Course profile

Contemporary Business Communication and Organisation (MGTS2606)

Study period
Sem 2 2024
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Business School

Communication is repeatedly identified as one of the most important business graduate attributes; it is an integral part of every business context, enabling collaboration and teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving, and knowledge creation and sharing. This course engages students with leading communication theories, practical skills development, and critical perspectives on business communication. Consideration is given to both traditional (eg. spoken, written) and emerging modes of communication (eg. social media). The use and importance of these competencies are positioned within a broader understanding of organising and organisations.

This is a theory-based "skills" course designed to acquaint you with the theoretical and practical knowledge of essential communication practices required for contemporary business and organisational life. The course introduces you to verbal, written, digital and multimodal communication, and to their effective and ethical use in the workplace.

This course aims to give you practical strategies to communicate well, while inviting you to think critically about how and why you communicate. For this reason, the course is highly interactive and requires you both to practice different types of communication and to reflect on your own communication style, practices, and experiences.

The Course Coordinator will post weekly announcements about this course on Blackboard.

  • Please look at the Blackboard site regularly.
  • You are expected to be familiar with all of the information shared in weekly and other announcements.

Please post any course-related questions to the Ed Discussion Board.

Please send any personal questions to the course email address: uqbs-mgts2606@business.edu.au

NOTE: the Course Coordinator monitors both the Ed Discussion Board and the course email address.

You can expect to receive a response within 24-48 hours, except on public holidays, over weekends, and during the mid-semester break

Please DO NOT

Use the Course Coordinator's private email address or send the same question to both the Discussion Board and the course email address (doing so doubles the number of inquiries and slows down response times)

Course requirements

Assumed background

1. Pre-requisite courses:

Before attempting this course, you are advised that it is important to complete the appropriate prerequisite course(s) listed on the front of this course profile. No responsibility will be accepted by UQ Business School, the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law or The University of Queensland for poor student performance occurring in courses where the appropriate prerequisite(s) has/have not been completed, for any reason whatsoever.

2. English language proficiency:

UQ Business School assumes all students have the English language competency needed to complete this course. However, if you speak English asan Additional Language, you might benefit from one or more of these additional supports:

  • English for Academic Communication (EAC) is a free course, designed to fi t around your UQ degree. Completing an EAC workshop seriescan also contribute towards the UQ Employability Award. You can sign up for EAC with The University of Queensland College
  • Academic English: How to write an essay is a free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), which introduces you to academic writing. It is useful for both native English-speakers and students who have English as an additional language. Click here to register.
  • Academic English: How to write a thesis is also a free MOOC, which provides more detail about writing in specififc academic disciplines. It is useful for both native English-speakers and students who have English as an additional language. Click here to register

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

MGTS1601 + 4 units courses

Restrictions

Quota: Minimum of 35 enrolments

Course contact

Course coordinator

Dr Kate Power

Please post any personal questions to the course email address: uqbs-mgts2606@business.edu.au

NOTE: the Course Coordinator monitors both the Ed Discussion Board and the course email address.

You can expect to receive a response within 24-48 hours, except on public holidays, over weekends, and during the mid-semester break.

Please do not use the Course Coordinator's private email address; or send the same question to both the Discussion Board and the course email address (doing so doubles the number of inquiries and slows down response times)

Course staff

Lecturer

Dr Kate Power

Tutor

Dr Lisa Kelly
Ms Laura Budding

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

This course will be delivered each week through

  • a 1-hour live lecture, supplemented by an optional Online Learning Module (OLM) accessible via Blackboard - OLMs replace "lectures" in this course.
  • It should take you around 1 hour to complete each OLM.
  • OLMs will be posted each Thursday, for the week ahead.
  • You can expect to spend additional time each week completing the required readings and Tutorial Exercises.
  • Some OLMs include optional readings and/or videos, in case you wish to pursue specific subjects further
  • a 2-hour Tutorial starting in Week 1 (NOT Week 2).
  • You are expected to attend the lecture (or complete the OLM) AND complete the Tutorial Exercise BEFORE your tutorial each week.

Tutorials are delivered during specific scheduled times in your timetable. Once you are enrolled in a tutorial, you should attend ONLY that tutorial each week.

