| Effective Term: | 2025/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability |
| Unit Title: | Business Communications |
| Unit ID: | BUMGT2621 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 080399 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit aims to develop student understanding of the role of communication in the business environment and identify the most effective methods for creating, sending, and receiving messages. In addition, students should be able to utilise principles of oral and written communication to effectively write documents, including letters, memos, and reports. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: No |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | |  | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Demonstrate awareness of the communication process and principles in a variety of areas such as commercial enterprises, not-for profit organisations, government and to individuals |
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| K2. | Identify the impact of internal and external communication in relation to management situations and employ appropriate communication strategies |
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| K3. | Examine the principles underpinning interpersonal skills, including listening, non-verbal communication, negotiation and conflict resolution |
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| K4. | Determine the importance of professional and ethical judgement when managing the communication process |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Develop and apply appropriate written communication styles when preparing business communications |
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| S2. | Express oral and written communicative skills to a diverse audience |
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| S3. | Illustrate skills in researching and planning complex documents |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Present workplace documents, by writing and/or editing, according to plain English principles |
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| A2. | Identify, plan and evaluate communications with initiative and judgement |
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| A3. | Apply business communication concepts to new and diverse situations |
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| Unit Content: |
•Communication theories, concepts and processes
•Interpersonal and non-verbal communication
•The crucial role of listening
•Writing and planning complex documents
•Writing business letters, memos and short & long reports
•Writing in plain English
•Dealing with conflict & negotiation strategies
•Intercultural communication,
•Groups and teams in organisations
•Meetings - face to face and online
•Presentations and public speaking including visuals and technology in presentations |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in: • Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication • Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Showing empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating a collegial environment • Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect • Inspiring and convincing others • Making informed decisions • Displaying initiative | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically • Evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving. | N/A - Not Applicable | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information • Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts • Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | N/A - Not Applicable |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K2, K3, S1, S2 | Review of selected topics based on lectures, prescribed reading and post responses to forums | Activity forum posts | 20-30% | | 2. | K2, K3, K4, S2, S3, A2 | Group presentation of business communication/s concepts and content | Presentation | 20-40% | | 3. | K1, K2, K4, S1, S3, A1, A2, A3 | Collection/provision of a diverse range of business communications relevant to contemporary concepts/content. | Portfolio | 30-60% |
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