Purpose:
This assessment presents you with an opportunity to understand the conceptual, practical and strategic implications of what was learned about communication, how you communicate, and the relevance of communication within the workplace.
Task:
In this essay, you will reflect about what you have learned about communication during six of the modules in this course. You may pick the weeks based upon your interest in the weekly module. To successfully complete this assessment task you should answer the following reflective essay question: What did I learn from undertaking the course BUSN20017: Effective Business Communication?
In answering this question, you should:
Describe TWO key learning concepts from each of the six modules
Describe ONE of the assigned journal articles for each of the six modules
Analyse and explain how these two key concepts and journal article allowed you to better understand:
Your current professional communication skills and
How to improve them.
You should apply all your insights and observations together by means of an application, highlighting how you think you will be able to use your leanings in your future career.
Other:
The essay should be a minimum of 3000 words and a maximum of 3500 words. Citations will not be necessary.
The essay must be double spaced and written using fully developed paragraphs. Bullet points are not acceptable.
Unit 1 : Communication – understanding process
• Define professional communication and appreciate the ethics of good communication.
• Understand the communication process--verbal, nonverbal and listening
• Recognise the importance of communication competence as a life-long learning project.
References:
• Brink, K. E., & Costigan, R. D. (2015). Oral communication skills: Are the priorities of the workplace and AACSB-accredited business programs aligned? Academy Of Management Learning & Education, 14(2), 205-221
• Dwyer, J. (2016). Chapter 1 Communication for Business and the Professions: Strategies & Skills. (6th ed.). Pearson: Australia.
• Gabbot, M., & Hogg, G. (2001). The role of non-verbal communication in service encounters: A conceptual framework. Journal of Marketing Management 17(1/2), 5-26.
• Gkorezis, P., Bellou, V., & Skemperis, N. (2015). Nonverbal communication and relational identification with the supervisor. Management Decision, 53(5), 1005 - 1022
• Keyton, J. et al. (2013). Investigating verbal workplace communication behaviors. International Journal of Business Communication, 50(2), 152-169.
• Lloyd, K., Boer, D., Keller, J., & Voelpel, S. (2015). Is my boss really listening to me? The impact of perceived supervisor listening on emotional exhaustion, turnover intention, and organizational citizenship behavior. Journal of Business Ethics, 13(3), 509-524.
• Roebuck, D. B., Bell, R. L., Raina, R., & Lee, C.(2015). The effects of home country, gender and position on listening behaviors. Journal of Organizational Culture, Communications & Conflict, 19(2), 93-120.
• Stevens, B. (200
Unit 2 : Presentations : communicating to audience
:
• Reduce communication apprehension
• Prepare to write an oral presentation
• Research the topic of an oral presentation.
• Engage your audience by effective measures
• Discuss training presentations
Reference
•
Levin, M. A., & Peterson, L. T. (2013). Use of Pecha Kucha in Marketing Students' Presentations. Marketing Education Review, 23(1), 59-64URL

• Lipson, R., & Teodorescu, T. (2015). Winning more business by using presentations as part of a solution roadmap. American Salesman, 60(9), 14.
Unit 3: academic writing : demonstrating your knowledge
• Understand the academic audience.
• Follow the guidelines for different types of genres of academic writing.
• Introduce and discuss the communication context assessment
Reference
• Chapter 24 'Academic Writing' in Dwyer, J. (2016). Communication for Business and the Professions: Strategies & Skills. (6th ed.). Pearson: Australia.
• Chapter 23 'Writing Reflective Journals' in Dwyer, J. (2016). Communication for Business and the Professions: Strategies & Skills. (6th ed.). Pearson: Australia.
• Zorn, T., & Campbell, N. (2006). Improving the writing of literature reviews through a literature integration exercise. Business Communication Quarterly, 69(2), 172-183.
• McDougall, D., Orenelles, C., & Rao, K. (2015). A primer on the pathway to scholarly writing: Helping nascent writers to unlearn conditioned habits.. College Student Journal, 49(2), 262-270.
Unit 4 : business writing : genres of written business communication
• Understand your reader.
• Decide what to write.
• Produce specific genres of written communication such as reports, email, and resumes.
• Conduct an organisational communication audit
Reference
ReChapters 19-22 in Dwyer, J. (2016). Communication for Business and the Professions: Strategies & Skills. (6th ed.). Pearson: Australia.
Zhu, Y., & White, C. (2009). PRACTITIONERS' VIEWS ABOUT THE USE OF BUSINESS EMAIL WITHIN ORGANIZATIONAL SETTINGS: IMPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPING STUDENT GENERIC COMPETENCE. Business Communication Quarterly, 72(3), 289-303.
http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.cqu.edu.au/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=26bd66e5-0a92-4bfd-8ca1-6e874fd337cc%40sessionmgr4004&hid=4205
Randazzo, C. (2012). Positioning Résumés and Cover Letters as Reflective-Reflexive Process. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(4), 377-391.
http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.cqu.edu.au/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=10&sid=951a2f0f-9662-4c90-883e-dfb73afadfa1%40sessionmgr4002&hid=4211
ference
Unit 5 : interpersonal communication : working together
• Recognise the difference between intrapersonal and interpersonal communication.
