1. Bus 100: Business communications
September 7, 2009

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

3. 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

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

5. Text book “Guide to Managerial Communication” by Mary Munter
Additional Reading assignments will be posted online

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

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

8. Tentative Dates of Evaluations
Lecture #
Assessment
Location
Date 5
Quiz
Tutorial 10 15
Midterm Exam
Lecture 20 25
Final Exam

9. 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!

10. 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

11. 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

12. Methods of communication
Web based
Presentations
telephoned meetings
message boards
meetings
reports

13. 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

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

15. Business Reports
All must begin with a business report

16. Business Report Format
1. Title Page

17. Business Report Format
1. Title Page
Must include:

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

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

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

21. Business Report Format
2. Table of Contents

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

23. 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

24. Business Report Format
3. List of Figures

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

26. Business Report Format
3. List of Figures
Must Include:

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

28. 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

29. Business Report Format
4. Executive Summary

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

31. 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

32. 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

33. Business Report Format
5. Methodology/Methods

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

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

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

37. Business Report Format
6. Report Body

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

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

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

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

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

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

44. Business Report Format
7. Recommendations

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

46. Business Report Format
8. References/Bibliography

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

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

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

50. 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

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

52. 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)

53. 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