Teaching staff do NOT have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation.

If you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please email business.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account, and include the following details:

  • Full name,
  • Student ID, and
  • the Course Code
Aims and outcomes

Aims and outcomes

The overall aim of this course is to equip you to be an ethical and effective communicator in contemporary organisational settings.

More specifically, the course provides an opportunity for you to practice various forms of workplace communication and to reflect critically on your communication style, practices and experiences. We hope that, in doing so, you will not only develop self-awareness around your strengths and weaknesses as a communicator but also gain insights into how you might improve your personal and professional communication as an ethical worker, colleague, and manager.

This course is highly interactive and requires you both to practice different types of communication and to reflect on your own communication style, practices, and experiences.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Identify important ethical considerations concerning communication in business and/or organisational environments.

LO2.

Critically evaluate and apply various communication theories and other research findings.

LO3.

Produce high-quality verbal, non-verbal, written, digital and multi modal communication tailored to various business and/or organisational environments.

LO4.

Communicate effectively with other students, in relation to business and/or organisational issues and contexts.

LO5.

Critically analyse and identify strategies for improving your own verbal, non-verbal, written, digital and multi modal communication, supported relevant scholarly literature and professional practice.

Course overview
Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Paper/ Report/ Annotation Effective meeting communication
  • Team or group-based
 10%

19/08/2024 4:00 pm
Essay/ Critique, Portfolio Business writing mini-portfolio 40%

12/09/2024 4:00 pm
Presentation, Project Textography presentation
  • Team or group-based
 30%

Week 12 - Week 13

Presentations will be delivered during your Week 12 or 13 tutorials.
Poster, Reflection Personal ethical communication plan 20%

24/10/2024 4:00 pm

Assessment details

Effective meeting communication

  • Team or group-based
Mode
Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation
Weight
10%
Due date

19/08/2024 4:00 pm

Other conditions
Peer assessed.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

This is a group assignment.

  • You will be assigned to groups during the Week 2 tutorial.
  • Group changes will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances, and only with the Course Coordinator's written permission.
  • Your group will work together on Assignments 1 and 3.
  • Assignment 1 involves preparing a Project Proposal for use in Assignment 2.
  • Each group member is required to complete a peer assessment and peer ratings may influence individual marks.
  • For more information, please see the Assignment Instructions, available via Blackboard.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Failure to follow the Assignment Instructions may result in a grade of zero for the whole assignment.

GENERATIVE AI

  • All of the assessment tasks in this course have been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. ﾠWhilst you may use AI technologies, successful completion of these tasks will require students to engage critically in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
  • A failure to document and reference AI use (as required in the Assignment Instructions) may result in a grade of zero for the whole assignment and/or constitute student misconduct under UQ's Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Follow the Assignment Instructions in Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

A late penalty may apply for any part of the assignment submitted after the deadline, by any team member.

Business writing mini-portfolio

Mode
Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
Category
Essay/ Critique, Portfolio
Weight
40%
Due date

12/09/2024 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L02, L03, L05

Task description

This is an individual assignment.

  • This assignment combines four Tutorial Exercises completed throughout the semester.
  • Some in-class time will be available for working on these tasks and receiving feedback from your tutor.
  • However, you should be prepared to spend more time on each task outside of class.
  • For more information, please see the Assignment Instructions, available via Blackboard.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Failure to follow the Assignment Instructions may result in a grade of zero for the whole assignment.

GENERATIVE AI

  • All of the assessment tasks in this course have been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. ﾠWhilst you may use AI technologies, successful completion of these tasks will require students to engage critically in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
  • A failure to document and reference AI use (as required in the Assignment Instructions) may result in a grade of zero for the whole assignment and/or constitute student misconduct under UQ's Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Follow the Assignment Instructions on Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Textography presentation

  • Team or group-based
Mode
Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
Category
Presentation, Project
Weight
30%
Due date

Week 12 - Week 13

Presentations will be delivered during your Week 12 or 13 tutorials.

Other conditions
Peer assessed.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

This is a group assignment.

