Opinto-opas

Objective

The student will be able to produce effective, professional business messages in English in a variety of media and for various audiences. The student understands how to structure and deliver effective audience-centred business presentations in English for global audiences and what are the essential principles of ethical audience-centred business communication in diverse and multicultural work environments. The student understands the importance of communication in and between organisations.

Content

- Effective communication for the individual and the organisation
- Written business messages
- Communication technologies
- Improving writing for global business audiences
- Verbal and non-verbal communication
- Introduction to intercultural communication
- Presentation skills

Location and time

We will start online with business writing and move to contact sessions if and when the situation allows for presentation skills.

Materials

Lecturer’s own material.
This list below shows books in our library that will assist you in your project, writing and presentation tasks. A separate list will be provided for presentation skills.

You should refer to sources in your project report and presentation analysis using the recommended Harvard reference techniques.

Blundel R, Ippolito K, Donnarumma D 2013 Effective Organisational Communication Perspectives, principles and practices 4th ed (or earlier) Pearson

Bovée C L, Thill J V., 2017 Business Communication Today Fourteenth edition Global edition Pearson
(Business School library has earlier editions which you can use. The 2015 edition is available as an e-book in Dawsonera with Metropolia login. You can also check Excellence in Business Communication by the same authors).

Buchanan, D A., Huczynski, A, 2019 Organizational behaviour 10th edition Pearson Chapter 7 Communication
(9th edition is available in EBSCOhost)

Cameron, S., The Business Student’s Handbook Skills for study and employment 6th edition Pearson (Chapter 6 Writing to communicate)

Chaney, L. ; Martin, J 2011 Intercultural business communication Pearson Prentice Hall (or 2007 edition)

Lewis R D., 2006 When cultures collide Leading Across Cultures Nicholas Brealey International

Munter M., Various publications in the Prentice Hall “Guide to” series in business communication

Robbins S, Judge T,. 2017 Essentials of Organizational Behavior Fourteenth edition Global edition Pearson (chapter 9 or EBSCOhost ebook chapter 11)

Stansfield L, Eerola T, Munne J,. 2009 Win Win English for your business career EDITA, Finland

Talbot F,. 2019 How to write effective business English Your guide to excellent professional communication Kogan Page

Talbot F, Sudakshina B,. 2012 Improve Your Global Business English: The Essential Toolkit for Writing and Communicating Across Borders Kogan Page

Taylor S,. 2012 Model Business Letters, E-mails & Other Business Documents 7th edition Pearson
(available as ebook in Dawsonera)

Teaching methods

This course involves many elements that mimic working life and uses a variety of methodologies appropriate to the communication topic under discussion, from seminars and workshops to lectures and simulations. In the group project, you research business communication in practice.

You will showcase your active learning in practical exercises and experience a taste of working life in the simulations in which you will write a variety of business messages under pressure in a professional environment.

You will improve your presentation skills in workshops and by giving a business presentation which we film and which you then analyse. You will all receive and give feedback enabling everyone to recognise their strengths and weaknesses and develop as the course progresses.

Employer connections

You will work in groups on an investigative project with a company. This gives you an opportunity to see how what we discuss in class is applied in practice in the real world.

All activities in this course will serve you well in your internship as you will develop practical working life skills.

Exam schedules

As there is no exam for this course, there is no resit. If you fail the course by not passing one of the components, not completing a compulsory element or not submitting an assignment, you are responsible for completing/submitting those at a later date as agreed with the lecturer. Points will be deducted for late submission of assignments/completions. Students with late completions without medical certificates will not be able to score top grades.

You cannot improve your course grade by resubmitting work.

Student workload

You are expected to attend classes and participate actively in all aspects of the course throughout the semester, i.e. in class seminars, workshops, the office simulations and student presentations.

5 credit course = 133 hours of student workload which can be broken down as follows:

Contact classes 40 - 45h
Individual research/reading/ writing assignments 25 h
Group project 30 h
Presentation, preparation, delivery and analysis 33 h

Content scheduling

We will start online with business writing and move to contact sessions if and when the situation allows for presentation skills.

Further information

PREREQUISITES:
You must have completed either Gateway to Business Studies or an equivalent course. You should have already studied the basics of academic writing, email writing and giving presentations before you start this course.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student has achieved the course objectives fairly. The student will be able to identify, define and use the course subject area’s concepts and models. The student understands the criteria and principles of the expertise development.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student has achieved the course objectives well, even though the knowledge and skills need improvement on some areas. The student is able to define the course concepts and models and are able to justify the analysis. The student is able to apply his/her knowledge in leisure, study and work situations. The student understands the importance of expertise in the field of business and is able to analyze his/her own expertise.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student has achieved the objectives of the course with excellent marks. The student masters commendably the course subject area’s concepts and models. The student is able to make justified and fluent analysis and to present concrete development measures. The student is well prepared to apply his/her knowledge in leisure, study and work situations. The Student is able to analyze the business sector expertise and the development of his/her own expertise.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The student has achieved the course objectives fairly. The student will be able to identify, define and use the course subject area’s concepts and models. The student understands the criteria and principles of the expertise development.

Assessment methods and criteria

This is a skills based course. Your grade reflects your abilities to apply knowledge and skills in practice: in writing exercises and oral presentations. This is mostly individual work. However, you will need to be a supportive member of your group project and contribute to a positive class atmosphere.
Read the instructions for the various assignments, project and presentation carefully, especially before emailing questions to the lecturer!
You need to achieve a pass grade (50%) for each component of the course: presentation, project and business writing to pass the course.

Qualifications

Gateway to Business Studies