XCOM 285 Complete Course

Week 1:

CheckPoint: TechnologyTrendy Communication

Write a 200- to 300-word response to the following question:

o Technology is changing the face of business communications. Do you think businesses effectively use these resources to communicate? Why or why not? Provide examples.

o Due in the assignments tab by Day 3

Assignment: Business Communication Trends

Read Ch. 1 of the text.

Write a 350- to 700-word paper describing current trends in business communication. Be sure to address the following questions in your paper:

o What role does business communication play in your day-to-day work activities?

o How does it help you manage your daily activities?

o What trends have you seen in your current or previous workplace?

o What message types are results of these trends?

o Due in the assignments tab by Day 7

Format your paper according to APA guidelines.

Post your paper as an attachment.

Week 2:

CheckPoint: Audience-Focused Communication Matrix

Complete the Audience-Focused Communication Matrix, located in Appendix B, using the following information:

Communication must always be designed with the audience in mind. You have been called upon to present quarterly sales information in an in-person meeting to a group of stakeholders that includes managers, salespeople, and customers.

What are some audience characteristics you need to consider?

What communication channels are appropriate and why?

What are some considerations you must keep in mind with the diversity of the audience?

What can you do to ensure that your message is effective?

Due in the assignments tab by Day 5

Post the completed matrix as an attachment.

Week 3:

CheckPoint: Technological Advancements in Communication

Write a 200- to 300-word response to the following questions based on Superhero in the Cubicle in the Electronic Reserve Readings:

What technological advancements in communication were discussed in the article?

Choose two communication types and compare and contrast them. How could these be used in your workplace?

Do these technological advancements in communication follow what is traditionally considered business communication? Why?

Due in the assignments tab by Day 5

Assignment: Cross-Cultural Communication Matrix

Access the map on the Business Around the World Web site using the following instructions:

Navigate to http://www.mhhe.com/business/buscom/bcommonline/

On the Business Communications Online Web site, click Business Around the World on the lower-left corner of the page.

Click Reset.

Follow the onscreen instructions.

Select three regions of the world to research.

Narrow the area down by selecting one country from each region.

Enter your selections into the matrix located in Appendix C. The Web site provides you with a strong starting point. You may also want to perform a general Internet search to find additional information to use in the matrix.

Due in the assignments tab by Day 7

Complete the Cross-Cultural Communication Matrix in Appendix C, using the country information.

Write a 300-word response. Discuss how technology could be used to facilitate cross-cultural communication. Based on the information you researched, what difficulties could arise from using technology?

Format your references according to APA guidelines.

Week 4:

CheckPoint: Graphic Organizer

Create a graphic organizer using a Venn diagram, Web diagram, T-table, flowchart, or outline to summarize the steps in business writing.

Include various activities completed in each step.

Use the information provided in Ch. 5 of the text.

Post the graphic organizer as an attachment.

Due in the assignments tab by Day 5

Week 5:

CheckPoint: E-Mail Etiquette

Read each e-mail in Appendix D. For each e-mail:

o Describe any content and formatting errors found.

o Determine if the content is appropriate for a workplace setting. If so, explain why. If not, identify the errors made and rewrite the e-mail so it is appropriate.

o Due in the assignment tab by Day 5

Post the completed Appendix D document as an attachment.

Assignment: Store Operations Messages

Read the scenario in Appendix E.

Create three messages, following the instructions in Appendix E.

Post the completed messages as an attachment.

Due in the assignments tab by Day 7

Week 6:

CheckPoint: Group Communication

Write a 200- to 300-word response to the following:

o Many businesses organize their departments into teams, to support one another and complete projects. Consider how these teams work together and what aspects of group communication need to be considered to have successful communication.

o Due in the assignments tab by Day 5

Respond to the following questions in your answer:

o How does group communication differ from individual communication? Define group communication in your own words, in three to five sentences. Discuss strategies used to promote individual and group communication.

o What conflict resolution strategies could be used in case of disagreement?

o What strategies can be used to foster group communication? Provide examples of how these strategies can be used.

