NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY

School of Business
Department of Management

Course Name:
Business Communication
Course Code
& Section No: BUS 251 Section: 12,15,18
Semester: Spring 2019
INSTRUCTOR & DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

1. Instructor Name: Looksina Khan

2. Office NAC 980
3. Office Hours: ST: 2.00 P.M. – 2.30 P.M./4-15 P.M. – 5.15 P.M.
RA: 11:20 A.M.- 12:50 P.M./4:20 P.M. -5:20 P.M.
4. Email Address: looksina.khan@northsouth.edu
5. Department: Management

COURSE & SECTION INFORMATION

Course Prerequisite(s) ENG103

Course Credit Hours 3:0

Course Description Modern Business Management is all about communicating effectively. Evidence of the
importance of communication in business is found in numerous surveys of executives,
managers, and recruiters. Without exception these surveys have found that
communication ranks at or near the top of the business skills needed for success.
Course Objectives  Understanding the importance of realistic business communication process with real
life business scenarios.
 Adapting writing processes considering different business situations and selecting
appropriate words in those scenarios through examples.
 Helping the students in learning the differences between formal and informal writing
techniques by providing samples of formal and informal emails, letters, memos and
reports.
 The course deals with explanation of why communicating clearly across cultures is
important to business though case studies.
 Helping students constructing their CV and resume through real life samples and
preparing them for job interviews and public speaking.
Student Learning  Students are expected to learn different methods of communication in an
Outcomes organization
 They will be able to communicate effectively in oral and written messages to
enhance goodwill of the organization;
 Students will be able to write clearly and convey ideas and decisions effectively;
 They will be able to present their ideas coherently and effectively through
presentations;
 They will be able to write detailed formal reports with graphics;
 Students will be able to construct proper CV/Resume for job applications.

LEARNING RESOURCES AND TEXTBOOK(S)

Text Book(s)

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 Author Edition & Year Publisher ISBN
Title
Kathryn Rentz & Lesikar’s Business Thirteenth McGraw-Hill 978-1-259-06080-9
Paula Lentz Communication Edition (2014) Irwin

REFERENCE BOOK

Courtland L. Excellence in Business Seventh

Bovee & John V. Communication Edition
Thill

TEACHING STRATEGY

Instructor will introduce the concepts through class lectures and discuss various aspects of the concept with
examples. Students are strongly advised to go through different chapters of the text book carefully to keep
themselves abreast of the discussions in class. Practical examples of different business communication
situations will be explained and students will be invited to participate.

ASSESSMENT STRATEGY AND GRADING SCHEME

Grading tool
Points
First Midterm Exam 15%
Second Midterm Exam 15%
Group Report and Presentation 10%+10%
Assignments 5%+5%
Final Exam 25%
Attendance 5%
Quizzes 10% (Best 2 out of 3)
Total 100%

CLASS ROOM RULES OF CONDUCT

1. Cellular phones should be “turned off’/“Silent mode” during the class.

2. Students are advised to frequently refer to the Student Handbook of North South University on the
following link:
http://www.northsouth.edu/student-code-of-conduct.html
3. Academic Integrity Policy:
Academic dishonesty of any type will be punished as per NSU Rules. This includes, but is not limited to,
plagiarism (copying others work -- in part or in total) and copying during exams. In addition, classroom
etiquette is to be maintained at all times. This means that when the Instructor is speaking or when
students are presenting their ideas, the class should listen carefully. Questions from students are always
welcome, but chattering or whispering among class members causing distraction are not allowed.

Talking or other forms of communication with other students will not be allowed during exams. The ‘no
talking’ requirement will remain in force during the exam and until all students have handed their exam
scripts to the instructor. Talking during the exam will disqualify the student from taking the exam. Any
student engaging in misconduct will be dealt with according to North South University's Student Code of
Conduct.

EXAMS, QUIZ & MAKE UP POLICY

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 There will be two Midterm Exams each bearing 15% marks. The Final Exam will carry 25% marks. The
remaining 45% are distributed to assignments and Group Reports.
 Students will submit written assignments on designated dates. Late submission of assignments will be
penalized.
 All Exams will be based on broad questions. Students will be required to write short essay-type answers
reflecting their proficiency in English language. There will be no Exam based on “multiple-choice-questions’
(MCQ).
 Cell phones are prohibited in exam sessions.

