the organisation and for communication with external audiences.

2. Appreciate the internal mechanisms needed for business communication and how to ensure that these are effective.

3. Learn to deal with different types of data, particularly for the purpose of presenting information that is visually appealing and professionally produced.

4. Understand the role of information technology in the business communication environment and the efficiencies that these opportunities bring to the world of work.

Programme content and learning objectives 

After completing the programme students should be able to: 

1. Business Communication: Background and Theory

• Understand the communication process, barriers to it, techniques for overcoming them and for assessing the effectiveness of communication.

• Acknowledge the different modes of communication, including face-to-face interactions, letters, memos, telephone contact, electronic mail, the internet and video conferencing and assess the relevant advantages and disadvantages of each one.

2. Written Communication: Modes of Communication and Computer Software Applications

• Produce and use appropriately a range of written communications including, electronic mail messages, memos, letters, briefs, direct mail, reports, press releases and job descriptions.

• Understand the key elements of word processing, including page layout, typefaces and fonts, and printing and other computer software applications. 

3. Oral Communication: Presentations and Visual Aids 

• Understand the purposes of presentations and speeches and how to prepare for their delivery.

• Demonstrate the choice and use of visual aids. Appreciate how to use the telephone effectively and the importance of listening skills.

4. Visual Communication 1: Logos, Graphics and Multimedia 

• Identify the use of visual communications in the presentation of information, including the role and value of graphics and multimedia.

5. Visual Communication 2: Using Statistical Data and Information

• Understand basic statistics and how to organise this data into statistical information as part of a visual presentation.

6. Meetings and interviews: Structure, Content and Listening

• Identify different types of meetings and interviews. Understand the formal structures, procedures and documentation necessary for successful meetings and interviews.

7. Information Technology and Business Communication 

• Understand the use of information technology in business organisations, including telecommuting, work group computing, bulletin board systems, commercial services and use of the Internet, including global perspectives such as the worldwide web.

• Appreciate the value of personal computing in communication, including word processing, desktop publishing, electronic publishing and presenting, and organising and gathering information via spreadsheets, databases and browsers.

8. Input through Computer Hardware

• Appreciate the use of input devices such as the keyboard, pointing devices and scanners.

9. Output through Computer Hardware 

• Understand how output devices work, such as screen displays, large computer systems and microcomputer systems.

Method Assessment

By written examination. The pass mark is 40%. Time allowed 3 hours.

The question paper will contain:

Eight questions of which four must be answered. All questions carry 25 marks.