No class

GBS 233

Fall 2005GBS 233 Section 8080: Business Communication

Thursday: 7:10 – 9:50 p.m.Room BP2S

August 25 – December 15

Andrea ParsonsOffice Hours: Before class (6:45 p.m.) and by appointmentTelephone: 602-427-3207Email: [email protected]://members.cox.net/amparsons/

Required Materials:Book: Essentials of Business Communication, 6th ed., by Mary Ellen GuffyTwo scantrons from the bookstore (any color)

Recommended:A writer's handbook

Description:Internal and external business communications, including verbal and nonverbal techniques. Prerequisites: ENG101 or ENG 107

Objectives:

Identify general characteristics of language and meaning.

Identify ways of processing messages and evaluating their success.

Write coherent sentences and paragraphs, using fundamental writing techniques.

Describe the process of sending and receiving professional quality electronic mail.

Identify and write business letters for favorable, unfavorable, and persuasive situations.

Identify and write business memos for favorable, unfavorable, and persuasive situations.

Identify and state the purpose of the major parts of the inductive organization for reports.

Compose a report.

Plan and participate in an efficient and effective business meeting.

Describe common uses of visual aids to convert quantitative and qualitative data into meaningful summaries.

Prepare a visual aid for a business situation.

Prepare and present an oral business presentation using visual aids.

Describe how to modify communication behavior in selected cases to overcome barriers arising from interpersonal, and organizational sources.

Prepare a resume of employment credentials, and write an application letter to accompany the resume.

Describe how the technology revolution - national and international - affects the employee and the company.

1

mailto:[email protected]

GBS 233

Classroom Policies: If you have a special need, please contact me at the beginning of the semester to make

arrangements. Students are expected to be honest and ethical throughout the course. Any form of dishonesty

(cheating, plagiarism, etc.,) may subject you to disciplinary action. Maricopa Community Colleges strive to provide a learning environment free of sexual harassment.

Violations of the policy may result in disciplinary action. The content or sequence of the topics may be altered to meet students’ needs.

Attendance:You are expected to attend all lectures. If you will not be able to attend a lecture, please contact me ahead of time so you may receive handouts and assignment instructions. If you miss three or more lectures, you will be withdrawn from the class.

Grading:Assign 1: Persuasive letter.........30points Assign 2: Memo .........................20 points Assign 3: Meeting summary........25 points Assign 4: RFP ............................40 points Assign 5: Resume/cover letter....30 points Oral presentation I......................15 pointsOral presentation II ....................30 pointsVisual aid....................................5 pointsVisual aid....................................20 pointsMid-term exam............................45 pointsFinal exam..................................75 points

Total points available 335 plus any in-class points

Your score will be compared to the student with the most total points in the class. This will set the grading curve. Your grade will correlate to the percentage of that score as follows:A 90-100%B 80-89%C 70-79%D 60-69%F 59% and below

There are no make up quizzes. For in-class exercises, you must attend class to get credit and you cannot make up these activities. All assignments are expected on their due date. Approved extensions may be granted depending on the circumstance. Otherwise, assignments turned in after the due date will not be accepted. If you send your assignment via e-mail, it must be in a Word attachment.

Grammar, punctuation and writing style are taken into consideration for all grades, including quizzes. Draft assignments will include generalized feedback. For final assignments, including the oral presentations, you must improve upon the draft. This means incorporating feedback and making your writing tighter and more focused.

2

*Note: In business, your credibility depends on communication that is error-free. If your final letters, resume, or memo assignment contains misspellings or sentence fragments, five points will be deducted for each error.

GBS 233

Assignments: Refer to assignment sheet for instructions.Class Period AssignmentsAugust 25 No class

For next class read: 1, 2

September 1 For next class bring a writing sample from a third partySeptember 8 For next class read: 3, 4; bring in your own writing sample for next

class

September 15 For next class read: 6, 7, 8; prepare assignment 1 September 22No classAssign.1 dueSeptember 29 For next class read: 5; prepare assignment 2

October 6Assign.2 due

For next class read: 11, 12; prepare assignment 3

October 13Assign.3 due

Student presentations- Go to Room VCN2 in audio visual department

October 20 For next class read: 9, 10 Student presentations- Go to Room VCN2 in audio visual department

October 27Mid-term examNovember 3 For next class prepare assignment 4

November 10Assign. 4 due

For next class read 13, 14; prepare assignment 5

November 17Assign. 5 due


November 24No class

Thanksgiving break

December 1Last day late assignments accepted


December 8Review

Prepare for final exam

December 15 Final Exam

3

GBS 233

GBS AssignmentsAssignments 1-3 As a manager you must communicate with your employees on a regular basis. You are usually very eager to communicate good news. Unfortunately, you must now communicate news you are certain your employees will regard as negative.

The office is relocating 30 miles north of your current location. The company is hoping it won’t lose valuable employees due to the move. The company is creating ways to compensate employees for their extended drive (be creative with your ideas). The incentives may also act as a way to keep employees happy overall.

It is your job to communicate the news and make it as positive and persuasive as possible.

