Business Communication

1. Business Communication Lecturer: Gareth Jones Class 1: Introduction, Basic Writing Skills & Reports

2. Contact Details • Lecturer: Gareth Jones • Email: garethjonesit@gmail.com Business Communication (BUS-100)

3. Text books • “Guide to Managerial Communication” by Mary Munter • “Excellence in Business Communication” by J.V. Thill & C.L. Bovée” • Additional reading & assignments may be posted online at: • http://www.uwcentre.ac.cn/haut/ Business Communication (BUS-100)

4. Guidance • Pay attention in class • No cheating (I will know) • Ask questions if you don’t understand anything • It’s important you work hard in the tutorials- it’ll make the exam, assignment and presentation easier for you • It’s an English language module- the instruction language and assessed language is ENGLISH Business Communication (BUS-100)

5. Grading Scheme • This course is comprised of two modules: • BUS-102 Practical Business Communication • Focus on writing reports and presentation skills with an assessed presentation and assessed piece of coursework • BUS-101 Written Business Communication • In addition to the content covered in BUS-102 the addition of communication skills, careers and practical business knowledge with one written examination Business Communication (BUS-100)

6. Grading Scheme – BUS102 Business Communication (BUS-100)

7. Grading Scheme – BUS101 Business Communication (BUS-100)

8. Group Assignment – BUS102 • You will be given an assignment to complete in groups of 4 or 5, the selection of which will be beyond your control • The assignment will be based on writing a report on a topic given on Thursday September 1st • You will learn the skills required to complete this assignment in classes 1 – 4 • There is no ‘right’ answer to this assignment! Business Communication (BUS-100)

9. Group Presentation – BUS102 • You will give a group presentation on an aspect of your written assignment in the same groups as that assignment • You will acquire the skills needed to complete this assignment in classes 7 - 9 Business Communication (BUS-100)

10. Dates of Evaluations Business Communication (BUS-100)

11. Evaluation and Grading • In order to pass the course, you must attain 40% • The British grading system is roughly: • 1st Class >= 70% • 2:1 >= 60% < 70% • 2:2 >= 50% < 60% • Third >= 40% < 50% • Fail = below 40% • Note: Most people get 2:1’s and 2:2’s Business Communication (BUS-100)

12. Objectives of this Module • By the end of this module you should be able to: • Plan and write effectively • Be able to take notes more effectively • Research and reference your work in the right way • Format letters, memos and emails in the correct way • Write a good CV and cover letter • Understand new media business communication Business Communication (BUS-100)

13. Objectives of this Module (II) • By the end of this module you should be able to: • Give an impressive interview • Give an effective business presentation • Understand business etiquette & teams • Understand business between different cultures • Run a meeting • In short, understand how to communicate better through any medium! Business Communication (BUS-100)

14. Note Taking Knowledge • Paraphrasing Source Information Absorb source information Process information in your own way Business Communication (BUS-100)

15. Note Taking • Paraphrasing • your own version of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new form. • a more detailed restatement than a summary, which focuses concisely on a single main idea. Business Communication (BUS-100)

16. Writing Skills & Business Reports • Sentence Structure • Paragraphs • Business Reports Business Communication (BUS-100)

17. Basic Writing Skills • What is a sentence? • What is a paragraph? Business Communication (BUS-100)

18. Sentences • A sentence is a group of words expressing a complete thought • A sentence should contain one clause (subject and a predicate) • 4 types of sentences: • Simple • Compound • Complex • Complex-compound Business Communication (BUS-100)

19. Simple Sentence • 1 clause • “Company profits decreased this year” Business Communication (BUS-100)

20. Subject • The subject is the person or thing about which something is said. • The subject is usually a noun or pronoun. Business Communication (BUS-100)

21. Predicate • The predicate is everything that is said about the subject. • The predicate always contains a verb. Business Communication (BUS-100)

22. Subject Clause Example • Subject: Predicate: • Cat is fat! Business Communication (BUS-100)

23. Compound Sentence • 2 or more clauses that express two or more independent but related thoughts of equal importance • Usually with and, but or or • “Profits have decreased by 10%, and employ turnover has been high” Business Communication (BUS-100)

24. Complex Sentence • One main clause and one or more independent clauses related to it • The subordinate thought could not stand alone • “Although his performances this year have been disappointing, you can’t deny that he’s been trying his best” Business Communication (BUS-100)

25. Compound-complex Sentence • 2 main clauses, one of which must have a subordinate clause • “Company profits have decreased again this year, and although his performances have been disappointing you must admit that he has tried his best” Business Communication (BUS-100)

26. Sentence Summary • Use a combination of sentence structures in your writing • Use sentence style to emphasise key thoughts • Don’t try to overcomplicated things • Be succinct Business Communication (BUS-100)

27. Writing Skills & Business Reports • Sentence Structure • Paragraphs • Business Reports Business Communication (BUS-100)

