INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT KOZHIKODE

Post Graduate Programme in Management

Course Outline

Course Code and Course Title PGP 103, BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Course type Compulsory
Pre-requisites (if any) NIL
Course Credit 3
Total no. of sessions 24
Session Duration 75 minutes
Term I
Year and Batch 1st Year 2020-21, PGP
Sections (if any) A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H

Instructor(s) Prof. Deepa Sethi/Prof. Anupam Das/Adjunct

Faculty
Contact Details 0495-2809443 (Off), deepa@iimk.ac.in
0495-2809437 (Off), anupamdas@iimk.ac.in
Office Faculty Block 3, Room No. 07
Faculty Block 3, Room No. 17
Consultation Hours By prior appointment
By prior appointment

Introduction

Communication is a process. Relationship is a process. When people continue

communicating, they constantly define and redefine their relationship with each other. Hence,
developing your skills in communication means using relational strategies that are
appropriate to the issues in the conversation. When used appropriately and effectively,
strategies resolve relational problems, manage relational conflict, answer relational issues,
and negotiate relational definitions. Every participant in the process of communication uses
strategies. The competent communicator uses strategies appropriately.

Improve your communicative skills and you will reap the harvest in more successful work
relationships. Find effective communication tips and tools. Effective communication is a
must at work. This course provides you an overview of business communication: both verbal
and nonverbal. It provides practical training with hands-on experience in applying these
strategies in real life situations in written and oral communication.

Learning Outcomes/Course Objectives

The primary goal of this course is to provide training in applying communicative strategies
for improving professional as well as personal relationships both at work and in social sphere.
The course will enable you to analyze your communicative behaviors in relation to others.
Consequently, you can increase your chance of being a preferred employee at work.
Additionally, it will enable you to maintain a healthy social life. At the end of this course, the
students would be exposed to aspects of
• Interpersonal communication (verbal and nonverbal) at work
• Formal and informal small group communication at work, e.g., meeting and brain-
storming sessions on critical issues
• Large group communication, e.g., public speaking in sharing information and
motivating people
 • Written communication, e.g., writing a persuasive report after analyzing a case, drafting
agenda and minutes
• Writing good, bad and neutral messages
• Presentation skills

Textbooks and Learning Materials

Text Book(s)

Hynes, E. G. (2010). Managerial Communication: Strategies And Applications. New York:

McGraw-Hill.

Reference Book(s)

Additional Reading(s)

NIL
Technology and Software (if any)

NIL

Other Resources (Journals, Internet Websites) (if any)

NIL

Pedagogy/Learning Process

This course would use a variety of pedagogical tools such as lectures, case discussions, real-
life examples, games, videos, etc. to support the learning activities. The instructor expect the
students to participate actively in the class. Students are expected to read the textbooks or
other assigned readings outside of class. Additionally, they are required to actively participate
in the critical evaluation of the material through class discussion. In addition to the prescribed
textbook, the students may be asked to watch some relevant videos. There may also be a few
video clippings from relevant movies that may be shown in the class.

Evaluation Components/Assessment of Student Learning

Evaluation Component Percentage Description

/Assessment Tool
Oral Presentation & Written 25% The students are required to make a
Assignment (Public speaking persuasive presentation. They will
& Report Writing) learn to draw and retain attention of
their audience and consequently
engage them in a meaningful
discussion. The students will form
small group of four and make
presentation to their peers. Their
performance will be based on their
intellectual merit of the content,
persuasive strategy, verbal & non-
verbal communication.
Report Writing 20% The students are required to write a
project report incorporating the

Class Participation (Case
Analysis & Class Exercises)
End term Exam
nuances of written communication.
25% The course requires students to
participate and lead discussion on
various topics as introduced by
readings. It will also include group
case study analysis and structured and
unstructured group discussions.
Through this processes the students
would learn to analyzed their own
communicative behavior, i.e., whether,
they are persuasive, inclusive, abusive
etc.
30% This component is required to check
and evaluate the students’
understanding of the theories and
concepts explained in the classroom.

Session Plan

Session Module Topic Chapter No. /

Reading material
/ Cases
1 Fundamentals of i. What is communication? Chapter 1, Hynes
Business ii. Definition and importance Exercises
Communication of business communication
iii. Clarifying misconceptions
about communication
iv. Types & levels of business
communication
2 Communication, i. Understanding and Chapter 9, Hynes
Culture, and Work analyzing culture
ii. Cultural differences in
business communication
3 Listening i. Benefits of listening Chapter 7, Hynes
ii. Barriers to listening Exercises
iii. Specific techniques for
active & interactive
listening
4-5 Verbal and i. The nature & power of Chapter 8, Hynes
Nonverbal language Case (TBD)
Communication ii. Troublesome language
iii. Characteristics & functions
of nonverbal
communication
iv. Types of nonverbal
communication
6-7 Writing Effectively i. Incorporating the 7 Cs of Assignments
communication in writing Handouts
ii. Using logic in writing
8-12 Business Writing i. Letters Chapter 3, Hynes
ii. Emails Chapter 4, Hynes
iii. Proposals Exercises
iv. Memos
v. Reports
 13 Developing and i. Choosing and developing a Chapter 14, Hynes
Organizing a topic
Presentation ii. Organizing and support
iii. Presenting your message
iv. Informative speaking
v. Persuasive speaking
14 Interpersonal & i. Characteristics of Chapter 13, Hynes
Group interpersonal and group
Communication communication
ii. Consideration (you-
attitude) interpersonal &
group communication
15-17 Persuasion in i. What is Persuasion? Chapter 11, Hynes
business ii. Characteristics of Assignments
communication persuasion Case (TBD)
iii. Types of persuasion
iv. Persuasive writing
18 Effective Meetings i. Understanding the nuances Chapter 13, Hynes
of meetings
ii. Drafting agenda & minutes
iii. Effective meeting
facilitation
iv. Handling difficult people in
meetings
19-20 Principles of i. Purpose of an interview Chapter 12, Hynes
Interviewing & ii. Types of interviews
Types of Interviews iii. Barriers to effective
interviews
iv. Techniques and strategies
of effective interviews
21-24 Students’
presentation online
End Term Examination

Additional Instructions (if any)

a. Group formation: For making persuasive business presentations students would need
to collaborate with one another. Students would be divided into groups and each group
will have four members. The instructor would form the groups based on diverse
personality profile.
b. Audiovisual case analysis: A few movies may be screened at an appropriate time to
supplement the readings.
c. Activities and games: The students would be engaged in playing a few strategic and
collaborative games and activities to help them understand their own and their peers’
communicative practices and patterns.