GROUP ASSIGNMENT (GROUP SHOULD HAVE 5/6 MEMBERS )

Class will be divided into groups of 5/6 students at the beginning of the semester. Each group will be assigned
a topic to write a short dissertation/report. This will enable students to interact among themselves and
develop cooperative team work culture, which is essential for the success of an organization. The group will
present the report verbally at the end of the semester. The topics will be drawn from communication issues
in different organizations.

INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVIEW

Students will be given topics in the class and have to present on the spot for individual presentations. They
will also face a real life job interview scenario individually in a designated class which will be announced by
the instructor.

LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY

Students failing to submit their class assignments or group reports on schedule will be penalized.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

In order to foster a collaborative learning experience where shared student participation is important,
attendance is critical. There may be situations when a student may miss class due to illness or an emergency. In
such cases, students are still responsible to ensure that assignments are submitted on time. Arriving late for class
is a gross violation of discipline and etiquette. Late entrants into class disrupt normal flow of discussion of the
class. Instructor can debar a late student from attending class. North South University stipulates that students
who are absent 25% or more from their classes will be considered “failed”, even if such absences are excusable.

COURSE ADJUSTMENTS

The instructor can make adjustments in the Course, keeping the overall objective of the Course in mind.

Communication Policy

Instructor may use SMS to communicate with students. A common platform will be established for interaction
among students and the teacher in the first week.

Students With Special Needs

North South University will provide special attention to the requirements of students with disabilities. Students
with disabilities are encouraged to contact their instructors to ensure that their needs are met. The University
through its Special Need section will exert all efforts to accommodate special needs.

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 Course Contents

BUS 251
Business Communication for Managers

The following is the outline of Course. Please note that Course Outline is indicative and is subject to change as
the semester progresses. Students will be informed whenever there are changes.

Course Outline
Topics

1 Understanding work place communication Chapter 1

2. Adapting Your Words to your Readers Chapter 3

3. Constructing clear sentences and paragraphs Chapter 4

4. Writing for a positive effect Chapter 5

5 Choosing the Best Process and Form Chapter 6

First Mid Term Exam ( on the above Chapters)

6. Getting to the Point in Good-News and Neutral Messages Chapter 7

7. Maintaining Goodwill in Bad-News Messages Chapter 8

8. Chapter 11
Preparing Informative and Influential Business Reports

9. Conducting a winning job campaign Chapter 10

10. Handling interviews, Business Communication etiquette Chapter 10

11. Second Mid Term Exam ( On the above Chapters)

12. Chapter 2
Communicating across Cultures
13. Chapter 9
Making Your Case with Persuasive Messages and Proposals
14. Communicating Effectively in Meetings and Conversations Chapter 15

15. Chapter 16
Delivering Oral Reports and Business Speeches
FINAL EXAM

Course Plan:

Session 1 Introduction of the course, Basic concepts of workplace business communication

Session 2 Session 1 contd.
Session 3 Adapting words according to readers and Group formation for Report.
Session 4 Session 3 contd. And in-class assignment on adaptation of words.
Session 5 Constructing clear sentences and paragraphs.
Session 6 In-class discussion on essay and paragraph formats.
Session 7 Writing for a positive effect.
Session 8 Choosing the best process and form.
Session 9 Analysis of examples i.e. messages, emails, letters.
Session 10 Midterm exam 1
Session 11 Getting to the point in Good-News and neutral messages.
Session 12 Session 11 contd. And discussion on group report.
Session 13 Maintaining goodwill in Bad-News messages.
Session 14 Preparing informative and influential business reports.
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Session 15 Conducting a winning job campaign.
Session 16 Handling interviews, Business communication etiquette.
Session 17 Session 16 contd. And in-class assignment on interviews.
Session 18 Midterm Exam 2
Session 19 Individual presentations.
Session 20 Making your case with persuasive messages and proposals.
Session 21 Communicating effectively in meetings and conversations.
Session 22 Delivering oral reports and business speeches.
Session 23 Communicating across Cultures.
Session 24 Report submission and Group presentations.

The instructor reserves the right to change the above outline at her discretion.

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