Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- communicate as a professional in field-specific tasks and intercultural contexts
- produce effective spoken and written texts using an appropriate style and register
- demonstrate knowledge of essential terminology needed in working life
- apply principles of interpersonal and organizational communication

Teaching methods

The course is delivered online via the Canvas virtual learning environment.
Online meetings are intended for discussion and review of the materials presented.
Breakout rooms are utilised for small group discussion and students are strongly encouraged to enable their video during these discussions.
Online classes are generally not recorded, but material delivered during these sessions is made available in video format in the workspace.
Students receive feedback from the teacher and peer feedback may also be utilised.
Task are done individually or in groups.

Learning materials and recommended literature

Learning materials in Canvas. See also:
Bovée, C. & Thill, J. 2011. Excellence in business communication. 9th edition. London: Pearson.
Hartley, P. & Chatterton, P. 2015. Business communication: rethinking your professional practice for the post-digital age. 2nd edition. London: Routledge.
Mclean, S. 2015. Business communication for success. Washington, D.C.: Flat World Knowledge.
Munter, M. 2014. Guide to managerial communication: effective business writing and speaking. 10th edition. Boston: Prentice Hall.

Alternative completion methods of implementation

According to Laurea UAS's degree regulations, "All students are entitled to demonstrate their competence. The recognition and accreditation of prior competence is initiated by the students themselves. The competence is recognised and accredited by the teacher responsible for the studies or another person designated to the position.

The assessment is carried out according to the same assessment criteria and, as a rule, the same grading scale as that adopted for the corresponding study unit or module.

The student is entitled to apply for accreditation of prior competence regardless of where, how and when the competence has been acquired. The student may also seek accreditation of competence to be acquired on the job as part of their degree (work-based learning). The competence to be accredited must be in line with the learning outcomes of the degree programme’s curriculum. The student is responsible for demonstrating and verifying their competence and for providing sufficient information.

Students should apply for the accreditation of prior competence at the beginning of their studies, so they can progress in their studies without interruption. However, students are entitled to apply for accreditation of prior competence throughout their studies."

Important dates

Canvas will be opened a week before the first meeting. The last meeting will be held by the end of April.
Some additional dates may be scheduled for small group meetings.

Also see Laurea's degree regulations, section 18:

“Students must be present for the first contact teaching session, or they must notify the responsible teacher of their absence to confirm they intend to participate in studies, Alternatively, the teacher can specify a different manner for the student to confirm that they intend to participate in the studies. The completion of these measures can be required within a week of the studies having begun. The application of the aforementioned approach requires that the teacher notifies the students accepted to the study unit of the practice and that the practice is specifically mentioned in the study unit’s implementation plan.

If the student has a justified reason for not attending the first contact teaching session or for not notifying the teacher of their intention to be involved in studies in the manner required by the teacher, the student must contact the responsible teacher to agree on participation in the studies. Their registration for the study unit will be rejected, of the student does not notify the teacher of being absent from the first contact teaching session or the reason for their absence cannot be considered justified, Another student who is in line for the study unit can be selected in their place”.

Students workload

5 ECTS is approximately 135 hours of work.

Content and scheduling

A detailed schedule will be given in Canvas.

The study unit contains work on the following themes:
• communication models, applying a communication strategy
• communication skills requirements in the ICT sector
• intercultural communication and communication styles
• business writing: genre and style, the writing process, macro and micro features
• persuasive communication in presentations, pitches and debates
• building rapport and interpersonal communication in meetings and negotiations
• revision of common business terms & professional vocabulary

Grading scale

H-5

Evaluation methods and criteria

The final grade is based on the following:
Quizzes and exercises in Canvas 20% (0-5)
Spoken communication assignments 40% (0-5)
Written communication assignments 40% (0-5)
All parts must be passed in order to complete the study unit.
More detailed assessment criteria are given in the Canvas workspace.

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Students demonstrate an understanding of key principles of effective communication for professional purposes. They can achieve communication objectives in a range of work-related situations, modify their communication style according to context and the requirements of the message, and manage interpersonal interactions with people from different backgrounds. Spoken fluency and range are sufficient to manage common professional situations. Writing shows satisfactory control of grammar and lexis for the production of standard business messages.

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

Students demonstrate a good understanding of the principles of effective communication for professional purposes. They are able to achieve communication objectives in a range of work-related situations with a degree of success and can adapt their communication style to suit the requirements of audience and context. Speech is fluent, with a high degree of grammatical and propositional control. Writing shows good control of grammar, lexis, and style in a range of texts for professional purposes.

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

Students demonstrate an excellent understanding of key principles of effective communication for professional purposes. They are able to communicate clearly, concisely, and appropriately in a wide range of work-related situations and are effective in adapting both the style and content of a message to different audiences and in different contexts. Speech is very fluent, flexible, and easy to understand, with a high degree of grammatical control and propositional precision. Writing shows excellent control of grammar, lexis, and style in producing a variety of text types and genres.