Institute of Business Administration

University of Dhaka

C501: Managerial Communication

M
MBBA
APPrrooggrraam
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Faculty:
Mohammad Saif Noman Khan
Assistant Professor

Course Outline
Course Description & Learning Objectives

In this course students will learn the techniques and processes involved in writing,
speaking specially communicating effectively in the real life business world. They will
learn to apply the direct pattern to business correspondence. Also, they will develop
report presentation skills by writing reports and then adapting them for oral
presentation. The course will equip the students with the required skills to write
effective job application letters & resumes. They will learn to conduct and participate
in meetings. Competent language usage will be emphasized throughout the course,
as will individual and group work. Finally, this course will equip the participants with
the essential professional communication skills & the right attitude required to excel
in the workplace.

Course objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
A. Identify the different ways people communicate. Describe the process of
communication.
B. Write effective sentences and paragraphs.
C. Create business memos using appropriate business styles and techniques.
D. Write a variety of business letters to cover varying business applications.
E. Identify the goals of communication.

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 F. Conduct audience analysis & customize messages accordingly.
G. List the barriers to communication and propose the means of overcoming
common barriers to communication.
H. Name the major categories of communication equipment and their effects on
business communication.
I. Compare direct and indirect patterns for organizing ideas.
J. Choose the most correct and effective words to make a point.
K. Analyze and respond to the reader's needs.
L. Evaluate a message to judge its success.
M. Understand & apply the characteristic elements of effective writing.
N. Identify the characteristics of and develop written documents utilizing the
characteristics for good news, routine, neutral, bad news, negative, and
persuasive letters messages.
O. Research, outline, and write a research report.
P. Demonstrate effective techniques for oral presentations. Prepare and deliver
short oral presentations
Q. Understand the role of listening in oral communication. Explain the steps to
improving listening skills.
R. Analyze how information is transmitted through nonverbal messages.

Methods of Instruction

Methods will include, but are not limited to the following:

A. Students are introduced to the material through lecture and example. The
instructor explains the material to be covered and then demonstrates the
concept. This is followed by the students performing an oral or written exercise
on the topic. This method gives the student an overview of the material and
then serves to further explain the concept of business communications.
B. Student learning is enhanced with collaborative assignments. Students are
divided into groups of three to five students each. They then work together to
complete an assignment or to proofread a completed assignment. This method
serves to reinforce the material covered by the instructor and the elements of
effective proofreading and to introduce students to team dynamics and
communication. Students who are in need of assistance with can use other
students as tutors. Students who understand the concept have it reinforced by
explaining the material to other students.
C. Instructional methods include group activities, visual aids, and question and
answer periods. Students are encouraged to ask questions on concepts not
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 understood, and the instructor is able to use other students and visual aids to
help clarify problem areas.
D. Cases and exercises will be assigned to the students to ensure the
development of their problem solving ability from a simulated real world
perspective.

Recommended References
Required Text
Business Communication. Making Connections in a Digital World By: Raymond V.
Lesikar, Marie E. Flatley, Kathryn Rentz, Neerja Pande. Irwin Mc Graw Hill.

Other Reference Texts

A. Contemporary Business Communication, By: Louis E. Boone, David L. Kurtz
and Judy R. Block. Prentice Hall International Inc.
B. Business and Administrative Communication. By: Kitty O. Locker. Irwin
McGraw Hill.
C. Guide to Communication Skills.. By Courtland L. Bovée, John V. Thill

Additional Reading Materials

Handouts on different topics will be provided by the course instructor form time to
time.

Grading Policy

MARKING SCHEME:

QUIZ 10%
MID TERM 30%
FINAL 35%
ASSIGNMENTS
10%
(INDIVIDUAL + GROUP)
TERM PAPER
15%
(SUBMISSION + PRESENTATION)
TOTAL 100%

POLICY REGARDING AWARDING LETTER GRADES:

As per IBA rules.

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Typical Graded Assignments (Methods of Evaluation)

1. Students are graded on assignments, tests, and attendance.

2. Assignments are usually from the book. Students are expected to
complete all assignments.
3. Students are also required to write a formal report and give an oral
presentation.
4. Tests and the final consist of multiple choice, short answer, Problem
solving and/or case study questions.
5. Students are expected to attend class regularly and are given points for
regular attendance.