• Define aggressive communication and identify the types of verbally aggressive messages.
• Define and identify passive communication behaviours.
• Define assertive communication.
• Present the elements of an assertive message.
• Understand how to use assertive communication.
• Talk about assertion as a Western construct.
• Use assertive communication during interpersonal problem solving
• Identify the different types of socio-communicative styles
• Describe the different types of supportive and defensive communication behaviours.
Reference
• DeKay, S. H. (2012). Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace: A Largely Unexplored Region. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(4), 449-452.
• Dwyer, J. (2016). Interpersonal Communication. In Communication for Business and the Professions. pp. 46- 78 Pearson: Australia.
• Hynes, G. E. (2012). Improving employees' interpersonal communication competencies. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(4), 446-475.
• Madlock, P.E. and Dillow, M. R. (2012). The consequences of verbal aggression in the workplace: An application of the investment model. Communication Studies, 63(5), 593-607.
Unit 6 : organizational communication : communicating within organization structure
Recognize the functions of organizational
Understand how structure influences communication
Choose the use the appropriate medium of communication
Reference
• Byron, K. (2008). Carrying too heavy load? The communication and miscommunication of emotion by email. Academy of Management Review, 33(2), 309-327.
• Chapter 2 Social Media in Dwyer, J. (2016). Communication for Business and the Professions: Strategies & Skills. (6th ed.). Pearson: Australia.
• Kim, S. (2013). Networking enablers, constraints and dynamics: A qualitative analysis. Career Development International, 18(2),120-138.Sievers, K., Wodzicki, K., Aberle, I., Keckeisen, M., & Cress, U. (2015). Self-presentation in professional networks: More than just window dressing. Computers In Human Behavior, 50, 25-30.
• Sitkin, S. B., Sutcliffe, K. M. and Barrios-Choplin, J. R. (1992), A dual-capacity model of communication media choice in organizations. Human Communication Research, 18, 563-598.
• Xiaojun, Z., & Venkatesh, V. (2013). Explaining employee job performance: The role of online and offline workplace communication networks. MIS Quarterly, 37(3), 695-722.
Unit 7 : soliciting information : interviews and interviewing
·Plan and develop an interview.
·Conduct an interview.
·Understand and practice ethical interviewing.
·Recognise and develop different specific types of interviews.
Reference
• Decarie, C. (2010). Literacy and information interviews. Business Communication Quarterly, 73(3), 306-317
• Dwyer, J. (2016). Chapter 25 The Job Search, Resumes and Interviews In Dwyer, J. (2016). Communication for Business and the Professions: Strategies & Skills. (6th ed.) (pp. 600-628). Australia: Pearson.
• Kleiman, L. S., & Benek-Rivera, J. (2010). A four-step model for teaching selection interviewing skills. Business Communication Quarterly, 73(3), 291-305.
Unit 8 : communicating in teams and groups : process communication
·Understand the role of groups and teams within the workplace.
·Define the stages of group development.
·Recognise the importance of team-building.
·Develop your understanding of group decision-making.
·Facilitate informal and formal meeting processes
Reference
• Chapter 9 Team and Group Communication in Dwyer, J. (2016). Communication for Business and the Professions: Strategies & Skills. (6th ed.). Pearson: Australia.
• Chapter 10 Effective Meetings: Face-to-face and Virtual in Dwyer, J. (2016). Communication for Business and the Professions: Strategies & Skills. (6th ed.). Pearson: Australia.
• Allen, J. A., Lehmann-Willenbrock, N., & Landowski, N. (2014). Linking pre-meeting communication to meeting effectiveness.Journal of Managerial Psychology,29(8), 1064-1081.
• Rogelberg, S., Roades, G., Shnock, L., & Scott, C. W. (2012). Wasted time and money in meetings: Increasing return on investment.Small Group Research, 43(2), 236-245.
• Kauffeld, S., & Lehmann-Willenbrock, N. (2012). Meetings matter: Effects of team meetings on team and organizational success.Small Group Research, 43(2), 130-158.
Unit 9 : cross culture communication : transcending boundaries
• Define relevant terminology.
• Compare high and low context cultural communication.
• Identify barriers to Inter-cultural communication.
• Understand some of the problems with translations.
• Identify cross-cultural communication styles.
• Recognise the relationship between non-verbal communication and culture.
• Explore ways of developing intercultural communication competenc

Reference
Dwyer, J.(2016). Chapter 6 Intercultural Communication in J. Dwyer Communication for Business and the Professions: Strategies & Skills. (6th ed.). Pearson: Australia.
Rasmussen, L. J., & Sieck, W. R. (2015). Intercultural competence, culture-general competence: Evidence from a cognitive field study of professionals who work in many cultures. International Journal of Intercultural Relations. 48, 75-90.
Kohler, T., Durnell Cramton, C., & Hind, P. J. (2012). The meeting genre across cultures: Insights from three German-American collaborations. Small Group Research, 43(2), 159-185.