Business Communications

2023/2024

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

4

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Department of Management

Course type:

Compulsory course

When:

4 year, 2 module

Instructor

Lisovsky, Alexander V.

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Students are introduced to the main theories and elements of communication. They learn practical skills needed for business communication in different situations and with various partners. Cross-cultural differences in business communication are considered in different cases discussed at the seminars. Special emphasis is made on negotiations strategies and team work. Students learn particulars of different communication channels and are informed on their advantages and limitations. Important topic, which is discussed in the course are barriers and obstacles for efficient communication. Students are introduced to different types of communication “breakdowns” and learn how to deal with them. Emphasis is made on the specifics of cross-cultural business communication in contemporary global environment. Students are required to do a research project working in teams on the particulars of business communication and negotiations in the country which they chose in collaboration with the instructor.

Learning Objectives

• The main purpose of the course is to inform students on the theory and main elements of business communication and their practical applications.
• The second objective is to educate students on particulars of cross-cultural business communication.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• To analyze specific traits of a partner in communication and the audience and to chose appropriates methods and strategies of communication
• The ability to design different messages for different organizational purposes and plans
• To develop presentation skills for both individual and team projects
• To recognize different barriers and complications for efficient communication and to learn how to deal with them in practical situations
• To learn major communication theories
• To learn different communication strategies
• To learn how to communicate in cross-cultural teams
• To practice different communication strategies in team projects
• To learn basics of efficient negotiations, both distributive and integrative

Course Contents

• 1. Culture influence on business communication
• 2. McLuhan – communication and social imperatives
• 3. Cross-cultural communication
• 4. Verbal communication
• 5. Nonverbal communication
• 6. Communication in negotiations
• 7. Communication in cross-cultural teams

Assessment Elements

• Seminar activity and cases
• Portfolio
• Team research projects
  This is a team project. The number of participants should to be 4-5. Students make a presentation on business, communication and negotiation style of the given country. Besides they prepare a textual document on actual and potential spheres of cooperation for the country, they chosen and Russia up to 8 pages of text.
• Exam
  Правила получения автомата: Students with accumulated grade 6 points or higher could chose not to take exam and in this case their accumulated grade becomes their final grade. Студенты, получившие накопленную оценку 6 баллов и выше могут не сдавать экзамен и зачесть накопленную оценку. Exam format: 20 questions, combining open and closed questions. The grade is the percentages of correct answers.

Interim Assessment

• 2023/2024 2nd module
  0.1 * Exam + 0.1 * Portfolio + 0.2 * Seminar activity and cases + 0.6 * Team research projects

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Jackson, J. (2012). The Routledge Handbook of Language and Intercultural Communication. Routledge.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Brett, J. M. (2014). Negotiating Globally : How to Negotiate Deals, Resolve Disputes, and Make Decisions Across Cultural Boundaries (Vol. Third edition). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=716710
• Cambie, S., & Ooi, Y.-M. (2009). International Communications Strategy : Developments in Cross-Cultural Communications, PR and Social Media. London: Kogan Page. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=295337
• Gesteland, R. R. (2005). Cross-cultural Business Behavior : Negotiating, Selling, Sourcing and Managing Across Cultures. [Copenhagen, Denmark]: Samfundslitteratur Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=526885
• Lévy-Leboyer, C. (2005). Working Across Cultures / Cultural Intelligence: A Guide to Working with People from Other Cultures. Personnel Psychology, 58(1), 253–257. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=bsu&AN=16335915
• Matsumoto, D. R., & Hwang, H. S. (2019). The Handbook of Culture and Psychology (Vol. Second edition). New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2126834
• McCarthy, A., & Hay, S. (2015). Advanced Negotiation Techniques. [California]: Apress. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=958148
• Спивак, В. А.  Деловые коммуникации. Теория и практика : учебник для вузов / В. А. Спивак. — Москва : Издательство Юрайт, 2023. — 460 с. — (Высшее образование). — ISBN 978-5-534-15321-7. — Текст : электронный // Образовательная платформа Юрайт [сайт]. — URL: https://urait.ru/bcode/511179 (дата обращения: 28.08.2023).
• Таратухина, Ю. В.  Деловые и межкультурные коммуникации : учебник и практикум для вузов / Ю. В. Таратухина, З. К. Авдеева. — Москва : Издательство Юрайт, 2023. — 324 с. — (Высшее образование). — ISBN 978-5-534-02346-6. — Текст : электронный // Образовательная платформа Юрайт [сайт]. — URL: https://urait.ru/bcode/511159 (дата обращения: 28.08.2023).