28. Paragraphs • Organise sentences related to the same topic • Unit of thought structured through sentences in the paragraph • Contains a topic sentence, support sentence and transitional words and phrases Business Communication (BUS-100)

29. Topic Sentence • Sentence that introduces the topic • In business often the first sentence • Introduced the subject allowing it to be developed • “The team has been in difficulty since the start of the season” Business Communication (BUS-100)

30. Support Sentences • Support the topic sentence • Must have a bearing on the general subject • Provide enough details to make the topic clear • “The team has been in difficulty since the start of the season. Since 2007 a number of media reports have suggested all was not well behind the scenes. The coaching staff have been accused of in-fighting, and there have been suggestions that a number of key players intend to leave. ” Business Communication (BUS-100)

31. Transitional Elements • Helps paragraphs to be arranged in a logical order • Words or phrases that tie ideas together • Connecting words: and, but, however • Echo words from previous sentences • Use pro-nouns that have referred to nouns previously • Use frequently paired words Business Communication (BUS-100)

32. Transitional Elements (II) • Additional details: moreover, furthermore, besides • Casual relationships: therefore, because, accordingly • Comparison: similarly, likewise, in comparison • Contrast: yet, conversely, however • Condition: although, if Business Communication (BUS-100)

33. Transitional Elements (III) • Illustration: for example, in particular, in this case • Time sequence: after, when, sometimes • Intensification: indeed, in fact • Summary: to sum up, to conclude, in brief • Repetition: that is, in other words Business Communication (BUS-100)

34. 5 Techniques for developing paragraphs • Illustration • Comparison or contrast • Cause and effect • Classification • Problem and solution Business Communication (BUS-100)

35. Illustration • Giving examples • “Sales have increased by 5% this year to £10’000’000 per annum, despite the gloomy economic forecasts” Business Communication (BUS-100)

36. Comparison • Using similarities or differences to develop the topic • “Based on the fact sales in the Northern region decreased after the launch of the new marketing campaign, we should not pursue the same campaign” Business Communication (BUS-100)

37. Cause and Effect • Focus on reasons for something • “The managerial problems and disputes between players could be attributed to the fact that results have been poor since 2007” Business Communication (BUS-100)

38. Classification • General idea broken into categories • “We can roughly divide the players in our team into several categories. Firstly, players from within our own academy system. Secondly, player’s we’ve brought in from the other local academies. Thirdly, players we’ve brought in from within the country. Finally, players we’ve brought in internationally.” Business Communication (BUS-100)

39. Problem and Solution • Presenting a problem and discussing the solution • “Managing star players has been very difficult for our team with all the media pressure. However, by offering extra support to star players and encouraging camaraderie with their team mates, some of this pressure can be taken off the players and therefore the team as a whole.” Business Communication (BUS-100)

40. Paragraphs Summary • Paragraphs are used to organise sentences with the same topic • Paragraphs contain a topic sentence, support sentence and transitional words and phrases • Using different types of paragraphs based on your audience is a good idea • A combination of types of paragraphs is usually a good idea in any context Business Communication (BUS-100)

41. A note about structure • Whether your writing in a business, or another context, what you are doing will usually have a beginning, middle and end • Try to make what you do focused and well planned • Know what you are writing about before you start • We will revisit writing skills later in the course, now onto business specific writing… Business Communication (BUS-100)

42. Writing Skills & Business Reports • Sentence Structure • Paragraphs • Business Reports Business Communication (BUS-100)

43. Business Reports • The backbone of business communication • This report presents information to assist in business decision making • Any large decision a company makes must be preceded by a formal Business Report Business Communication (BUS-100)

44. Business Reports • Examples: • Hire a new employee • Begin a new project • Purchase new equipment • Start a new advertising campaign • Fire an employee • Analyse a merger Business Communication (BUS-100)

45. Business Reports • All of the previous examples must begin with a business report • So, how do we format these reports? • Every company has their own report format • Most report formats follow a general trend… Business Communication (BUS-100)

46. Business Report Format • Title Page • Table of Contents • List of Figures • Executive Summary • Methods • Report Body • Recommendations • References/Bibliography Business Communication (BUS-100)

47. Business Report Format • 1. Title Page • Must include: • Title of the Report • Author • Date (Finished or Submitted) Business Communication (BUS-100)

48. Business Report Format • 2. Table of Contents • Must include: • A list of the sections of the report with page numbers • Name of each section • Number page starts on Business Communication (BUS-100)

49. Business Report Format • 3. List of Figures • Must include: • The name of every figure, graph, chart etc. that is in the report • The page number each figure is on Business Communication (BUS-100)

50. Business Report Format • 4. Executive Summary • Must include: • The most important parts (key points) of the report • Helps the reader to understand the report by only reading a short part of it Business Communication (BUS-100)