BCOM 250: INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Stephen M. Ross School of Business

Winter 2017

COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Cindy Crawford
Nancy Kotzian
Amy Young

Sophia Galifianakis
Andrea Morrow
Sarah Zimmerman

Mary Hinesly
Patricia Russo

Lisa Klionsky
Amy Wisner

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION (please fill in):

Office
R3454
Phone
734-936-2769
Office Hours
Thursdays 11:30 to 12:30 (Drop-In Hours) and By Appointment
E-Mail
nkotzian@umich.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Introduction to Business Communication presents frameworks for writing documents, conducting email correspondence, and presenting recommendations. Cases and exercises emphasize informative
communication and strategies for collaboration. Methods for organizing ideas, analyzing data,
understanding audience needs, formatting information, and developing a professional
communication style are covered.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Analyze receiver needs and business situations to implement effective communication
strategies
Develop a repertoire of communication tools for common business situations
Make an informed choice about message channel, including use of new and emerging
technologies
Select, organize, and present information clearly and concisely
Produce professional informative and analytical documents, including emails, memos and
reports
Work as effective members of a collaborative team to produce high-quality deliverables
Assess, edit, and revise their own and others business communication
COURSE READINGS
The course requires the following text:
Guide to Managerial Communication: Effective Business Writing and Speaking, 10 th ed., (2013),
Munter, M. and Hamilton, L.
Your instructor will post or distribute additional assigned readings listed in the syllabus.
GRADING
Final grades are determined by applying the Ross grading policy to class point totals. Individual
assignments are scored using the evaluation criteria (noted on assignment descriptions posted on
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Canvas) in a distribution that reflects school grading guidelines. A zero will be received for all work
not completed as scheduled, unless special circumstances apply. In-class exercises generally cannot be
made up. If you must be absent, please notify your instructor in advance.
COURSE THEMES AND MAJOR GRADED ASSIGNMENTS
Theme
Speaking Credibly and
Convincingly

#
0
1

Using Email Effectively

02

Working Collaboratively
to Produce Data-Driven
Communication
Working Collaboratively
to Present
Recommendations

Assignment
Responding to Job Search Questions

Points

Due

10

Class 04

Thank You Email

20

Class 08

03

Analytical Document*

30

Class 11

04

Recommendation Presentations*

40

Class 12/13

Participation and Exercises

Up to 30

Throughout

*Denotes a group assignment.

FEEDBACK
Feedback is an essential part of BCOM 250, as well as a management skill that will contribute to your
future career success. You will receive written evaluations of all major assignments from your
instructor. Your peers will also evaluate selected documents and presentations.
SCHEDULE OF CONCEPTS, READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Assignments should be completed before class and turned by the start of class. Please note that even if no
assignments are due, you are still required to attend. Readings should be completed prior to the listed
class session.
Class
Class 01

Class 02

Class 03

Topics
Readings
How Is Business
Ch. I, Sections I, II, and III:
Communication Strategy,
Communication Different?
Audience Strategy, and
Assessing Audience
Message Strategy
Determining Objective
Selecting Relevant Content
Building Credibility
Career Services
Presenting Your Best Self
Handout on Networking
(including PREP and Story Career Services, Step 4:
Frameworks)
Prepare for Interviews
Module
Understanding Social Styles
Read Harrington,

and Preferences
Communication
Quadrants Framework
2

Assignment/Exercise
In-Class Exercises: Assessing
and Adapting to Audience;
Having a Clear Objective

In Class Exercises: Credibility

Practice; Speaking Practice

Complete CQP Before Class and

Bring Profile to Class

 In Class Exercise:
Understanding Social Styles
Class
Class 04

Topics
Responding to Questions in the
Job Search

Class 05

Class 06

Class 07

Class 08

Ch. I, Section IV: Channel

Choice Strategy
Email Basics Video
Email Subject Line Video

Managing Tone
Channel Selection and
Communication
Technologies
Using Email Wisely

Composing Efficiently
Organization and Format

Ch. II: Writing: Composing

Being Concise and Specific

Written Employment
Communication

Collecting and Assessing

Information
Developing Informative
Content and
Recommendations
Written and Oral Reports

Collaborative

Class 09

Readings
None

Efficiently
Ch. III: Writing: Macro
Issues
Chapter IV: Writing: Micro
Issues
Locker and Kienzler:
Analyzing Data and
Information for Reports

Presenting Negative
Information
Visual Representation of

Information
Slide Design

Class 10

Class 11

Presentation Delivery

In Class Exercises: Improving

Skim Value and Organization

In Class Exercises: Being

Concise and Specific
In Class Exercises: Selecting and
Developing Content
Assignment 2 Due: Thank You
Email

Harrington: Guidelines
for Collaborative

Communication Challenges
and Strategies

Assignment/Exercise
Assignment 1 Due:
Responding to Job Search
Questions (In Class)
In Class Exercises: Adapting to
Different Channels; Summary of
Email Best Practices; Tone
Exercise

In-Class Exercise: Collaborative

Communication

Writing

Delivering Bad News to

the Boss Video

Ch. VI: Visual Aids

Slide Video

Ch. VII: Speaking:

Nonverbal Skills

In Class Exercises: Developing

Visual Representation of Data
and Critiquing Slides
In Class Exercise: Presentation
Delivery Practice
Assignment 3 Due: Analytical
Document (Group
Assignment)

