Business Communications

Bachelor 2020/2021

Type: Elective course (Public Administration)

Area of studies: Public Administration

Delivered by: School of Politics and Governance

Where: Faculty of Social Sciences

When: 4 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Dmitry Podolskiy

Language: English

ECTS credits: 5

Contact hours: 48

Full Syllabus

Abstract

This syllabus is developed to be used by course leaders and students of the 4th year of the bachelor programme “Public and Municipal Administration” (code of the field 38.04.04), studying this course as an elective course in English. Communication is probably one of the most frequently cited sources of interpersonal conflict when it is poorly carried out. It is equally an important lifeline in every organization. Many of the problems that occur in organizations are the direct result of people failing to communicate. The capacity to communicate effectively with constituents is a fundamental function of modern governance. Communications of a public sector organization with the public is essential to achieve organizational goals. Government produces a lot of information and distributes it through many different channels. Messages are aimed for different recipients – general publics, constituent groups, legislators, private sector etc. and are transmitted by press releases, reports, media interviews etc. In the course we will define the main areas of responsibility in the professional communications in public sector organizations, identify the meaning of communications, define the objectives that communications are designed to achieve and analyze the communication technics. The main provisions of the discipline form the communicative competence of the student and influence his successful development and presentation of his knowledge in all disciplines of the curriculum, as well as at the state examination and presentation of the final qualifying work.

Learning Objectives

The main objective of the course is to study the theory and practice of business communivations, to master the skills of communication behaviour in pubic organizations

Expected Learning Outcomes

To understand the meaning of communication
To learn major theories of communications
Be able to understand major filters in communicating with people in organizations
Understand and think about key elements of communications - key audience, structure and content .
Understand different types of communications according to organizational types.
Be aware of communicational flows in organizations.
Learn different types of organizational climate.
To understand reasons of public sector communications
Be able to create/analyze organiational mandate
Be able to identidy try to identify and describe overall communication objective(s), output objectives, outtake objectives, outcome objectives
Understand key types of internal communications.
Be able to create different messages for different organizational purposes.
Be able to create different typres o f written documents
Understand principles of a clear writing in otganizations
Understand key elements of communicative strategy
Be able to create a communication plan.
Ability to analyze the audience and / or communication partner and apply adequate methods of attracting and maintaining attention, technology of self-presentation and public speaking, conducting business talks
Understand main communicational skills necessary for leaders
Be able to present own ideas or projects

Course Contents

Theoretical basis of Communications
Understanding of Communication. Three major theories of communication. Four major functions of Communication within organizations. Forms and typres of Communications. Key elements of communications. Barriers and filters of communications
Communications in Organizations
Features of organizations - social arrangements, collective goals, controlled performance. Different types of orgnizations and types of communications. Directions of communication flows. Communication climate. Organization s Communication.
Public Sector Communications
Reasons for government to communicate with citizens. Objectives and principles of public communications. Model of assessing effeiciency of organizational communications. Core elements of the public sector communications function. Substantive and procedural domains of understanding communications. Communication Function of Government
Internal Organizational Communications
Benefits of effective internal communication. The main principles of effective internal communication. Chanels, tools and tactics of internal communications. Types of internal communications.
Written Communications
Wtah are written communications? Types of written documents. Clear writing.
Communication Strategy
What is a strategy? The difference between business and public sector organizations. Developing a Vision and a Mission. Communicating values. A communicative strategy.
Self-presentation in communication in public and business sectors
Understanding of basic methods of se;f-presentation. Role and outcomes of self-presentation in the professional communication.
Leadership and communication. Emotional intellect and communication
Understanding of the role of communicational skills for modern leaders. Leadership practices.

Assessment Elements

Home assignments
Group Presentations
Final Project
Mid term Control

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (2 module)
0.4 * Final Project + 0.2 * Group Presentations + 0.2 * Home assignments + 0.2 * Mid term Control

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Communication strategy. (2019). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2602688
Communication Theory and Research, edited by Denis McQuail, et al., SAGE Publications, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=334341.
FitzPatrick, L., & Valskov, K. (2014). Internal Communications : A Manual for Practitioners. London: Kogan Page. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=816423
International Association of Business Communicators, & Gillis, T. L. (2011). The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication : A Guide to Internal Communication, Public Relations, Marketing, and Leadership (Vol. 2nd ed). San Francisco, Calif: Jossey-Bass. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=363478
Sellnow, T. L., & Littlefield, R. S. (2015). Risk and Crisis Communication : Navigating the Tensions Between Organizations and the Public. Lanham: Lexington Books. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1080285
Обучение самопрезентации : учеб. пособие, Михайлова, Е. В., 2006
Спивак В. А. - ДЕЛОВЫЕ КОММУНИКАЦИИ. ТЕОРИЯ И ПРАКТИКА. Учебник для академического бакалавриата - М.:Издательство Юрайт - 2019 - 460с. - ISBN: 978-5-9916-3684-1 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЮРАЙТ - URL: https://urait.ru/book/delovye-kommunikacii-teoriya-i-praktika-426318

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Giffin, J., & Willis, L. (2009). Business Communication Skills: Self-Marketing and Discussion Skills. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.543D151D
Smith, L., & Mounter, P. (2008). Effective Internal Communication (Vol. 2nd ed). London: Kogan Page. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=237706
Власть коммуникации, Кастельс (Кастеллс), М., 2017
Гарнер Б. - Эффективные письменные деловые коммуникации - Издательство "Манн, Иванов и Фербер" - 2014 - 208с. - ISBN: 978-5-91657-940-6 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЛАНЬ - URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/62355
Деловое общение : нормы, риторика, этикет: учеб. пособие для вузов, Колтунова, М. В., 2005
Деловые и межкультурные коммуникации : учебник для вузов, Таратухина, Ю. В., 2014

Course Syllabus