Post Graduate Programme in Management

AY 2016-17 TERM: I
TITLE OF THE WORKSHOP: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
CREDITS: 2 COURSE: SKILL DEVELOPMENT No. of Sections: 8

Name of the Faculty Faculty Block/ Email Telephone Number

Mr. Dibyadyuti Roy
Prof. Madhusri Shrivastava
Ms. Payel Mukherjee
Prof. Urjani Chakravarty
Room No.
dibyadyutir@gmail.com
B110 madhusri@iimidr.ac.in +91-731-2439544
VF
C Conf. Room FF urjanic@iimidr.ac.in +91-731-2439505

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Communication whether writing a mail, preparing a business plan or report, or speaking is
both a necessary and a challenging aspect of business. In fact, effective communication skills have
frequently been identified as prerequisites to success in business. The course, therefore, helps
participants acquire skills needed to achieve their potential as managers

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is designed to develop business communication skills. At the end of this course, the
participants should be able to:
Understand the importance of effective communication in a business setting
Acquire business writing skills
Plan, organize and deliver oral business messages

PEDAGOGY/TEACHING METHOD:
Students are exposed to the various forms of business communication through lectures,
discussions, team activities, role plays, situation analyses, and creative exercises.

EVALUATION WEIGHTAGE
40%
Group Assignments
60%
Individual Assignments
100%
Total
SCHEDULE OF SESSIONS

Module I COMMUNICATION FOUNDATIONS

Module Objective: To understand the basics of effective communication

SESSIONS AND OBJECTIVE

Session 1: Course Introduction

Overview of Business Communication
Elements of Effective Communication
Objective: To apply effective and practical communication techniques in management settings:
Oral and Written
Reading: Bovee, T., & Chatterjee, A. (2011). Business Communication Today. New Delhi: Pearson,
Chapter 1: Achieving success through Effective Business Communication. pp. 2-30

Session 2: Principles of Business Writing

Objective: To achieve clarity and conciseness
Reading: Henning. (2003). Brevity isnt enough you need to Write Tight. Harvard Management
Communication Letter 6(2). Pp-3-4

Session 3: Structure of Business Messages

Objective: Planning and organizing business messages
Reading: Penrose, J., Rasberry, R., & Myers. (2007). Advanced Business Communication for
Managers. New Delhi: Cengage Learning, Chapter 2, Informatics & Persuasion, pp-36-45.

Module II COMMUNICATION AS MANAGERS

Module Objective: To enhance speaking and writing skills in a business context

SESSIONS AND OBJECTIVE

Session 4: Routine/Neutral/Good messages
Objective: Drafting positive and informative messages
Reading: Ober, S. (2009). Contemporary Business Communication: Routine Messages. 5th Edition
Indian Adaptation. Delhi: Houghton Mifflin. Chapter, pp.218-252

Session 5: Avoiding Communications Mistakes-I

Objective: Interpreting and Responding Appropriately
Reading: Wood, J. (2006). Communication in Our Lives: Listening Effectively. Australia: Thomson
Wadsworth. Chapter 7, pp 173-199.

Session 6: Avoiding Communication Mistakes II

Objective: Understanding nuances of effective delivery
Reading: Robbins, S. (2000). Communication Breakdown: Nine Mistakes Managers Make. Harvard
Management Communication Letter, September 2000, Number 9.

Session7: Bad News Messages

Objective: Drafting rejections and refusals
Reading: Lehman, C., Du Frane, D., & Sinha, M. (2011). BCOM: An Innovative Approach to Learning
and Teaching. Cengage Learning. Chapter 7: Preparing Bad News Messages. pp.146-154.

Session 8 & 9: Writing Short Reports

Objective: To understand the basics of short reports
Reading: Scot, O. (2009). Contemporary Business Communication. Biztantra. Chapter 12: Writing
the Report. Pp.412-457

Module III BUSINESS PROPOSAL (SHORT)

MODULE OBJECTIVE: To learn the art of writing persuasive proposals

SESSIONS AND OBJECTIVE

Session10: Proposal Writing

Objective: To understand the process of proposal writing (short)
Reading: Wreden, Nick. Making your Proposal Come out on Top. Product No.C0207A

*****