This document provides an overview of the key topics covered in the first lecture of the BUS 251: Business Communication course. The lecture introduces business communication, discussing its importance, current challenges, categories, and networks. It also presents a model of the communication process, outlining the organizational, professional, and personal contexts that shape communication between individuals within and outside an organization.

1. BUS 251: BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION
Spring 2019

2. Lecture 1: Understanding Workplace Communication
(Chap 1)
Learning Outcomes:
 Communication and Business Communication
 The Importance of Communication
 Main Challenges Facing Business Communications Today
 Three Main Categories of Business Communication
 Communication Networks
 The Context of Communication
 The Process of Communication

3. Communication
“It is a process of transmitting information, thoughts, opinions,
messages, facts, ideas or emotions, and understanding from one
person, place or thing to another person, place or thing.” – Dr. C. B.
Memoria

4. Business Communication and Why it
matters?
“The exchange of ideas, news, and views in connection with the
business among the related parties is called business
communication.” – W.H. Meaning
 Why Business Communication Matters?
 2 Reasons
 To benefit you (Student)
 To benefit the business and industry.

5. Business Communication For You
 Because communication is so important in business, businesses want and
need people with good communication skills.
 You will need to request information, discuss problems, give instructions, work
in teams, and interact with colleagues and clients to achieve cooperation and
team efficiency.
 Nothing puts you in the ‘poor leader’ category more swiftly than inadequate
communication skills.

6. Current Challenges for Business
Communication
 Challenge#1: The ongoing development of new Information
Technologies.
 In addition to the email, emergence of ‘New Media’.
 Need for Social Intelligence - refers to the ability to quickly assess the
emotions of those around them and adapt their words, tone, and gestures
accordingly
 Emerging need for employees to have “adaptive thinking”, a willingness to
“embrace change”, and “fierce problem-solving skills”

7. Current Challenges for Business
Communication (Contd.)
 Challenge#2: Increasing Globalization and Workplace Diversity
 Likelihood of working on a global team is increasing. Cross Cultural
Competency, thus, should be a part of your skillset.
 Different generations working together.

8. Three Categories of Business
Communication
 Internal Operational Communication: Occurs in conducting work within a
business.
 Orders, instructions, written and oral exchanges among employees about work matters.
 Writing and discussing reports, Assignments, ideas etc.
 External Operational Communication: Work-related communicating that a
business does with people or groups outside the business
 Personal Selling
 Telephoning
 Advertising
 Writing Messages
 Personal Communication: Non-operational communication that employees do
with colleagues or outsiders.
 Non business related information/feelings
 Affects Employee Attitude and Attitude Affects Employee Performance

9. Communication Networks of the
Organizations
 Formal Networks
 Informal Networks
 Which one do you think includes personal communication?

10. A Model of Business Communication
Communication
Context
• Organizational
Context
• Professional
Contexts
• Personal
Contexts
Communicator 1
• Senses a
communication need
• Defines the situation
• Considers possible
communication
strategies
• Selects a course of
action
• Composes the
message
• Sends the message
Communicator
2
• Receives the message
• Interprets the message
• Decides on a response
• Reply to the message
Initial Message
Responding
Message

11. A Model of Business Communication
(Contd.)
A bit more on the contexts..
Organizational Contexts
 Organizational culture
 Your communication is largely shaped by the organization for whom you speak
 Professional Context
 Different people possess different kinds of expertise, speak differently and have different
perspectives
 Personal Context
 Depends on the genes you inherited, your family and upbringing, your schooling, your life
experiences and culture
 Your current circumstances

12. Wrapping it up..
 Importance of Communication to You and to Business
 Current Challenges
 Three main Forms of Communication
 Formal and Informal Networks
 Process of Communication

13. THANK YOU!