Arab Open University

Faculty of Business Studies

Course Syllabus
Academic year: 2024-2025
Semester: First -Second

1. Program: BA in Business Studies

2. Track: All Tracks
3. Course Code: LB 170

4. Course Title: Communication skills for business and management.

5. Course Credits: 8 credits

6. Pre-requisites: EL111

7. General Course Coordinator, GCC: Sheikha Mohammad AL-Dosari

8. Branch Course Coordinator, BCC: Sheikha Mohammad AL-Dosari
9. Text Book (s): / Study Material:

Module web portal:

[Link]

The LB170 study materials are available online and the printable materials in PDF format are for supplementary use only.
The online material for study is in the form of SESSIONS and includes a variety of texts to explain and support the key skills that are being developed.

There are also two accompanying books which can be used as supplementary material:
Book 1: Handbook for Business Communication and Book 2: Readings, Models and Frameworks.
This book contains useful tips and advice taken from the online module materials as well as a glossary of all the key business concepts and technical terminology covered

Faculty of Business Studies – Arab Open University 1

in the module. It can be used as a printed handbook while studying LB170, and can also be kept as a reference book and guide for future communication needs in the
workplace or when studying.
Book 2: Readings, Models and Frameworks

This book provides a printed copy of all the key readings and frameworks that will be used during LB170 for case study analysis. This allows the option of working on
these texts in printed form rather than on screen. As with Book 1, it provides a reference book of important business models and frameworks that can be used in studies
.or in the workplace. It also contains transcripts of all the audio and video materials

10. Course Description (Module Specification):

LB170, an eight-credit course will run for fifteen weeks including the exam week.
The module is designed to develop students’ use of business language through developing their written and spoken communication skills. Students will look at
case studies and texts prepared by businesses and business studies students. It does not require students to be currently working or have any previous
knowledge of business communication. It is designed to enable students to participate in many activities in which they will develop and practice their
communication skills.

11. Course Aims / Objectives:

The overall key learning outcomes for the module are related to enhancing students' knowledge and understanding of business texts and theories alongside
business communication methods. In order to demonstrate this knowledge and understanding, students will develop and build on many spoken and written
communication skills given that the primary focus of this module is communication skills. The knowledge and skills students will develop are as follows.

Knowledge and understanding of:

essential key concepts,
 theories and principles associated with business management
 specific areas of business, management and leadership – for example, human resources,
 texts, genres, language style, grammar and vocabulary used to express business concepts
 workplace discourses
 Communication skills needed for a range of business management study and workplace contexts.
Cognitive skills
to demonstrate the language students, need to:
 select and analyse information relevant to a range of problems or issues related to business and management
 apply theoretical business, management, and leadership models and concepts to practical situations
 Formulate and respond to questions that relate to the business and management context.

Key skills to be able to:

 communicate effectively in writing and speaking, showing recognition of audience and purpose

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  search for, select and evaluate information and ideas from different sources, and present this in written or spoken form for a range of purposes following
appropriate academic or workplace reporting conventions
 engage in discussion and group work interaction on a range of business-related topics and tasks
 evaluate their own communication skills development and identify opportunities to improve this

Practical and/or professional skills to be able to:

 recognize, select and use appropriate genres and registers of written texts and spoken language for professional and personal purposes
 analyse work-related cases and situations to identify problems in the organisation and management of a business
 identify and communicate potential solutions based on knowledge of theory, and apply it to own work situation
 communicate effectively in academic and workplace contexts, demonstrating awareness of diversity within groups
 work effectively as a team member
 use digital technology as appropriate.

There are three blocks, which should be studied in sequence. Although there will be some overlap in the skills being taught, each block covers a general
theme.

BLOCK AIMS:

Block 1: Analysing.
This block focuses on identifying key points in case studies, making concise notes and learning how to analyse a case study using business concepts such as
SWOT and STEEPLE. Once students have learned how to analyse problems in business situations, they will then look at ways to propose appropriate solutions
based on your analysis, practicing the language of problem and solution. Students will learn how to use persuasive language and evidence in their analysis to make
it convincing. They will also have the opportunity to prepare a presentation for which the case may be from local / regional businesses.

Block 2: Influencing -

This block moves on to looking at ways to make students ' language and argument more convincing to the reader, and how to support it with evidence. This will
be illustrated through looking at effective workplace proposals, building on the skills of analysis and writing recommendations that they learned in Block 1. This
block also looks at workplace meetings and how to make them effective.

Block 3: Collaborating -
This final block begins with essay writing in business and management, building on the academic skills students have developed so far in the module. Students
will also have the opportunity to develop team-working skills.

12. Course Assessment:

3
 Weight Number Assessment Type

15% 2 TMA=Quizzes
5% 1 Attendance &Participation
30% 1 MTA
50% 1 Final
100% 2 Total

:Course Weekly Breakdown .15

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Assessment Key Learning Objectives Topics Covered Week

Why are communication skills Session 1: Your communication Skills 1

important?
Handbook 1 Chapter 1: Communication skills Chapter 2: Reading
Identify key communication skills for Strategies for business and management
business and management.
Handbook 2: Cafedirect
Decide which communication skills you Business concepts/ Vocabulary:
most need to work on. Understand how Communicating effectively, Reading strategies, carbon trading,
language changes for different sustainability, summarizing
audiences.

