MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

DEPARTMENT OF

GENERAL MANAGEMENT & POLICY ANALYSIS

COURSE TITLE: COMMUNICATON SKILLS

COURSE CODE: GMPAC 220

1.0 Overview

This program is designed to expose students to the fundamentals of academic and

professional communication in order to develop professionals who can effectively apply
communication theories and best practices to meet their academic and corporate
communication needs.

2.0 Aims

The program aims to help learners improve their productive proficiency in

English-speaking, listening, and writing. It is also aimed to equip students with
communication skills suitable for their academic purposes. It is further meant to develop in
students skills necessary for effective communication in business/ workplaces and life in
general.

3.0 Program Objectives

By the end of the program students should be able to:

 Communicate effectively and productively both verbally and non-verbally

 Apply the requisite academic communication skills in their essay writing and other
forms of academic writing
 Demonstrate understanding of the generic fundamentals of communication
 Use various computer-mediated communication platforms in their academic and
professional work

 Relate to the interpersonal and organizational dynamics that affect effective

communication in organizations.
4.0 Program Duration

The contact time is 90 hours spread over 15 weeks.

5.0 Methodology

The program will be taught mainly through lectures, tutorials, group discussions,
simulations and student presentations. It has been designed to enhance workplace
communication skills by providing a variety of activities in order to build
global competency.

6.0 Program Design

Section A of the course will be done by all students. Section B will be done by the students
from Agricultural Science and Technology and Engineering Science and Technology
backgrounds. Section C will accommodate students from the Departments of Business and
Management, hospitality and tourism, and midlevel cadre of both public and private sector
workforce.

Section A - Generic Communication

Section B - Academic and Professional Communication for Science and Engineering

Backgrounds

Section C - Business Communication

7.0 Content

Section A

7.1 Introduction to Communication

 Communication defined
 The process of communication
 Models of communication
 Communication barriers
 7.2 Communication for academic purposes

 Introduction to academic writing

 Summarizing, paraphrasing and argumentation skills
 Textual cohesion
 Avoiding plagiarism

7.3 Non-verbal communication and Impression management

 Introduction to non-verbal communication

 Verbal and non-verbal communication relationships
 Categories of non-verbal communication(kinesics, proxemics, chronemics,
paravocalics, olfatics etc)
 Non-verbal communication barriers.
7.4 Communication in Organizations
 Formal communication networks in organizations
 Informal communication networks
 Computer- mediated communication (videoconferencing, intranet, social
networks, group email, blogging, etc.)
7.5 Conflict Management and resolution strategies
 Approaches to organizational conflict
 Causes of conflict
 Conflict handling strategies
 Principles of negotiation
7.6 Business Writing
 Memos
 Reports
 Proposals
 Press releases
 Circulars, etc.
 Plain English in corporate communication
7.7 Public Speaking and Presentation skills
 Effective public presentation skills
 Audience analysis
 Effective argumentation skills
 Interview skills

Section B

7.8 Technical Communication

 Presenting technical information
 Tables, graphs, charts, visuals and pictorials
 Technical reports and proposals
 Overcoming technical communication challenges
7.9 Development Communication
 Concepts and approaches
 Various media in rural development
 Factors influencing communication reception

Section C

8.0 Persuasive Communication

 Strategies for effective persuasive communication

 Persuasive communication appeals ( pathos, logos, ethos)
 Persuasive communication and advertising

8.1 Communication and leadership

 Leadership principles
 Communication for effective leadership
 Leadership and communication challenges
 8.2 Communication for organizational success

 Communication function in management

 Strategic communication for organizational success
 Managing the communication function in organizations

9.0 Evaluation and Assessment

Individual instructors may include the following assessment(s):

 Quizzes
 Written Assignments
 Course Project
 Oral Presentations (Group &Individual)
 Mid-Semester and Final Exams
 Attendance and Participation
o The grading scale for each course and section will be determined by individual
instructors and distributed the first day of class.

Academic Integrity: Students are expected to comply with the institute-wide

requirements for academic integrity. Management Development Institute is
committed to Academic Integrity—the honest, fair, and continuing pursuit of
knowledge, free from fraud or deception. This implies that students are expected
to be responsible for their own work. Presenting another individual’s work as
one’s own and receiving excessive help from another individual will qualify as a
violation of Academic Integrity.

10.0 Recommended Reading List

Abidi S.A.H (1991) Communication Information and Development. Nairobi: Kenya Masaki

Publishers.

Bovee C. and Thill J. V. (1997) Business Communication Today 5th ed. New Jersey: Prentice

Hall.
 DiSouza, J.R and Leggie N.J. (2000) Business and Professional Communication 2 nd ed.

Kenywyn: Juta +Co.

Hatch, L.G (2003) Arguing in Communities: Reading and Writing Arguments in Context 3rd .

Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Fielding, M. (1997) Effective Communication in Organisations 2nd ed. Kenywyn: Juta +Co

Jandt, F.E. (2004) An Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global

Community 4th ed. London: Sage Publications.

Lucas, S.E. (2004) The Art of Public Speaking 8th ed. McGraw Hill

McQuail, A and Windahl, S. (1993) Communication Models for the study of Communication.

London: Longman

Zimmerman D. E and Clark D.G (1987) Guide to Technical and Scientific Communication.

Random House Inc.