This course is specially designed for Business and Engineering Students.

Communication Skills (Oral)

Definitions and Conditions, Modes; verbal, non-verbal, vocal, non-vocal, sender, receiver, encoding, decoding, noise, context, emotional, relationships, etc.

Language and perception, Distortion of thought, interference.

Non-verbal, body language, physical appearance, cultural differences, etc.

Barriers to Comm: ambiguity, context, closure, prediction, pseudo listening.

Listening: effective listening, benefits, and ethics for the listener.

Personal and interpersonal skills/perceptions.

Communication dilemmas and problems.

Public Speaking – speaking situations/ interviews

Written Communication

Types of messages and various approaches

Formal/ Business letters various types

Memos (brief revision).

Notices and minutes of meetings, agenda, layout, language, Leadership styles.

Contracts and agreements (basic theoretical knowledge and comprehension).

Tenders (basic theoretical knowledge and comprehension).

Business reports (Short and Long) Research / Scientific reports.

Engineering / Business Ethics

Course objective.

Need for code of ethics, importance

Type of ethics, involvement in daily life, professional ethics

Problems/conflicts/dilemmas in application.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR THIS COURSE

(01) Report Writing for Business by Lesikar and Pettit

(02) Business & Professional Communication by Roach, Gant, Allyn Perigo & Bacon

(03) Engineering Ethics by Flederman

Course Outline For The Course in Detail

Introduction to Business Communication in Organizations

Why Business Communication?

Introduction to Communication

Definition of Communication

Types of Communication

Verbal Communication

Nonverbal Communication

Technological Communication

Levels of Communication

Intrapersonal Communication

Interpersonal Communication

Small-Group Communication

Organizational Communication

Public Communication

Mass Communication

Non-Verbal Communication

Reinforcement, Modification, Substitution, Regulations of Non-Verbal Communication

Codes of Nonverbal Communication

Temporal Codes

Chronemics

Time Orientations

Psychological Time

Person-Oriented Codes

Physical Appearance & Dress

Gestures & Body Movements

Facial Expressions

Eye Contact

Personal Space & Touching Behavior

Vocal Characteristics

Environmental Codes

Principles of Communication

Be Mindful of the Setting

Use Approachable Body Language

Adjust Your Tone

Ask Questions

Listen to Understand

Cultivate Respect

Be Precise Be Attentive while you present

Provide Feedback

Plan & Practice

Channels of Communication

Process of Communication

Feedback

Situations that require giving Constructive Feedback

Some clues where Constructive Feedback is needed

Importance of Feedback

Why Feedback?

Types of Feedback

Communication with respect to Culture

Multicultural Communication

Cross-Cultural Communication

Intercultural Communication

Role of Intercultural Communication

Flexibility in Intercultural Communication

Importance of Intercultural Communication

Cultural Differences

Power Distance

Individualism versus Collectivism

Femininity versus Masculinity

Uncertainty Avoidance

Long Term Orientation

High Context Cultures

Low Context Cultures

Barriers to Intercultural Communication

Ethnocentrism

Stereotyping

Prejudice

Discrimination

7Cs of Communication

Completeness with Bad and Good Example

Conciseness with Bad and Good Example

Consideration with Bad and Good Example

Concreteness with Bad and Good Example

Clarity with Bad and Good Example

Courtesy with Bad and Good Example

Correctness with Bad and Good Example

Barriers of Communication

Linguistic Barriers

Causes of Linguistic Barriers

Overcoming the Linguistic Barriers

Psychological/Emotional Barriers

Common Examples of Emotional Barriers

Overcoming Emotional Barriers

Physical Barriers

Examples

Overcoming Physical Barriers

Physiological Barriers

Causes of Physiological Barriers

Cultural Barriers

Examples

Overcoming Cultural Barriers

Perception Barriers

Examples

Overcoming Perceptual Barriers

Interpersonal Barriers

Examples

Overcoming Interpersonal Barriers

Gender Barriers

Examples

Overcoming Gender Barriers

Organizational Structure Barriers

Attitude Barriers

Technological Barriers

Reasons for Communication Breakdown

Listening Process and Improve Your Listening Skills

Listening

Objectives of Listening

Importance of Listening

Mechanics of Listening

Process of Listening

Types of Listening

Participatory Listening

Passive Listening

Surface Listening

Deep Listening

Judgmental Listening

Non-judgmental Listening

Empathic Listening

Objective Listening

Discriminative Listening

Content Listening

Biased Listening

Appreciative Listening

Selective Listening

False Listening

Group Task

Barriers of Listening

Low Concentration

Lack of Prioritization

Poor Judgment

Focusing on style rather than Substance

Cultural Barriers

Gender Barriers

Technology Barriers

Physiological Barriers

Physical Barriers

Attitudinal Barriers

Wrong Assumptions

Lack of Training

Bad Listening Habits

Benefits of Effective Listening Skills

Common Listening Mistakes

Ways to Improve Listening Skill

Understand Ethics and Code of Conduct for working in Organization

Why Study Ethics?

Professional Ethics

What is Engineering?

Who is an Engineer?

