UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

COMMUNICATION AND STUDY SKILLS UNIT

Semester 2 Teaching Outline
January - May 2021

Faculty:                        Center for Academic Development

Department:                 Communication & Study Skills Unit

Course Code:               COM 122 (Business)

Title:                            Professional Communication for Business

Lecturer: Dr Keoneeng Magocha

Email: magochak@ub.ac.bw

Office: 247/427

Office Hours: Tuesday /Thursday 0900hrs -18 00hrs.

Rationale for the course:

Communication skills are necessary to enable students to function effectively in a

variety of business and social contexts, for example, within the university, when they go
out to collect research data in different organizations, when they seek part time or
temporary employment/ internships and ultimately in the world of work.

Course Synopsis

The course is designed to develop communication skills and competencies that the
students are expected to use in the professional business context. The activities are
task- based and designed to stimulate the mind of the students in order to engage them
in real life situations. The course provides an introduction to communication and
interpersonal skills for professional purposes and effective professional oral and
written communication skills in business contexts.

Objectives:

At the end of the course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of how communication works in organizations
2. Identify and use correct methods and channels of communication in business
contexts.
3. Demonstrate awareness of interpersonal and cross-cultural skills in various
business contexts

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 4. Deliver effective oral presentations.
5. Participate effectively in meetings and interviews.
6. Write effective business correspondences such as letters, memos and reports
using appropriate format, style and tone.
7. Use information technology to enhance communication and research

Teaching Methods:
Lectures

Mini-lectures
Discussions
Group work
Simulations
Case Studies
Workshops.
Oral presentations
Project work
Role play
Problem-based learning
E- learning technologies
Discussions

Dates Course content Activities/assessment

27 Introduction to Communication Group discussions
January  Definition and purpose
 The communication process Class discussion
 Barriers to effective communication & Mini-lectures
how to overcome them.
 Characteristics of effective Tutorials
messages/information
 The role of interpersonal skills
 Self – Image: JOHARI Window and CA 2 Integrated Skills
Transactional Analysis (TA)
Project assigned
 The different modes of communication-
oral, written, visual, non-verbal,
computer-mediated communication
(CMC) (types, advantages and
disadvantages)

10 Or Group activities
February Organisational Communication

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  Organisational structures
 Communication networks Week 3 &4
 Organisational culture
 Group communication CA 1- Test
 Types
 Characteristics
 Team building
 Intercultural communication

9 March Oral Skills Class exercises

Presentation Skills

 Preparation
 Research
 Outline

 Presentation Techniques
 verbal
 non-verbal cues
 Delivery
 Use of use of audio/ visuals:
videos, power point slides,
flash cards, posters, artifacts,
etc.

 Giving and receiving feedback

16-22 Mid-Semester Break

March
23 Interview Skills Class exercises
March Simulations
 General features Role play
 Types of interview Class exercise
 job
 data collection Submission of
concept formulation
 Participating in interviews write-up.
 The role of interviewee
 The role of interviewer

30 Business Meetings Skills and Simulations

March Documents Role play
Class exercise
 Types of meetings
 Basic meeting terminology

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 (abstain, adopt. Propose,
quorum, etc)
 participating in meetings
 The roles of the
chairperson and the
secretary
 The role of Members
- Notice,
- Agenda
- Minutes
Action sheet

10-13 Good Friday/ Easter Monday

April

Effective Professional Written

14 April Communication
Class exercises
 Readability and style in written
communication
 Effective email
 Email structure and etiquette

 Business letters
 Job application & CV
 Complaint
 apology,
 sales,
 collection
 Business Documents
 Fliers
 Posters
 Adverts
 Brochures

27 April Effective Report Writing Class exercises

 Main features of reports

 Purpose
 Types of reports
 Occasional report (feasibility
Study etc)
 Routine report (Progress, etc)
Investigative report ( Commissioned Reports,
etc)

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 Final Project write-
up/Product due: 24
April 2019
8-12 SECAT WEEK
May

17 May EXAMINATIONS

MODES OF ASSESSMENT

Continuous assessment: 70%

1. Test 10%

2. Integrated Skills Project (60%) made up of the following;

Portfolio-10+Concept Formulation write-up -15 + Presentation-15+ Product 20

Final Examination: 30%

Required Textbook

Fielding, M. (2014). Effective Communication in Organisations. Cape Town. Juta

Further Reading
Bovee, C.L. and Thill, J.V.  (2014). Communication Today. (14th Global  edition).
USA Pearson   Hall.
Grant, A. (1997). Presentation Perfect. London. The industrial Society.
Kupsh, J and Graves, P.R. (1994). How to Create High Impact Business Presentations.
Illinois.NTC Business Books.
Robbins, P. R. and Hunsaker P.L. (1996). Training in Interpersonal Skills: Tips for
Managing People at Work. (2nd Ed). New Jersey: Prentice. Hall.
Stanton, N. (2009). Mastering Communication. London: Macmillan

Web links

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https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_business-communication-for-success/
https://udc.libguides.com/c.php?g=720365
http://hrcouncil.ca/hr-toolkit/workplaces-meetings.cfm
http://www.effectivemeetings.com/
https://study.com/academy/lesson/cross-cultural-communication-definition-
strategies-examples.html

N.B: More web links will be given during progression of the course.