Business Communication for Professional Effectiveness

COURSE SYLLABUS

GEB3213

0520; Fall 2016

View the Syllabus Addendum, whichprovides the most current version of fluid information, such as the academic calendar.

WELCOME

Welcome to Business Communication for Professional Effectiveness! In this course, you will hone your business communication skills and acquire new strategies to develop your career. It’s designed to help you improve your business writing and speaking skills, along with critical thinking, so that you can move forward on your career path.

What to expect:

High achieving students spend an average of about 15 hours a week to be successful in this course. In addition to the reading, you will complete weekly quizzes and a variety of assignments such as attending a networking event and developing a project that proposes a solution to a local business problem. You will use technology such as video conferencing, Google Hangout and YouTube.

You can also expect to receive specific feedback so that you know what you’re doing well and how to improve your performance in weaker areas. When you email me, you should get a response within 24 hours and often much sooner. On the other hand, I urge you not to wait until the night an assignment is due to contact me, as I may not be able to reply to your question before the assignment deadline.

Hopefully, you’ve planned well and are positioned to be successful in this engaging course! After completing the course, students tell us that they have reaped large benefits in developing their professional communications and critical thinking skills, and I sincerely hope that you will have a positive learning experience as well.

INSTRUCTOR

Name:Dr. Patricia Hanrahan

Email:hanrahan.patricia@spcollege;edu

Phone:727-791-2735

Office and Online Chat Hours:Tues 10-3; Thurs 10-3

Office Location:Clearwater BT102

Instructor Web Page:

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT

DEAN

Name:Dr. Greg Nenstiel

Office Location:Epicenter Rm 305

Office Phone Number:727-341-3026

Email:

ACADEMIC CHAIR

Name:Dr. Patricia Hanrahan

Email:hanrahan.patricia@spcollege;edu

Phone:727-791-2735

Office Location:Clearwater BT102

WEBSITE

URL:

COURSE INFORMATION

QM 1.2: Introduce learners to the purpose and structure of the course.

Course Description:

The purpose of this course is to explore the role of strategic communications within the professional context of contemporary organizations and to provide a survey of the organizational, behavioral, and technical aspects of business communication. An emphasis is placed on the application of theory to practice and the development of business communication skills that are clear, influential, and designed for maximum impact in the workplace. Topics include communications strategy in business; interpersonal communications and organizational context; team communications, meetings and networking; electronic media and social media protocol; and creating strategic proposals, presentations, and reports. The emphasis is on the practical application of strategic business communications in a variety of formats that enhance professional development. This course has a substantial writing requirement. 47 contact hours.

Course Goals:

The student will examine the nature of effective communication in business; including the importance, characteristics and process of effective communications.
The student will analyze the communication skills of self and others, and discuss the implications that personality and communication skills play in business.
The student will judge how influence and change are advanced through strategic business communication.
The student will validate how electronic communications, conferencing, and meetings enhance the collaboration and communication of teams and work groups in a business enterprise.
The student will interpret the external environment and respond by creating strategic written business documents and delivering influential presentations that enhance and promote a highly professional image.

QM 2.1, 2.3, 2.5: State clear and measurable course-level learning objectives that are written from the learner’s perspective, that are suited to the level of the course.

Course Objectives:

1. The student will examine the nature of effective communication in business; including the importance, characteristics and process of effective communications by:

Describing the elements of strategic business communication.

Discussing the communication process as it applies to the workplace.

2. The student will analyze the communication skills of self and others, and discuss the implications that personality and communication skills play in business by:

Completing a communications inventory.

Reflecting on the communications strengths and weaknesses of self and others.

Discussing the role of personality and emotional intelligence in effective communications.

3.The student will analyze how influence and change are advanced through business communication by:

Analyzing the role that individual and interpersonal context play in timing and forming communications.

Judging individual, group, and organizational culture as a means of predicting buy-in to new ideas.

Discussing the change process and the role of communication in effecting change.

4.The student will validate how electronic communications enhance the collaboration and communication of groups in a business enterprise by:

Examining the dynamics and strategies in conducting meetings and conferences, to include the use of electronic communications.

