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Communicating for Business Effectiveness


Course Description

Focuses on the practice of communication for students' success in their academic and professional careers. Specific communication skills will be practiced within the following contexts: public speaking/presentations, interpersonal communications, managing conflict, presenting data, and business writing.


Athena Title

Comm for Business Effective


Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in BUSN 4900, BUSN 4900E, BUSN 4940


Non-Traditional Format

Students will attend class to practice oral presentation skills; to analyze interpersonal/team conflict scenarios in order to develop and deliver optimal response strategies; and to strengthen business writing skills for clarity, tone, impact, and brevity. Approximately 60% lecture/discussion and 40% in-class presentations, writing, and interpersonal role-plays. This version of the course will be taught as writing intensive, which means that the course will include substantial and ongoing writing assignments that a) relate clearly to course learning; b) teach the communication values of a discipline—for example, its practices of argument, evidence, credibility, and format; and c) prepare students for further writing in their academic work, in graduate school, and in professional life. The written assignments will result in a significant and diverse body of written work (the equivalent of 6000 words or 25 pages) and the instructor (and/or the teaching assistant assigned to the course) will be closely involved in student writing, providing opportunities for feedback and substantive revision.


Prerequisite

Permission of major


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Student learning Outcomes

  • Students will develop strategies for approaching real-world business communication scenarios.
  • Students will apply data storytelling techniques to transform complex information into compelling business narratives.
  • Students will engage in accountability conversations by addressing conflict with professionalism, empathy, and clarity.
  • Students will provide and receive constructive feedback that supports growth and strengthens professional relationships.
  • Students will collaborate effectively with peers to develop business presentations, writing projects, and conflict resolution strategies, engaging in self-reflection and feedback to others at every level of the course. For all projects, students engage in planning, execution, evaluation, and reflection processes both individually and collaboratively.

Topical Outline

  • Theories of Communication and Rhetoric
  • Personality/Leadership Assessments
  • Dynamics of Professional Relationships Including Teams
  • Audience Analysis
  • Managing conflict and accountability
  • Using stories to communicate data
  • Data visualization
  • Business writing principles