Class
Class 12

Class 13

Topics
Collaboratively Presenting
Recommendations

Collaboratively Presenting

Recommendations
Summary of Learnings

Readings

Assignment/Exercise
Assignment 4 Due:
Recommendation
Presentations (Group
Assignment)
Assignment 4 Due:
Recommendation
Presentations (Group
Assignment)

PARTICIPATION AND IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

To receive full benefit from the class, students must be actively engaged during each class. Class
discussions provide the opportunity to practice communication skills, including your ability to listen.
Effective class comments may address questions raised by others, integrate material from this and
other courses, draw on real-world experiences and observations, or pose new questions to the class.
High-quality participation involves knowing when to speak and when to listen or allow others to
speak.
If you know in advance you will miss a class, you may ask your instructor about attending another
section. You must receive permission in advance from both your instructor and the instructor of the
alternative section you wish to attend before going to another class.
If you know you will need to leave class early: Speak to or email the instructor prior to the class. It is
the instructors discretion as to whether leaving early will count as an absence; however, instructors
tend to be accommodating when there are valid reasons. Also, please sit near the exit to minimize
noise when you leave.
If you are coming from another class that is far away: Let the instructor know this at the beginning of
the semester. If you need to use the restroom, it is preferable to do this before class and be a few
minutes late rather than getting up in the middle of class.
If you unexpectedly need to leave during class: Do so as quietly as possible and speak to the instructor
after class. While it is expected that you will take care of necessities prior to class, there is the rare
occasion when you need to leave in the middle of the class. When you return, it is preferable for you
to return to a seat near the door (if one is available) to minimize any disruption.
Participation points are acquired based on the following activities:
Attendance and promptness
Participation during in-class activities and assignments
Class involvement: leading critiques, contributing to discussion, etc.
Written and oral critiques of presentations (own and others)
Cooperation and attitude
Improvement in communication skills

ELECTRONICS IN CLASS
All forms of electronics should be turned off during the class period, unless specified otherwise by the
instructor. Using electronics during class is disrespectful to the person speaking and is often obvious
to everyone around the offender including instructors and fellow students. If courtesy to others is not
enough of a reason, it simply is unwise to use electronics during class, because there is no easier way
to convey to your instructor that you have chosen to disengage from the class.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS
The University of Michigan is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all
programs, services and activities. Students wishing to receive testing accommodations must register
with the UM SSD (Services for Students with Disabilities) as soon as possible. Students must then
submit their Verified Individualized Services and Accommodations (VISA) form via online web form
as early as possible, but no later than two weeks prior to the test or quiz for which accommodations
are requested.
Requests must be sent using the Accommodations Request form and must include:
A scanned or photographed copy of the VISA form
Your name
The classes and related section numbers
The specific accommodation you are requesting
All requests must be made via the web form. Questions can be directed to the Accommodations
Coordinator at RossAccommodationsCoordinator@umich.edu.
In rare cases, the need for an accommodation arises after the two-week deadline has passed (for
example, a broken wrist). In these cases, the student should still contact SSD and the Ross
Accommodations Coordinator at RossAccommodationsCoordinator@umich.edu, however, due to
logistical constraints we cannot guarantee that an accommodation can be made after the two-week
deadline has passed. Requests only need to be made once for each class.
COMMUNITY VALUES AND ACADEMIC HONOR CODE
Cheating is a serious offense that has real negative implications to classmates. All members of the
Ross community are expected to complete their own work on assignments, exams, and all other
coursework, unless instructed otherwise by faculty (e.g., group assignments). Cheating is viewed as a
grave lapse in personal integrity and respect for the rights of other students. Given the BBA grading
curve, cheating is comparable to stealing from a classmate. Some examples of what constitutes
cheating are listed below and should be reviewed carefully. As cheating has very real consequences
for others, ramifications for cheating are severe and include dismissal from the school. Additional
information on cheating can be found in the Statement of Community Values, Academic Honor Code,
and related resources, which can be found at the following website:
https://www2.bus.umich.edu/MyiMpact/academics/ross-community-values
USE AND SHARING OF COURSE MATERIALS
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All materials generated for this course, including slides, handouts, review packets, quizzes, and
exams (and answers to these materials), any written review materials, group paper handouts or group
papers generated for this class, or any other materials prepared by you or the professor for this course
are intended for use only by current students in this class. You are not permitted to use materials
related to the class that were generated by a professor in previous versions of the course, such as
materials collected in unauthorized files, test banks, or online. A violation of this policy may be a
violation of the Ross Community Values Code and may result in a student being referred to the
Community Values Committee for disciplinary action. It is also a violation of this policy to participate
in the collection, distribution, online posting, or other sharing of class materials that may result in use
of those materials by people who are not currently students in the course. Finally, any electronic
recording of this course, including images, is prohibited except with the prior written permission of
the instructor.
COMMUNICATION CONSULTANTS
The Communication Program has a staff of consultants available to meet with students individually
or in small groups to discuss any communication task. You may visit with a consultant for help with
class assignments or job search materials. It is recommended you utilize consultants to get feedback
on your written assignments, presentation organization and visuals, and presentation delivery. The
consultants can view your recorded presentations with you and strategize how to improve delivery
techniques. To sign up for a 30-minute appointment, follow this link:
http://www.bus.umich.edu/iMpact/CounselingCalendar/WritingProgram/.

The Communication Consultant offices are located on the bridge between Blau and the Executive
Residence, on the second floor.