Discussing the protocol of using electronic communications such as email, blogs, social media, online meetings, document sharing, and other electronic media to portray a professional image.

Participating in an electronic meeting.

5.The student will develop strategic and influential business communications that enhance and promote a highly professional image by:

Framing messages to fit specific business situations.

Identifying potential business or management opportunities internal or external to the organization.

Proposing a project in a formal written document as a strategic response to a potential business or management opportunity.

Presenting a strategic oral presentation of a proposed project in response to a potential business or management opportunity.

Promoting project results in a formal written report that strategically communicates business or management value.

6.The student will effectively promote his or her professional brand.

Networking at a professional or civic event or an organizational meeting.

Developing a career presence on social media.

Creating job search documents that align with career goals.

Discussing strategic approaches for succeeding in job interviews.

QM 2.2, 2.3, 2.5: State clear and measurable module-level learning objectives that are written from the learner’s perspective, that are suited to the level of the course.

Prerequisites:Admission to a bachelor's program

QM 1.6: State any prerequisite knowledge in the discipline or required competencies.

Availability of Course Content: all is open. Assignments may shut after the due date.

QM 1.4: State or link to course and/or institutional policies with which the learner is expected to comply.

Other Critical Course Expectations: some activities require community participation, such as the networking assignment

View the Proctored Testing Information site

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK & OTHER RESOURCE INFORMATION

Required Textbook:

Business Communication Package(Business Communication text “Business Communication: Polishing Your Professional Presence, 3rd ed.”by Shwom & Snyder
St. Petersburg College
ISBN-13:9781323294055
Publisher: Pearson Learning Solutions
Copyright: 2015
Format: Multimedia Pkg(MyBizLab + Printed text +e-Text)

Valuable APA Formatting Resources

Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL):

SPC Library:

View the college bookstore site

View the college librararies site

LEARNER SUPPORT

View the Disability Resources site

QM 7.2: Describe accessibility policies and services.

View the Academic Support Services site

View the On-Campus Support site

View the Online Support site

QM 7.3: Describe how academic support services and resources can help learners succeed in the course and how to obtain it.

View the Student Services and Resources site

QM 7.4: Describe how student services and resources can help learners succeed in the course and how to obtain it.

IMPORTANT DATES

Course Dates:8/15–10/7

Drop Date:8/19

Withdrawal Date:9/15

View Financial Aid Dates

DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC INFORMATION

In this section, you can provide discipline-specific information as well as program information with links (e.g., disposition, standards, etc.)

ATTENDANCE

View the college-wide attendance policyincluded in theSyllabus Addendum.

The policy notes that each instructor is to exercise professional judgment and define “active participation” in class (and therefore “attendance”), and publish that definition in each syllabus.

For this class, attendance is defined as:Completing at least one activity within the week it's due.

QM 1.4: State or link to course and/or institutional policies with which the learner is expected to comply.

GRADING

QM 3.1: Implement assessments that measure the stated learning objectives.

QM 3.2: State the course grading policy.

Grading Policy

90% - 100% A

80% B

70% C

60% D

59% and below F

Late Work Policy

All assignments and activities must be completed by the due date. Late work will not be accepted due to computer problems, lack of a textbook, travel, sickness, or anything short of a documented, serious extenuating circumstance, such as your being in in the hospital for an extended period of time. This policy is in place to assure that all students are treated equitably and consistently.