Engineering Ethics

Personal vs Professional Ethics

Ethics and Law

Code of Ethics

Objections to Codes

Codes of the Engineering Societies

Two Codes of Ethics

IEEE

NSPE

Ethical Problems

Resolving Internal Conflicts in Codes

Can Codes and Professional Societies Protect Employees?

Other Types of Codes of Ethics

Code of Conduct

Articles (1-15)

Ethical Principles

Beneficence

Least Harm

Respect for Autonomy

Justice

Ethical Theories in Engineering

Utilitarianism

Basic Tenets of Utilitarianism

Advantages & Disadvantages

Characteristics of Utilitarianism

Variations among Forms of Utilitarianism

Different Accounts of How Facts about Well-Being Determine the Rightness and Wrongness of Acts

Different Accounts of Well-Being

The Scope of Moral Concern

The Aggregate Utility to Be Maximized

Duty Ethics

Rights Ethics

Virtue Ethics

Personal vs Corporate Morality

Which Theory to Use?

No-Western Ethical Thinking

Ethical Problem Solving Techniques

Conflict Problems

Line Drawing Technique

Flow Charting

Analysis of Issues in Ethical Problems

Factual

Conceptual

Moral

How can Controversies be Resolved in Ethical Problems?

Relevance vs Conflict Problem

Methods for Relevance Problem

Resolving the Conflict Problems

Line Drawing Technique

Fundamentals of Line Drawing

Case Study

Flow Charting

Flow Charting Advantages

Key Ethical Concerns and Concepts

Confidentiality

Risk and Safety

Computer Ethics

Whistleblowing

Bribes vs Gifts

Sexual Harassment

Organizational Messages and Business Letters

Writing Business Messages

Planning Audience Centered Business Messages

Using Audience Analysis to Plan a Message

Understanding the Writing Process for Business Messages

Stage I: Planning Business Message

Stage II: Writing Business Message

Stage III: Completing Business Messages

Scheduling the Writing Process

Three-step writing process

Identifying Your Audience

Identifying & analyzing purpose for Business message

Developing an Audience Profile

Using Audience Analysis to Plan a Message

Predicting the Effects of Audience Composition

Uncovering Audience Needs

Providing Required Information

Adopting a “You” Attitude

Maintaining standards of etiquette

Emphasizing the positive

Using bias-free language

Establishing your credibility

Creating a conversational tone

Creating a conversational tone

Selective active or passive voice

Choosing Powerful Words

Balancing Abstract and Concrete Words

Finding Words that Communicate Well

Finding Words that Communicate Well

Powerful Words

Choosing from Four Types of Sentences

Using Sentence Style to Emphasize Key Thoughts

Creating the Elements of a Paragraph

Developing Paragraphs

Completing Business Messages

Revising Different Message Types

Evaluating your Message

Question’s for evaluating someone’s message

Proofreading Carefully

Business Letters

Strategies for Effective Letters

Four Considerations of a Business Letter

The seven C’s Style

Format of Business Letter

Elements of Business Letters

Types of Letters/Messages

Writing Plan for Request for Information or Action

Writing Plan for a Direct Claim

Writing Plan for Adjustments

Goodwill Messages

The Five S's

Expressing thanks for a gift.

Sending thanks for a Favor

Responding to goodwill Messages

Answering Congratulatory Messages

Extending Sympathy

Negative Messages

Communicating Bad News: Goals

Avoiding legal liability in conveying negative messages

When to Use the Direct Strategy

When to Use the Indirect Strategy

Possible Buffers for Opening Bad-News Messages

Evaluating Buffer Statements

Presenting the Reasons

Cushioning the Bad News

Closing Bad-News Messages

Sample Negative Messages

Refusing Donations

Declining an Invitation

Saying No to Job Candidate

Email Announcing Price Hike (Rate Increase)

Presenting Bad News in Other Cultures

What is Persuasion?

Persuasive and Sales Messages

Effective Persuasion Techniques

The Importance of Tone

Writing Plan for Persuasive Requests

Persuasive Claims and Complaints

Persuading Within Organizations

AIDA Strategy: Sales and Marketing

AIDA Writing Strategy for Sales and Marketing Messages

Ineffective Sales Message

Improved Sales Message

Organizing Business Email and Memos

Organizing E-Mails and Memos

Knowing When to Send E-Mails and Memo

Defining Memos

Preparing to write a memo

Formatting Memos

Writing Informative Memos

Writing Persuasive Memos

Revising Persuasive Memos

Analysis of a Poorly Phrased Persuasive Memo with an improved version

Writing Negative Memos

Revising Negative Memos

Analysis of a Poorly Worded Negative Memo with an improved version

Characteristics of Effective Memos

Understand about Meetings and Tender Processes in Business

Meeting

What is a Meeting?

Purpose of Meeting

Establishing Aims & Objectives

The Need for Agendas

Minutes of Meeting

Tender Process

Classification of Tender

The procedure of Inviting Tender

Samples of Tender

Short Tender Notice

Business Reports in Organizations

Understanding Report Basics

Report Functions

Report Formats

Report Patterns

Report Delivery

Developing Informal Reports

Gathering Data for Reports

Typical Informal Reports

Information Reports

Writing Plan for Information Reports

Describe six kinds of inf