UNIVERSITAS INDONESIA

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS

International Undergraduate Program

SYLLABUS
[MGMT11056] BUSINESS C OMMUNICATION
Odd Semester 2014/2015
Credit: 3
Prerequisite: None

Lecturers:
Ulian Taurin Malik, MBA. [coordinator]
Department of Management FEUI
ulian_malik@yahoo.com
021-7272 425 ext.200, 203

Business Communication_OS 2014-2015

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SUBJECT DESCRIPTION
The primary objective of this course is to introduce students to the various forms of
communications that are helpful in real-life business situations and personal life. Business
Communication introduces concepts and strategies for different business situations including
memo, letters, presentations, reports and technology based communications. Using a
developmental approach to communications, the course applies methods for organizing ideas,
analyzing data, addressing diverse concerns, presenting information, and developing a
professional style communication.

SUBJECT OBJECTIVES
After completing this subject, students are expected to be able to:
Explain the role of communications in supporting business strategies and personal
development
Explain communication concepts, strategies and tools applied in organizational settings
Apply appropriate oral and written communication techniques and approaches for various
purposes (e.g. oral presentation, job interview, document writing, etc)

Generic Skills to be Developed

Evaluation of ideas, views, and evidence
Synthesis of ideas, views, and evidence
Strategic thinking
Critical thinking
Application of theory in real-life business situation
Assessing data and other information
Summarize and interpretation of information
Application of communication tools
Problem solving skills
Collaborative learning and teamwork
Negotiation and bargaining
Written communication
Oral communication
Case analysis

Low
X

Intensity Level
Moderate

High

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

SUBJECT MATERIALS
Required readings`
Bovee, Courtland L., and John V. Thill, Business Communication Today, 11th Edition,
Prentice Hall International Inc, 2012 (BT)
Recommended References
th
Locker, Kitty O., Business Communication: Building Critical Skills, 5 Edition New York :
McGraw-Hill, 2011 (LK).

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ASSESSMENT
Students will be assessed based on the following elements:
Individual Writing Assignments
In class exercises/quizzes & Participation
Group Assignment (Weekly presentation, cooperative
learning activities and case analysis)

10%
10%
20%

Mid Term Examination

Final Term Examination

30%
30%

*submitted in class during class session. No late submission is allowed

CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION

One 150 minutes lectures per week (total 14 sessions), comprised of student presentation
of session topics assigned (in group), cooperative learning discussion, active lectures, and
case analysis.

Teaching Method consists of:

Lecture
Class discussion
Individual paper
Group paper
Presentation
Case analysis
Tutorial
Laboratory in class experience exercise
Computer lab
Cooperative learning

yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
no
no
no
yes

Three teaching methods will be used: (1) Lecture (2) Problem Solving (3) Small Group
Discussion
ASSIGNMENTS
A. Individual Assignments
Students (individually) will be asked to prepare three pieces of message writing. Use
appropriate techniques to compose each of the messages.
Please be advised that the writing is due on the session covering each respective subject. Late
submission will incur penalty of 5 points per day (maximum 2 days, if you go over two days time
limit, you will receive zero mark for the assignment)
1. Writing Negative Message
In this assignment, each student must write one piece of negative message based on the
following scenario. (Students are free to use additional facts or add assumptions not stated
in the scenario):
You work in a small camera store well known for cheap price and good customer service,
and you are currently asked to handle complaints and request for
adjustments/compensations. One case you have is a customer asking for free repair of his
camera, that was damaged after falling into sea water during his trip to Baron Beach in
Gunungkidul, Jogjakarta. The customer claims that he is entitled for free repair because the
camera is still under warranty period.

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Nevertheless, you learn that the warranty only cover for damaged or faulty operations
caused by production defects, not customer induced damaged such as being soaked in sea
water.
. Write a letter rejecting the customers request for free repair using guidance from
chapter about writing negative messages. You are free to develop your own
arguments/reasons to soften the bad news or to increase acceptance of the bad news.
2. Writing Persuasive Message
In this assignment, each student must write one piece of persuasive message based on the
following scenario. (Students are free to use additional facts or add assumptions not stated
in the scenario) :
You are volunteering at a local charity organization engaged in poverty alleviation activities.
You are currently approaching Prunilever, a major consumer goods company to get them
to donate to your organizations program.
Write a persuasive letter addressed to Prunilever , to convince them to consider
donating to your charitable organization.
3. Writing Messages Supported with Quality Information
In this assignment, each student must write one piece of persuasive message based on the
following scenario:
Before the year-end, your organization ( a small business school ) plans to buy new
computers to replace aging computers currently in use in your organization. You are asked
to evaluate at least three brands of computers (offering computers with equal
capabilities/specification) and make a recommendation
Task:
Use the Internet as well as other sources to understand the context
Write a letter (not more than a single page of A4, 1,5 spaced, written in Arial 11 font or
equivalent) to report your findings and recommendation to your manager (make sure
you use relevant supporting information in your letter).
Please include an attachment filled with the detailed facts and figures (cost and
benefits) that support your recommendation stated in the main body of the letter .
B. Group Assignments
Students are to form a group of 3 students.
Your group will be asked to prepare presentations (up to two presentations, depending on
number of students available) about a topic from the syllabus. Your presentation should cover
the topic assigned to you as comprehensive as possible. Nevertheless, remember that your
presentation duration is limited to 30 minutes (maximum). Please try to be comprehensive while
being concise.
All groups must send their PPT handout to lecturer by email before presentation.
Group presentation will be conducted every session, and lecturer will prepare a list of questions
to guide class discussion. There will be a group assigned to give response to group
presentation.
After presentation, a Q&A session will follow, and every student is encouraged to contribute a
question.