ASSIGNMENTS

MODULE / LENGTH / TYPE / DESCRIPTION / PTS
1 / 1 WK / DISC / INTRO VIDEO / 10
1 / 1 WK / QUIZ / CH 1 & 3 / 20
1 / 1 WK / DISC / COM PROCESS AT WORK / 10
1 / 1 WK / PAPER / MAP COM PROCESS / 20
2 / 1 WK / QUIZ / CH 5 / 10
2 / 1 WK / DISC / PERSONALITY & EI / 10
2 / 1 WK / DISC / PROJECT PLAN / 10
2 / 1 WK / PAPER / 450-500W PERS & INFL / 30
3 / 1 WK / DISC / FLEX STYLE / 10
3 / 1 WK / PAPER / 450-500W WORKPL CHANGE / 30
3 / 1 WK / DISC / NETWORKING PLAN / 10
4 / 1 WK / QUIZ / CH 6 / 10
4 / 1 WK / DISC / ONLINE MEETINGS / 10
4 / 1 WK / PAPER / 450-500W SCENARIO / 30
5 / 2 WKS / QUIZ / CH 9 & 10 / 10
5 / 2 WKS / QUIZ / CH 11 / 20
5 / 2 WKS / DISC / STRAT FOR REPORT & PRES / 10
5 / 2 WKS / DISC / PARTNERS’ GROUP REPORT / 20
5 / 2 WKS / PAPER / PROJECT REPORT / 70
6 / 2 WKS / QUIZ / CH 12 / 10
6 / 2 WKS / DISC / JOB INTERVIEW STRAT / 10
6 / 2 WKS / DISC / NETWORKING REPORT / 20
6 / 2 WKS / DISC / LINKED IN ANALYSIS / 30
6 / 2 WKS / VIDEO / PROJECT PRESENTATION / 30
6 / 2 WKS / PAPER / RESUME / 30
480 TOTAL POINTS

STUDENTS’ EXPECTATIONS AND INSTRUCTOR’S EXPECTATIONS

QM 1.4: State or link to course and/or institutional policies with which the learner is expected to comply.

REQUIRED INTERACTION

What to expect:

QM 5.3: State the plan for response time and feedback on assignments.

QM 5.4: State the requirements for learner interaction.

PARTICIPATION AND CONDUCT

View the Online Student Participation and Conduct Guidelinesin the Syllabus Addendum

ACADEMIC HONESTY

View the Academic Honesty statement

NETIQUETTE

SPC has outlined expectations for student behavior and interaction for online discussions, email, and other forms of communication.View the Netiquette expectationsin the Syllabus Addendum.

QM 1.3: State etiquette expectations for online discussions, email, and other forms of communication.

TURNITIN

The instructor of this course may require use of Turnitin.com as a tool to promote learning. The tool flags similarity and mechanical issues in written work that merit review. Use of the service enables students and faculty to identify areas that can be strengthened through improved paraphrasing, integration of sources, or proper citation. Submitted papers remain as source documents in the Turnitin database solely for the purpose of detecting originality. Students retain full copyright to their works. Review theTurnitin Usage Agreement. Students who do not wish to submit work through Turnitin must notify their instructor via course email within the first seven days of the course. In lieu of Turnitin use, faculty may require a student to submit copies of sources, preliminary drafts, a research journal, or an annotated bibliography.

STUDENT SURVEY OF INSTRUCTION

The Student Survey of Instruction is administered in courses each semester. It is designed to improve the quality of instruction at St. Petersburg College. All student responses are confidential and anonymous and will be used solely for the purpose of performance improvement.

TECHNOLOGY

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

View the MyCourses Minimum Technology Requirements

Students should know how to navigate the course and use the course tools. Dropbox-style assignments may require attachments in either Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or Rich Text Format (.rtf), so that they can be properly evaluated. If an attachment cannot be opened by the instructor, students will be required to re-format and re-submit an assignment so that it can be evaluated and returned with feedback.

Minimum Technical Skills:Specify the minimum technical skills expected of the learner: general and course-specific learners must have to succeed in the course.

MyCourses tutorials are available to students new to this LMS and are located at the beginning of the course. Most features on MyCourses are accessible on mobile devices, although it is recommended that you use a computer for quizzes, tests, and essay assignments.

QM 1.7: State the minimum technical skills of the learner.

ACCESSIBILITY OF TECHNOLOGY

View the MyCourses (Brightspace by Desire2Learn) Accessibility Statement

QM 8.2: Provide information about the accessibility of all technologies required in the course.

PRIVACY

View the MyCourses (Brightspace by Desire2Learn) Privacy Statement

QM 6.5: Provide link to privacy policy for all external tools required in the course.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Technical support is available via theSt. Petersburg College Technical Support Help Desk

QM 7.1: Describe technical support and how to obtain it.