Business communications
L Wilkins
7 points * One 1-hour lecture and one 2-hour tutorial per week * Second semester * Clayton.
Communication and theory of communication in group settings; effective listening, non-verbal communication; oral presentations: organisation and planning, definition of audience and objective, use of visual aids, the mechanics of effective presentation; study skills: reading, skimming and scanning, note-taking, summarising; library-based research: Sesame2, CD-ROM, on-line searches; writing: clear exposition, memos, technical reports, use of graphics; meetings: planning and preparation, roles and leadership; interviewing and being interviewed: job applications, covering letter and resume writing; negotiation in organisations: cross-cultural negotiation and team building, organisational communication, business ethics and liability issues.
Assessment
Examination (2 hours): 30% * Practical assignments: 70%
Prescribed texts
Dwyer J The business communication handbook 3rd edn, Prentice-Hall, 1993
Recommended texts
Beisler F and others Communication skills 2nd edn, Longman, 1993
Huckin T N and Olsen L A Technical writing and professional communication for non-native speakers of English McGraw-Hill, 1991
Robbins S P Training in interpersonal skills: Tips for managing people at work Prentice-Hall, 1989
Samson D (ed.) Management for engineers Longman Cheshire 1994