Use some reading strategies to read a

business document

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 .Session 2: Communicating the main points 2
Identify and communicate the main
points. Session 3: Summarizing and giving presentations

Handbook 1
Make notes on a reading text Chapter 3: Making notes
Chapter 7: Presentation Skills, Chapter 10: Reflection
Use language clues appropriately. Handbook 2: Models and frameworks for business and management:
CAFEDIRECT
Business concepts/Vocabulary:
Communicate the main points from a Making notes- Summarizing-Mind map –High-level generalization-
text to a colleague. reflection- Text Types.
Recommended reading and the related exercises to be done by students.
2.3.2 -2.4.3(Students to Practice independently)
Organize information so that it is
coherent for a reader.

Work with a group of students online to

create a summary.

Give and receive feedback

Understand how to deliver an effective

presentation.

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Quiz 1 3
Analyzing business case studies: SWOT Session 5: Analyzing business case studies: SWOT

Handbook 1: Chapter 4: Analyzing business case studies.

Understand the SWOT framework and .
apply it to a case study for the purposes Handbook 2: Models and frameworks for business and management:
of analysis. Chapter 3: Key focus is on 3.1- SWOT, 3.2 -STEEPLE , 3.3 -Stakeholder

Business concepts-/ Vocabulary

Organize and write a business case study Key concepts, Framework, SWOT, STEEPLE, STAKEHOLDER, Key concept-
analysis using the language of SWOT. Framework

Recommended reading and the related exercises to be done by students.

Handbook 2: Models and frameworks for business and management:
Chapter2: 2.1Fat Face Limited. 2.2Brompton Bicycle. Michael's text
(Activity 5.3.2 --page 64) (Students to Practice independently)

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Key learning objectives: Analyzing 4
business cases.(STEEPLE Framework) Session 8: Analyzing problems and proposing solutions

Use some of the elements of the STEEPLE .Handbook 1: Chapter 4: Analyzing business case studies
and STAKEHOLDER framework to analyze
a business case. Chapter 6 Analysing problems and proposing solutions

Use language of cause and effect to write :Handbook 2: Models and frameworks for business and management
about business cases.
Chapter 2 :2.3 STEEPLE analysis of Colston office

Lodge Bistro Chain 2.5

Arena Flowers 2.6

Business concepts-/ Vocabulary

Problem, Fishbone diagram, Dividend, Intangible assets

.Recommended reading and the related exercises to be done by students

Case study : Arena Flowers ( solutions text by Gillian )

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Organization of a business report. Session 9: Writing up your results using evidence (short business report)

Writing recommendations Handbook 1: Chapter 8--Structuring a report.

Referencing-Harvard style
Handbook 2: Models and frameworks for business and management:

2.7 A student’s text making recommendations to their own organisation

2.8: A student's text illustrating referencing

Business concepts-/ Vocabulary

plagiarism, referencing, recommendations

(Students must read, understand and practice Harvard style referencing)

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 Session 11: Building a case (argument) 6
Building a case
Using persuasive language Handbook 1: Chapter 11: 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 ,
Handbook 2: Models and frameworks for business and management:
Chapter 1: 1.8 : Milton Keynes Council's neighborhood plan

Business concepts-/ Vocabulary: Pro bono work, fact, opinion, argument,

hedging and boosting, Paraphrasing
.Recommended reading and the related exercises to be done by students

Handbook 2: Models and frameworks for business and management:

Chapter 1: 1.7 J Sainsbury`s annual report 2015

11.11 ,11.10 ,11.6

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Session 13: Writing effective workplace proposals
Writing effective workplace proposals Handbook 1
Chapter 13: Writing effective workplace proposals.
13.1, 13.2, [Link]
Handbook 2: Models and frameworks for business and management:
Chapter 1: Case studies: 1.10 Cecil court

Recommended reading and the related exercises to be done by students:

13.6: Using HR business concepts in your workplace proposal.
Activity 13.15 13.16 A 13.24

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MTA:
MTA Portion: Sessions:1,2,3,5&8
Session 15: Effective workplace meetings, 9

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 Handbook 1

Chapter 14: Effective workplace meetings

Recommended reading and the related exercises to be done by students:
Handbook 2: Models and frameworks for business and management:
Chapter 4: 4.15, 4.16

Quiz 2 Collaborating 10
Session 20 Writing business essays
Handbook 1
Use case studies and workplace scenarios Chapter 16: Writing business essays. 16.1
to develop team-working skills and
Handbook 2
consolidate the learning from the
Chapter 2 --Examples of texts written by students:
previous blocks.
1.13 Globalisation
Writing business essays 2.13-WRITING BUSINESS ESSAYS

Session 20 Writing business essays --continue 11

Handbook 1:
Chapter 16: Writing business essays.
16.2, 16.3
Handbook 2: Models and frameworks for business and management:
Chapter 2 --Examples of texts written by students:
2.13-WRITING BUSINESS ESSAYS

Business concepts/ Vocabulary:

Globalisation –Drivers of Globalisation –Cost drivers- Government drivers-
Competition drivers- Market drivers.

Team working and communication 12

Session 21 Team working and communication
Handbook 1: Chapter 17 Team working and Communication
17.1 Why team working in organisations?

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17.2 Team development model and associated communication skills
(Tuckman and Jensen’s 1977)

17.3 Team communication strategies

17.4 Communicating inclusively and team working

Handbook 2: Models and frameworks for business and management:

Chapter 3: Models and frameworks for business and management:

3.4 -Team work in organizations. (S

chin,1980)
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Final Revision
Final Exam Portions:
Session :11, 13, 15, 20, 21

(Check the examination Schedule)

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