Business Communication II: Written

Suggested topics for group presentati ons

Instructor: Rajiv Aricat

Academic Year: 2021-22

Programme: MBA-HR

Term 3: January-March 2022

General instructions
 The presentation is of 10 to 12 minutes’ duration, followed by 5 minutes of Q&A.
 At least three members in the group should present.
 Submit the case analysis/report for evaluation within 10 days of the presentation –
preferably in Word or PDF format [Deadline for submission: February 21, 2022].
Limit the report to 10 pages [When each page has a word count of 300 to 350].
Submission of presentation slides is optional.
 Choose suitable names/pseudonyms for persons, places and organizations as you
prepare the presentation based on any ONE problem situation given below.
 Emphasize less on oral messages when you draft the messages. You may skip oral
messages altogether.
 Your presentation should explain the (hypothetical) situation first, before moving on
to explaining the methods you followed to address the problem. Include at least five
messages in your presentation, which are to be drafted based on the principles
learned in class. While you present, you may also explain which all
theories/principles were used to address the problem.
 The report is an extended version of the presentation. It will include more details
compared to the content in the PPT. It should be written in a report format, with
subsections like Introduction, The problem situation, Theory/principle used to
address the problem, Rationale for using the theory/principle, Messages in
chronological order, etc.

Suggested topics
1. Create a scenario in which you are trying to draft a persuasive message – either
internal or external, or both – for your business organization. You should describe
the business, its day to day functions, the problem(s) or challenge(s) you are
planning to address and the personnel involved. Create the messages that are
needed to convey this new development to the stakeholders of the company, and/or
to any other audience – letters, including follow-up letters, memos, Emails, social
media posts, announcements and proposals.

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2. A large business firm dealing with home electrical appliances wants to expand its
business in the region where it is currently located and beyond, in view of increased
demand for the products. Write to a few suppliers in different cities seeking
availability of newer models and varieties of electric home appliances. Your task
involves ensuring regular supply of the products at specific intervals, negotiating for
a reasonable credit, and any special offer from potential suppliers. Internal and
external letters may be included in a chronological order. Your presentation can also
include request(s) for payment that the company receives from suppliers, and the
company’s response.

3. Hit by the COVID 19 pandemic, an established hotel chain in India decides to

downsize the workforce. A total of 1,000 employees at different levels of marketing,
operations, and accounts will be laid off. Devise a strategy to deliver the bad news to
the employees who will be affected by the downsizing. Create appropriate messages
depending upon the channels you choose to deliver the message. In addition, create
bad-news messages to the suppliers and other stakeholders of the hotel chain,
informing them on the downsizing of the workforce and a slowdown or temporary
closure of business with them.

4. Develop a scenario in which you as a customer relations manager in a government

department in India will be engaging with the day to day queries addressed to the
department. Identify a department of your choice at the state or central level –
income tax, transport, law & order, water supply, environment & wildlife, etc. The
queries are channeled via multiple platforms – Emails, letters, social media posts and
face-to-face. Develop realistic scenarios that readers can easily relate to. Respond to
the queries on appropriate channels based on the principles and concepts discussed
in class.

5. Identify a hypothetical crisis affecting a company. Identify the type of crisis – victim,
accident, or preventable [to be discussed in Session 07]. Develop communication
messages from the crisis management team meant for the public, media and the
stakeholders. Make sure that the messages are time sensitive, starting from the
beginning of the crisis through post-crisis phase. Include time stamp, if necessary.

6. Open topic: Develop a situation by yourselves and create appropriate messages to

tackle the situation (routine messages, bad-news messages, persuasive messages,
crisis communication, etc.). Although it is ideal to stick to one single situation as
mentioned above, you may also mix situations in meaningful ways. Make sure that
the messages you develop demonstrate your grasp of theories, concepts and
perspectives discussed in class. At least five messages having a logical progression
(chronological order, back and forth correspondence, etc.) may be presented.