Bus 100: Business communications September 7, 2009

Lecturer: Keith Cochrane keithacochrane@gmail.com BUS 100: Business Communication Lecturer: Keith Cochrane keithacochrane@gmail.com Office: Room 213 in the New Building (Foreign Experts Office) Office Hours: TBD

class Rules No Cell phones Be on time If you are late, come in through the back. Do not ask to be let in Ask lots of questions. Asking a question doesn’t mean you are stupid. It means you are smart

class Rules Listen to me when I am talking Listen to other students when they are talking Complete assignments on time If you cannot, email me a good reason why No Cheating, copying, plagiarizing

Text book “Guide to Managerial Communication” by Mary Munter Additional Reading assignments will be posted online http://www.uwcentre.ac.cn/hhu

Tentative Grading Scheme Assessment Percentage of Final Grade Class Attendance and Participation 10% Homework 15% Weekly Quizzes Midterm Exam 20% Final Exam 40%

Tentative Dates of Evaluations The class is a total of 25 Lectures Every 5th lecture there will be an in class assessment

Tentative Dates of Evaluations Lecture # Assessment Location Date 5 Quiz Tutorial 9-11-2009 10 9-18-2009 15 Midterm Exam Lecture 9-25-2009 20 10-9-2009 25 Final Exam 10-16-2009

Evaluation and Grading In order to pass the course, you must receive above 40% However, if you do not pass the final exam (>40%), you will not pass the course You must write and pass the final exam!

Business Communication Communication used to promote a product, service or organization Process information within a business A means for the company to communicate with the customers and the customers to communicate with the company

Why is it Important? This is how a business promotes and displays themselves to the world. Communication must be effective and clear in order to avoid misunderstandings. This includes Marketing, Branding, Advertising, etc. Good Communication = Good business

Methods of communication Web based Email Presentations telephoned meetings message boards meetings reports

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 precede by a formal Business Report

Business Reports Examples: Hire a new employee Begin a new project Purchase new equipment Start a new ad campaign

Business Reports All must begin with a business report

Business Report Format 1. Title Page

Business Report Format 1. Title Page Must include:

Business Report Format 1. Title Page Must include: Title of the report

Business Report Format 1. Title Page Must include: Title of the report Author (who wrote it)

Business Report Format 1. Title Page Must include: Title of the report Author (who wrote it) Date finished or submitted

Business Report Format 2. Table of Contents

Business Report Format 2. Table of Contents A list of the sections of the report and the page on which they start

Business Report Format 2. Table of Contents Must include: The name of each section (methods, list of figures, etc.) The page number each section starts on

Business Report Format 3. List of Figures

Business Report Format 3. List of Figures A list of every picture, graph, chart, image, etc. That is in the report

Business Report Format 3. List of Figures Must Include:

Business Report Format 3. List of Figures Must Include: Name of every figure, graph, chart, etc that is in the report

Business Report Format 3. List of Figures Must Include: Name of every figure, graph, chart, etc that is in the report The page number each figure is on

Business Report Format 4. Executive Summary

Business Report Format 4. Executive Summary A short statement that presents the main points of the report in a clear and short way

Business Report Format 4. Executive Summary A short statement that presents the main points of the report in a clear and short way Short and to the point

Business Report Format 4. Executive Summary The most important part of the report! Helps reader to understand the report by only reading a short part of it

Business Report Format 5. Methodology/Methods

Business Report Format 5. Methodology/Methods Description of the way that you got the information to write your report

Business Report Format 5. Methodology/Methods Answer the questions: “How did I get this information?”

Business Report Format 5. Methodology/Methods Answer the questions: “How did I get this information?” “What did I do to this information?”

Business Report Format 6. Report Body

Business Report Format 6. Report Body The meat of the report

Business Report Format 6. Report Body The meat of the report Contains all important information, data, analysis, and conclusions

Business Report Format 6. Report Body Three Sections: Introduction (Beginning) Main Body (Middle) Conclusion (End)

Business Report Format 6. Report Body Introduction explain why the report is written (purpose) and what is in the main body

Business Report Format 6. Report Body Main Body contains all important information, data, analysis, etc. The longest part of the report

Business Report Format 6. Report Body Conclusion ends and finalizes the report

Business Report Format 7. Recommendations

Business Report Format 7. Recommendations Possible suggestions, solutions or recommendations for the audience to consider

Business Report Format 8. References/Bibliography

Business Report Format 8. References/Bibliography A list of the sources used to prepare the report

Business Report Format 8. References/Bibliography A list of the sources used to prepare the report Include: books, websites, articles, interviews, databases, etc

Business Report Format 8. References/Bibliography Must use the Standard Harvard Referencing System

Business Report Format 1. Title Page 2. Table of Contents 3. List of Figures 4. Executive Summary 5. Methods 6. Report Body 7. Recommendations 8. References/Bibliography

The executive summary How long? Less than 1/10 the length of the body Example: Body = 100 Pages; E.S. <= 10 pages

The executive summary For us: Think of it as one paragraph (5-7 sentences) Must have: Topic Sentence (Beginning) 3-5 Body Sentences (Middle) Concluding sentence (End)

Write all of these sections at the end Always Order in Report Section Order Written Executive Reads 1 Title Page 8 Write all of these sections at the end Always 2 Table of Contents N/A 3 List of Figures 4 Executive Summary 7 5 Methods If interested in research 6 Introduction Sometimes Main Body Conclusion If surprised 9 Recommendations 10 Bibliography (As you research) If report is weak in some area