Assignment 1: Write a persuasive letter, which will be sent to the employees' homes Spouses will read this as well. Use semi-block for your letter format.

Assignment 2: Write a memo to employees, which will be distributed at work.

Assignment 3: Write a one-page explanation describing how you would handle your weekly department meeting. Include details such as the steps you would take for preparing and following up the meeting (logistics), as well as how you would present the negative news (indirect organization).

Additional requirements for each assignment: Typed (12 point font) Single spaced 1 page in length Include a cover page

4

GBS 233

Assignment 4: Request for Proposal

Retail Incorporated is looking to hire a training company to help teach their employees how to provide better customer service. Currently, customers complain that paperwork is misplaced; employees ignore them when they visit your stores and they receive different answers to the same question when they call. You believe your company could provide the training necessary to help Retail Incorporated, so you eagerly respond to the RFP.

Background of Retail Incorporated:

Retail Incorporated is sending out a RFP to outsource its services. In other words, they want to contract with another company to help them. The service they need help with is teaching their employees proper business etiquette and professional customer service when waiting on customers in person and on the telephone.

Retail Incorporated must find a partnering company within 30 days to training in 60 days. There are 1200 employees. About 900 are part-time employees who work nights or on the

weekend. The remaining 300 are managers and full-time employees working the weekday shifts. All employees speak English as their primary language.

Retail Incorporated has 50 stores in five states. Because Retail Incorporated also takes orders by phone, they have a call center.

There have been 100 complaints in the last 30 days and sales are starting to decrease. Retail Incorporated believes its competitor is picking up the extra business.

The company who wins the bid must ensure employees’ behavior will improve or at least improved during the training.

The contracted company cannot charge excessively for its services.

Background of "your" company:You know your company can meet Retail Incorporated's requirements. Not only does your company have skilled staff, you have successfully solved this problem for other companies in the past.

Requirements: Minimum of six pagesTyped, 12-point font, single-spacedThe six pages should include the following:

Title (1 page) Table of contents (1 page) Body (4 pages)

o Introductiono Backgroundo Schedule/plan- What will you do to solve the problem. How long will it take?o Budget- Be realistic. Find out what your services truly cost. Get quotes.o Staff- Pick the best people to work on the project and highlight their skillso Authorization

(You may add any details necessary about your company or Retail Incorporated to complete the proposal.) NOTE: Clearly stating your points and proper formatting are vital in a proposal. This will be taken

into consideration when determining your grade. HINT: You are trying to sell your services. Persuasion is the essence of sales.

5

GBS 233

Assignment 5: Resume and Cover Letter

Create a resume and write a cover letter for the job of your dreams. You desperately want to get an interview! Hint: Remember to tailor your information to the industry and position.

Requirements: Follow appropriate format Cover letter one page (you choose letter format style) Resume one page Typed, single spaced, 12 point font

6

GBS 233

Assignment 6: Student Oral Presentations

Requirements:You are required to give a seven-minute presentation. You will have the opportunity to use feedback from your first presentation to adjust or enhance it before giving your second (final) presentation. In essence, your first presentation is a verbal draft.

The topic must address an aspect of international business. The company, custom or business trading practice must stretch beyond the U.S. border. Because this is a communication class, we need to think about cultural differences and how that affects business. How do we adapt our products and communication style to deal with other countries? Likewise, how have foreign countries adapted to our ways?

A few examples include: How does conducting business in Australia differ from Japan? How has Disney adapted its theme parks for European visitors? How does a city prepare for the Olympics? What kind of impact does it have on business? The business of caviar…who are the customers? What is the business behind it? OPEC North American Free Trade Agreement When Kentucky Fried Chicken went global, what changes did they make to their food and

marketing tactics?

You must use create and present one visual aid during your presentation. It may be one of the following: poster board, sign, poster, white board, transparencies, PowerPoint, other (discuss this with me).

*You may use no more than three visual aids within your presentation.

Visual aid grading criteria include: Format Spelling Illustration of main point or complex information Professionalism Size (Can the audience read or see what you are referring to?) Presentation of visual aid during final presentation

You will be allowed to use notes. However use may not use more than four, 4 x 6 inch note cards.

Lastly, you will be expected to ask questions of the presenter. That means you must be prepared to answer questions during a Q&A.

Grading criteria: Effectiveness of introduction Organization of material Supporting materials (facts, stories, statistics) Use of visual aid Conclusion, Q & A period Delivery- eye contact, “ums,” use of notes, use of visual aid

7

GBS 233

Writing ChecklistStop! Before you turn in your paper, have you proofread your paper for the following items:

Assignment follows requirementso Cover letter is includedo Topic covered in detail (you don’t make assumptions the reader knows)o Overall length is appropriateo Name is on the paper

Proper formatting is used Thought about the information the reader/audience needs to know Overall paper is organized logically Spelling is correct Sentences are short and concise Paragraphs are broken up based on the specific points Active verbs are used whenever possible String of adjectives are avoided Unnecessary phrases and “fluffy” descriptions are eliminated Proofread one last time

8

Technology

No class