BCOM 2060 - Advanced Business Communications

Credit Hours: 4.00

Objectives:

1. Format a variety of business documents: a. Create assigned documents (proposals, RFPs, RFQs) meeting instructor specifications.
2. Given guidelines for effective listening and speaking techniques:
   1. Articulate and define, in writing, the value of assertive listening.
3. Given information and materials discussing teamwork in the workplace:
   1. Benchmark a company’s processes.
   2. Compare this benchmark to actual performance.
   3. Develop improvement plans.
4. Improve customer service:
   1. Design effective instruments to determine levels of customer service.
   2. Demonstrate ways to deal effectively with dissatisfied customers.
      1. Effective listening techniques.
      2. Response techniques.
5. Given tools that support effective communications in the workplace:
   1. Explain the purpose and demonstrate the use of:
      1. Pareto charts.
      2. Cause-and-effect diagrams.
      3. Check sheets.
      4. Histograms.
      5. Scatter diagrams.
      6. Run charts.
      7. Control charts.
6. Given information about effective external and internal business communications:
   1. Describe a professional business climate conducive to effectively dealing with customers and employees.
7. Given information about effective listening in the workplace:
   1. Know that listening is a key ingredient for success.
   2. Identify and describe fallacies about listening.
   3. Analyze parts of the listening process.
   4. Analyze the five types of listening in order to become a more effective listener.
   5. Comprehend and learn how to eliminate nine bad listening habits.
   6. Describe the importance of listening and the art of leadership.
   7. Analyze the importance of effective communication and leadership with reference to business communications and the workplace.
8. Given guidelines in choosing and appropriate topic:
   1. Analyze, choose, decide, organize, and plan effective business presentations.
   2. Use clarification, proof, humorous, and visual support when making business presentations.
   3. Use a variety of strategies when making business presentations.
   4. Effectively handle questions from the audience.
9. Given a team project:
   1. Describe and use a model for effective teamwork.
   2. Establish direction and goals for the team.
   3. Establish clear roles and ground rules for teams.
   4. Establish accountability.
   5. Develop team-leadership skills.
   6. Develop communication skills that encourage effective team performance.
   7. Develop conflict-management skills.
   8. Establish a decision-making process and empower team members.
   9. Establish positive team behaviors.
   10. Recognize and reward team performance.
   11. Make teamwork part of the culture.
10. Given a meeting purpose:
    1. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of effective meeting management.
    2. Conduct information meetings.
    3. Prepare for interactive meetings.
    4. Identify meeting roles.
    5. Deal with meeting disruptions.
    6. Conduct problem-solving meetings.
    7. Conduct decision-making meetings.
11. Enhance network understanding:
    1. Define, expand, and enhance their personal network.
    2. Discover personal communication tendencies for networking.
    3. Understand communication relationships for networking.
    4. Listen for networking and communication.
    5. Identify nonverbal communication for networking.
    6. Understand gender communication for networking.
    7. Understand other cultures and their own culture for networking success.
    8. Write and speak for an international network.

1. Communication in the Workplace
   1. Audiences
   2. Listening
   3. Speaking
   4. Documents
   5. Teamwork
   6. Meetings
   7. Networking
2. Writing and Electronic Technologies
   1. Creating Documents
   2. Communicating and Collaborating
   3. Ethics
   4. Source Material
3. Using Visuals
   1. Types of Graphics
   2. Guidelines for Using Visuals
4. Writing Requests for Proposals
   1. Types of Proposals
   2. Information Proposals Provide
5. Presentations
   1. Types of Presentations
   2. Preparing for a Presentation
   3. Delivering a Presentation