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 2022-23, PGP26
Sections (if any) A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H

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

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)

Sethi, D. (2021). Impactful Communication: Communicate to Conquer. New Delhi: Sage.

Rentz, K., Lentz, P., & Das, A. (2020). Business Communication: A Problem Solving
Approach. New Delhi: McGraw-Hill.

Reference Book(s)

Additional Reading(s)

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 (15) & 25% The students are required to make a
Report Writing (10) persuasive presentation. They will 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.
The students are required to write a
project report incorporating the
nuances of written communication.
 Mid-term Exam
Class Participation (Case
Analysis & Class Exercises)
End term Exam
* In case the mid-term exam is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances related to the
pandemic, the end-term exam will carry 60% weightage.
30% This component is required to check
and evaluate the students’
understanding of the theories and
concepts explained in the classroom.
15% 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, Sethi
Business ii. Definition and importance (2021).
Communication of business communication Chapter 1, Rentz,
iii. Clarifying misconceptions Lentz, and Das
about communication (2020).
iv. Types & levels of business
communication
2 Communication, i. Understanding and Chapter 6, Sethi
Culture, and Work analyzing culture (2021).
ii. Cultural differences in Chapter 7, Rentz,
business communication Lentz, and Das
(2020).
3 Listening i. Benefits of listening Chapter 2, Sethi
ii. Barriers to listening (2021).
iii. Specific techniques for Appendix A,
active & interactive Rentz, Lentz, and
listening Das (2020).
4-5 Verbal and i. The nature & power of Chapter 3, Sethi
Nonverbal language (2021).
Communication ii. Troublesome language Chapter 14, Rentz,
iii. Characteristics & functions Lentz, and Das
of nonverbal (2020).
communication
iv. Types of nonverbal
communication
6-7 Writing Effectively i. Incorporating the 7 Cs of Chapter 4, Sethi
communication in writing (2021).
 ii. Using logic in writing Chapter 3, 4, and
5, Rentz, Lentz,
and Das (2020).
8-12 Business Writing i. Letters Chapter 4, Sethi
ii. Emails (2021).
iii. Proposals Chapter 8, 9, 10,
iv. Memos 11, and 12, Rentz,
v. Reports Lentz, and Das
(2020).
13 Developing and i. Choosing and developing a Chapter 5, Sethi
Organizing a topic (2021).
Presentation ii. Organizing and support Chapter 13, and
iii. Presenting your message Appendix E,
iv. Informative speaking Rentz, Lentz, and
v. Persuasive speaking Das (2020).

14 Interpersonal & i. Characteristics of Chapter 9, Sethi

Group interpersonal and group (2021).
Communication communication Chapter 6, Rentz,
ii. Consideration (you- Lentz, and Das
attitude) interpersonal & (2020).
group communication
15-16 Persuasion in i. What is Persuasion? Chapter 7, Sethi
business ii. Characteristics of (2021).
communication persuasion Chapter 10, Rentz,
iii. Types of persuasion Lentz, and Das
iv. Persuasive writing (2020).
v. Effective meetings
17 Digital Media i. What is digital-media? Chapter 8, Sethi
Communication & ii. How social and (2021).
AI Block technological factors Appendix B,
influence varied forms of Rentz, Lentz, and
digital communication? Das (2020).
iii. Adopting appropriate
digital platform to
communicate with different
stake holders.
iv. Pros and cons of digital
media communication at
work.
18 Effective Meetings i. Understanding the nuances Chapter 14, Rentz,
of meetings Lentz, and Das
ii. Drafting agenda & minutes (2020).
iii. Effective meeting
facilitation
iv. Handling difficult people in
meetings
19-20 Principles of i. Purpose of an interview Chapter 1, 2, 3,
Interviewing & ii. Types of interviews Sethi (2021).
Types of Interviews iii. Barriers to effective Chapter 15, Rentz,
interviews Lentz, and Das
iv. Techniques and strategies (2020).
of effective interviews
 21-24 Students’
presentation
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 based on diverse
personality profile and/or communication styles.
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.