Business Communications
Semester 3 · 15 topics in 5 units
Unit I 3 topics
- Communication: meaning, history, objectives and importanceDefinitions of communication, its features, a short history from speech to the internet, the communicator and the subject matter, the objectives of communication and its benefits, with the 'nucleus of everything we do' question answered.5 min
- The communication process, models and types of communicationThe elements of the communication process, the models of Aristotle, Lasswell, Shannon and Weaver, Berlo (SMCR) and Osgood and Schramm, and the types of communication by medium, direction and organisation, including grapevine.5 min
- Written, oral and body language communicationChannels of written communication with its merits and demerits, oral communication and its importance, and body language: kinesics, facial expression, eye contact, posture, gestures, proxemics, paralanguage, touch and appearance, with courtroom examples.5 min
Unit II 2 topics
- Business communication: need, errors and barriersWhy a business needs communication, the three errors in the syllabus (wrong, partial and no communication), and the semantic, physical, psychological, organisational, personal and cultural barriers to communication with the ways of overcoming them.5 min
- Pre-requisites of good business communication and the seven CsThe pre-requisites (principles) of effective business communication and the seven Cs (completeness, conciseness, consideration, concreteness, clarity, courtesy, correctness), each with a weak and an improved example sentence.4 min
Unit III 4 topics
- The business letter: parts, layout and characteristicsThe meaning and functions of a business letter, its parts from letterhead to enclosures, the full-block and semi-block layouts, the inner and outer qualities of a good business letter, and a complete model letter.4 min
- Enquiries, quotations, orders, complaints and responsesThe trade letters in the syllabus with points to include in each and model letters: a quotation, a purchase order, the confirmation of an order for 50 tables for XYZ College, a complaint about damaged goods and the reply settling it.6 min
- Notices, announcements, memos and press releasesNotices of company meetings under the Companies Act 2013, office notices and circulars, the memorandum (memo), announcements and the press release, with models including a press release announcing a change of company name and a new business.6 min
- Reports: types, importance and company reportsMeaning, features, types and importance of reports, the structure of a formal report, and the company reports in the syllabus: reports for publication, periodical reports, reports to shareholders, the Board's report under s. 134, reports to creditors, the auditor's report under s. 143 and reports of investigation, with a model enquiry report.6 min
Unit IV 3 topics
- Drafting a memorandum of understanding, petitions and PILWhat an MoU is, its significance and contents with a model MoU; points to keep in mind while drafting petitions; and public interest litigation, its origin in S.P. Gupta, Hussainara Khatoon, Sunil Batra and Bandhua Mukti Morcha, the guidelines in Balwant Singh Chaufal and the procedure for filing.6 min
- Public appeals, public memorandum and letters to public authoritiesHow to draft a public appeal, a public memorandum and a letter to a public authority: purpose, structure and the points to keep in mind, with a model appeal for flood relief, a residents' memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner and a complaint letter to a municipal commissioner.5 min
- Letters to the consumer commission, Lok Adalat and RTI applicationsThe law and the drafting for three set questions: a consumer complaint under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 (modelled on the lead-paint question), an application to a Lok Adalat under the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987, and an application under the Right to Information Act 2005 with the steps for filing and appeals.6 min
Unit V 3 topics
- Skills of argument and logical inferenceWhat an argument is, its premises and conclusion, the types of argument (deductive, inductive, analogical, abductive, causal and from authority), Toulmin's model, logical inference and common fallacies, with the skills an advocate needs to argue well.5 min
- Client counselling, court-room situations and communication gamesCounselling to reach a sound conclusion and judgment: the meaning, approaches and stages of client counselling and the communication skills it needs; developing court-room situations through moot courts and mock trials with court etiquette; and games for effective communication.4 min
- Public speaking, body language in presentation, influencing and conveyancingThe art and elements of public speaking with preparation and delivery, structuring body language with posture and gestures for presentations, the principles of influencing, and conveyancing both as conveying a message and as the drafting of deeds of transfer, with the parts of a sale deed.5 min