Typical Other Assignments

6. READING: Case studies, research materials, text assignments. Students
are asked to read the chapter assigned in order to understand more
thoroughly the concepts presented in class. Students must also do both
primary and secondary research
7. WRITING: Students complete written homework that consists of research
paper, text assignments, and reports
8. OTHER: Students are required to give multiple oral presentations (both
individual & group)

Course Policies

Policies Regarding Absence, Make up (for tests, assignments, presentations or any

other required class activity):

The standard policies as set up the by IBA authority will be strictly followed for all the
above cases.

Supplementary Policies:

1. All assignments, including the mid-term test and the final exam, must
be completed to receive a passing grade.
2. All written assignments must be printed on a A4 size unlined white
paper and presented professionally.
3. All written assignments including report must be presented as per
following format: font Arial 11 pt, line spacing 1.5.
4. Your name, class number, and instructor’s name must be on all
assignments; your instructor will give you details of where to place this
information.

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 5. Unless you are told otherwise, assignments of more than one page
must be stapled in the top, left-hand corner. Do not use folders,
binders, or cover pages unless your instructor tells you otherwise.
6. Unless your instructor specifies otherwise, assignments are due at the
beginning of class on the date given. Assignments presented after this
time will be considered late, and a mark penalty will apply. No late
assignments will be accepted after the others have been returned.
7. Oral presentations must be ready for presentation on the day assigned.
Marks may be deducted for non-attendance at others’ presentations.
8. Any alternative assignments must be approved by your instructor and
must be submitted before the exam date.
9. All submitted assignments must be backed up (saved) until the end of
the term.
10. Use of cell phones, Laptops and headsets is not allowed in class or in
any test or exam room.
11. Unless otherwise specified, all assignments must be students’
individual, unaided work. Plagiarism (unauthorized or unacknowledged
use of others’ work, including copying from peers) is a serious
academic offense.
12. You are responsible for your learning and for seeking help when you
need it.

Policies regarding Article Review, Term Paper, Quizzes, Presentations,

Assignments, Mid Term, Final Exam:

1. Each article review topic has to be individually approved. Students

must form a group of 3-5 members for preparing review. The topic
should be related to Business Communication and should be no older
than two years. Page limit: 2-5 pages. Font: Arial, 11. Line Spacing:
1.5.
2. Each term paper topic has to be individually approved. Students must
form a group of 3-5 members for preparing a term paper. The topic
should be related to a Bangladeshi organization/s or related to the
article reviewed. Page limit: 25-50 pages. Font: Arial, 11. Line
Spacing: 1.5.
3. All quizzes will be unannounced. The maximum number of quizzes will
be 3. To consider or not to consider all the quizzes for grading
purposes will be the sole discretion of the instructor.
4. Presentations will be both group and individual. All group members
must be present & participate when there is a group presentation. Any
one absent in a group presentation will not receive any marks for the
particular presentation.
5. Students must present all the written assignments in time and
according to the prescribed format.
6. Deadlines for all class activities will be strictly enforced.
7. Social loafers for all sorts of group exercises will be identified and will
be punished to the extreme.

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 8. Mid-Term will be taken according to the schedule as specified by the
Instructor in due course. The syllabus for mid-Term Exam will be
whatever is covered before the Mid-Term Date.
9. Final Exam will be taken according to the schedule as specified by the
Instructor. The syllabus of Final Exam will be comprehensive.
10. The content for all sorts of tests will include textual materials as
discussed as well as referred in the class. Tests will also include
topics/issues discussed in the classroom even if that topic is not
present in any of the texts/handouts.

Policies for Late Attendance

 Any student entering the class after 5 minutes of designated class time
will be recorded as late attendee. For three late attendances one-day
absence will be recorded. Any student entering the class after 15
minutes of designated class time will not be given attendance and will
be recorded as absent for that day.
Note:

This Course outline and any rules etc. mentioned here is a rough guideline for the
course, and may change or be modified if the need arises at the discretion of the
course instructor.

Whatever specified here if ever conflicts with any of IBA rules in the present or in the
future, the IBA rules will prevail.

--------------GOOD LUCK--------------

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