LECTURER POLICY
Assignment should be handed in no later than the due date. Any late work will be assessed a
penalty of 5 point a day (max. 2 days, after two days your assignment will receive zero mark).

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CLASS TIMETABLE
Session

Topic & subtopics

Understanding
Business
Communication:
Introduction to
Communication

Mastering Interpersonal
Communication and
Communicating in
Teams
Presentation skills &
Creating Visuals for
Presentation
Understanding
Business
Communication:
Communicating for
Diversity
Planning Business
Messages
Business Writing
Process:
Writing &
Completing
Business Messages
Business Writing
Writing Routine &
Positive Messages
Writing Negative
Messages

Business Writing
Messages for
Electronic Media
Writing Persuasive
Messages

Case Study & Analysis

Course Wrap Up for
Mid-Term Examination

Method

Reading
Resources

Active
Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

Business
Communicati
on Syllabus
BT, Ch: 1

Active
Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

BT, Ch 2, 17

All Groups
Cooperative
Learning

Active
Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

BT, Ch 3, 4

Group 1 & Group

2 Presentation
All Groups
Cooperative
Learning

Active
Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

BT, Ch 5,6

Active
Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

BT, Ch 8 &
Ch 9

Group 3 & Group

4 Presentation
All Groups
Cooperative
Learning
Group 5 & Group
6 Presentation
All Groups
Cooperative
Learning

Active
Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

BT, Ch 7 &
Ch 10

Active
Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

All chapters
of BT related
to topics for
mid-term
examination

Hand out
MID TERM EXAMINATION
Case Study & Analysis
Active Lecturing
Hand Out
Cooperative
Learning
Group Case
Presentation

Business Communication_OS 2014-2015

Assignments
(due on the
session)
Cooperative
Learning Activity
Summary

Writing a negative
message
assignment due
Group 7 & Group
8 Presentation
All Groups
Cooperative
Learning
Writing a
persuasive
message
assignment due
All Groups
Cooperative
Learning
All Groups
Cooperative
Learning

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Session

Topic & subtopics

Supporting Messages
with Quality Information
Designing visual
communication

Planning and Writing

Reports and Proposals

10

Method

11

12

13

Completing Reports
and Proposals
Developing Oral &
Online Presentations

Writing Employment
Messages &
Interviewing for Jobs

Case Study &

Analysis

14

Course Wrap Up for

Final Term Examination

Reading
Resources

Active
Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

BT, Ch 11
BT Ch 12

Active
Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

BT, Ch 13,
14

Active
Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

BT, Ch 15,
16

Active
Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

BT, Ch 18,
19

Active
Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

Hand out

All chapters
of BT related
to topics for
final term
examination
FINAL TERM EXAMINATION

Business Communication_OS 2014-2015

Active Lecturing
Cooperative
Learning

Assignments
(due on the
session)
Writing messages
supported with
quality information
due
Group 1 & Group
2 Presentation
All Groups
Cooperative
Learning
Writing messages
supported with
quality information
due
Group 3 & Group
4 Presentation
All Groups
Cooperative
Learning
Group 5 & Group
6 Presentation
All Groups
Cooperative
Learning
Group 7 & Group
8 Presentation
All Groups
Cooperative
Learning
All Groups
Cooperative
Learning

Groups Cooperative
Learning

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ATTENDANCE
Referring to the faculty regulation, the Program requires students to fulfill a minimum
attendance of 80% to be eligible for the final exam. Thus, students should attend a minimum 11
out of 14 lecturing sessions and 10 out of 12 tutorial sessions.

EXAMINATION REGULATION
1. Students may use non-programmable calculators only.
2. Students may use the dictionary provided by the program only. Students should notify
their exam supervisor(s) if they need it.
3. Students should not conduct any act of cheating during the examination. Students will
automatically be graded E for the subject if they are caught cheating during the
examination of the respective subject. In addition, students will be graded E for
all other subjects taken during the particular semester, whose examinations
have taken place prior to the cheated examination.
4. Deferred examination is only applicable if it is requested in written by the Program.

ORIGINALITY
Students should maintain originality and respect intellectual property rights. Therefore, students
should avoid conducting any act of plagiarism when doing written assignments (if any), which
may take a form of short individual / group paper and / or summary.
The followings are acts of plagiarism:
Copying paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence, or even a significant part of a
sentence directly without enclosing them in quotation marks and appropriately
footnoted;
Using and / or developing others ideas found in printed materials or film elsewhere
without explicitly referencing them to the respective author or the source of the idea.
Plagiarism is a serious infringement of intellectual property rights. Any assignment that
contains presumed plagiarism will be marked 0 (zero).
Since students are required to write group papers, students should sign a Statement of
Authorship and attach it to their papers before paper submission. The form of Statement of
Authorship is available at the Resource Center of the Program. Lecturer(s) and / or tutor(s) will
refuse to mark any paper that has no signed Statement of Authorship attached.
In addition, students should ask for cover sheet from the Resource Center of the Program for
any assignment submitted.

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