Business Communication (ENG301)

Assignment 1 (Spring 2013)

Total Marks: 15

Objective:

  • The assessment of students’ understanding of Business Communication
  • Motivate students for acquiring conceptual knowledge and practical application of the subject

Instructions:

  • Late assignments will not be accepted.
  • If the file is corrupt or problematic, it will be marked zero.
  • Plagiarism will NOT be tolerated. Plagiarism occurs when a student uses work done by someone else as if it was his or her own; however, taking the ideas from different sources and expressing them in your own words will be encouraged.
  • No assignment will be accepted via e-mail.
  • The solution file should be in Word document format; the font color should be preferably black and font size should be 12 Times New Roman.

Q1: ‘Artifacts play a key role in establishing first impressions at workplace’. Discuss.

Ans; Artifacts are objects used to covey the nonverbal messages about self concept, mage , mood ,feeling or style. For example perfume, clothes , lipstick , glasses ,hairpieces, project the style or mood of the wearer. Many artifacts are common to the group but we also use the artifacts ,particularly dressing ,as an individual form of communication. Appearance and cloth are important and highly visible part of nonverbal communication. There must be a difference between your casual and formal dressing .when you are going to office you should wear decent and graceful cloths because the choice of clothes reflects your mood and your attitude to the occasion. Other people note and place their own interpretation of your dress. Even if u decide that you will not bother about personal appearance or clothes. Other will read this message as a part of your nonverbal communication. (5)

Q2: Identify the basic elements of the communication process by reading the following situation and considering the questions. (5)

The time is Friday afternoon. This interaction takes place in Ali’s office. Ali is a manager of an office that processes orders for a computer firm. The people in Ali’s office are present for a weekly wrap-up of the activities and planning for next week’s needs—Nadeem, who is responsible for keeping the office on its schedule; Zaid, who is responsible for the computers and technology in the office; Farhan, who communicates regularly with the sales people who turn in the orders.

Answer each question below.

Who is the sender?

Ans ;Mr Ali is a manager in this office and he is the responsible for the planning and any other activities related to management so he is the sender according to above mention situation .

Who is the receiver?

Ans; MrFarhan is the receiver because he receives the orders from the sales people of this office .

What is the message?

Ans; in the above mention situation all the staff of Ali’ s office is present for Planning of next week needs. This is the message .

What medium was used to convey the message?

Ans; In above mention paragraph peoples are communicating face to face so it is verbal a conversation.

What was the feedback?

Ans ; In above mention paragraph the review of last week activities is the feedback .

Q3. Identify the most appropriate option for each description regarding effective communication. (5)

1. Its purpose is to know what the speaker wants to say or to learn from the speaker. It is an act of cooperation in the sense that it takes advantage of others’ knowledge and experience. Therefore, devoting time to this aspect is in our self-interest.

  1. Speak more, do not listen
  2. Focus on the speaker
  3. Speak less, listen more
  4. Listen for what is left unsaid

Ans; speak less listen more

2. Effective listeners do not pay attention only to what is being said, but also notice how it is said. They observe the feelings, attitudes and emotional reactions of the speaker.

  1. Focus on the speaker
  2. Observe body language
  3. Listen for what is left unsaid

Empathize with the speaker

Ans; Observe body language

3. Good listeners do not allow themselves to be overly awed by the speaker’s status, fame, charm or other physical or personal attributes. They perceive the person detached from his personal attributes. Effective communicators are not conditioned by their self-realized impressions and prejudices, but are able to focus on the content of what is being said.

  1. Listen for what is left unsaid
  2. Separate the ideas from the speaker
  3. Empathize with the speaker
  4. Prefer your own perception of the speaker

Ans : Separate the ideas from the speaker

4. Listeners should allow the speaker to conclude his or her point. Only then should they try to interpret and respond to it. Such generalizations may not represent what the speaker intended to communicate.

  1. Respect the speaker as a person
  2. Do not jump to hasty conclusions
  3. Listen for what is left unsaid
  4. Focus on the speaker

Ans ; Do not jump to hasty conclusions

5. Effective listeners keep in mind the speaker’s point of view by focusing on the big picture, background constraints/limitations, and special needs and the emotional state of the speaker. Do not allow the speaker to feel hurt, ignored or insulted.

  1. Respect the speaker as a person
  2. Do not be a sponge
  3. Empathize with the speaker
  4. Avoid becoming emotional

Ans; Respect the speaker as a person