Week 7:

CheckPoint: Oral Presentation

Create a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation of six to eight slides with speaker notes on oral presentations.

Review Ch. 17 of the text for information.

Follow the guidelines for formatting presentation slides.

Read Appendix F, for specific information on completing the CheckPoint.

Post the presentation as an attachment.

Due in the assignments tab by Day 5

Assignment: Tuition Reimbursement Implementation Report

Review the following scenario:

Your company has had a very profitable year and is looking to expand their employee benefits. As an employee in the benefits department, you have been asked to prepare a report to persuade your company administrators that adding tuition reimbursement for the bachelors degrees in business and communication benefits the company. Because the company has already approved a budget for this expansion, financial costs are not a concern.

Write a 1,050- to 1,200-word paper that explains the benefits to the company. Include the following:

New professional opportunities you believe this degree affords to employees

Types of careers people with the degree often have

Earning potential of people who have the degree

Benefits to the company, like increased retention

Due in the assignments tab by Day 7

Include at least three scholarly research resources into the paper.

Format your paper according to APA guidelines.

Post your paper as an attachment.

Week 8:

CheckPoint: Privacy Laws and Policies Debate

Follow the steps below to complete this 200- to 300-word paper:

o Enter the thread for the opposing argument and read the arguments made by your classmates.

o Form a position either for or against communication privacy laws and policies in the workplace after viewing both sides of the argument.

o Use the information found in the readings for the week and additional information in the University Library to support your new position.

o Identify specific laws or policies you have reviewed.

o Explain your position on communication privacy laws and policies in the workplace.

o Due in the assignments tab by Day 5

Format your paper according to APA guidelines.

Post as an attachment.

Week 9:

Capstone CheckPoint: Reflection

Write a 200- to 300-word reflection, describing how you can use the business writing techniques you learned in future courses and in your career.

Post the reflection as an attachment.

Follow the instructions in Appendix A for inserting this document into your Business Writing Portfolio.

Due in the assignments tab by Day 5

Final Project: Business Writing Portfolio

Revise the Business Writing Portfolio documents, incorporating your instructors feedback and your understanding of the writing process.

Compile the documents for the Business Writing Portfolio in Appendix A. You are encouraged to use the tools available in the Center for Writing Excellence; of particular importance are WritePoint and Tutor Review to finalize the documents for your portfolio.

Review Appendix A for complete instructions.

Post the Business Writing Portfolio as a single document.

Post the Oral Presentation assignment as a separate file.

Due in the assignments tab by Day 7

Discussion Questions

Week 2:

Think about someone in your workplace you consider an effective communicator. What characteristics and communication style makes this person an effective communicator?

Communication can be written or oral. What types of written and oral communication do you receive in your workplace? What information do these communications convey and are there more effective ways to deliver these messages?

Week 4:

What makes business writing different than academic writing? What types of communications and documents do you expect to see if you were an instructor or a director of a company? What are the differences in characteristics of these documents?

What are three examples of occurrences of bias in business writing? Identify two strategies you consider important to use when working to reduce bias in business writing.

Week 6:

What are the three most important points you think a group of people must keep in mind when working collaboratively on a writing project? Why? Support your response with references to readings and personal experiences.

What are some tasks or messages that must be completed through individual communication? What are some tasks or messages that must be completed through group communication? Explain your answer.

Week 8:

Debate whether or not workplace communication privacy laws are ethical. After reviewing the weeks assigned readings, respond to the appropriate question:

o Are workplace communication privacy laws and policies ethical? Support your answer.o Are workplace communication privacy laws and policies not ethical? Support your answer.

Describe the workplace communication privacy policies in place where you work; for example, e-mail and telephone use. How do they align to the best practices discussed in the readings?