  • This task involves a primary research project, which is likely to take considerably longer than you might expect.
  • It will be impossible to complete this task satisfactorily if you don't start working on it early in the semester.
  • Your group will have to
  • recruit a local business / organisation to participate in your research
  • develop project documentation (including consent forms) that adhere to UQ Human Research Ethics
  • collect and analyse data, adhering to UQ Human Research Ethics
  • present your findings in class, via a 15-20 minute multi-modal presentation
  • Each group member is required to complete a peer assessment and peer ratings may influence individual marks.
  • For more information, please see the Assignment Instructions, available via Blackboard.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Failure to follow the Assignment Instructions may result in a grade of zero for the whole assignment.

 GENERATIVE AI

  • All of the assessment tasks in this course have been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. ﾠWhilst you may use AI technologies, successful completion of these tasks will require students to engage critically in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
  • A failure to document and reference AI use (as required in the Assignment Instructions) may result in a grade of zero for the whole assignment and/or constitute student misconduct under UQ's Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Follow submission instructions on Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Personal ethical communication plan

Mode
Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
Category
Poster, Reflection
Weight
20%
Due date

24/10/2024 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L05

Task description

This is an individual assessment task.

  • This task requires you to develop a personal ethical communication plan, based on your learnings from this course.
  • Your personal ethical communication plan will include:
  • a persuasive letter to your future self.
  • a persuasive poster reminding your future self to communicate ethically, and
  • a critical reflection explaining your writing and poster design choices.
  • For more information, please see the Assignment Instructions, available via Blackboard.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Failure to follow the Assignment Instructions may result in a grade of zero for the whole assignment.

GENERATIVE AI

  • All of the assessment tasks in this course have been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. ﾠWhilst you may use AI technologies, successful completion of these tasks will require students to engage critically in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
  • A failure to document and reference AI use (as required in the Assignment Instructions) may result in a grade of zero for the whole assignment and/or constitute student misconduct under UQ's Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Follow the Assignment Instructions.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 29

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.
2 (Fail) 30 - 46

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.
3 (Marginal Fail) 47 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes
4 (Pass) 50 - 64

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.
5 (Credit) 65 - 74

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.
6 (Distinction) 75 - 84

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.
7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Additional course grading information

Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Aims and outcomes
Learning resources

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Assessment
Learning activities

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Week 1
Lecture

Introduction to Business Communication

This course includes BOTH live lectures AND Online Learning Modules (OLMs).

  • The OLMs reproduce and expand upon lecture materials.
  • Each week, you will be expected to attend a live lecture AND/OR complete the OLM BEFORE your tutorial.


Tutorials start in Week 2.

  • Tutorials DO NOT simply repeat the information presented in the lecture /OLM.
  • Tutorials give you an opportunity to
  • practise material presented in the lecture / OLMs.
  • prepare for Group and Individual assessment tasks



Sub-activity: Attend a live lecture (recommended) Complete Online Learning Module (recommended)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05
Week 2
Tutorial

Introduction to Business Communication

To prepare for this tutorial, you will need to

  1. attend the Week 1 Lecture and/or complete the Week 1 OLM BEFORE your tutorial.
  2. download the Tutorial Exercise from the Week 1 OLM and complete Part A.


If you have not already done so, please also complete UQ's Academic Integrity Modules.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05
Lecture

Verbal communication #1

Please attend a live lecture AND/OR complete the OLM BEFORE your tutorial.


Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05
Week 3
Tutorial

Verbal communication #1

Please

  • attend the Week 2 Lecture and/or complete the Week 2 OLM BEFORE your tutorial.
  • download the Tutorial Exercise from the Week 2 OLM and complete Part A.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05
Lecture

Verbal communication #2

Please attend a live lecture AND/OR complete the OLM BEFORE your tutorial.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05
Week 4
Tutorial

Verbal communication #2

Please attend the Week 3 Lecture and/or complete the Week 3 OLM BEFORE your tutorial and download the Tutorial Exercise from the Week 3 OLM and complete Part A.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05
Lecture

Written communication #1

Please attend a live lecture AND/OR complete the OLM BEFORE your tutorial.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05
Week 5
Tutorial

Written communication #1

Please

  • attend the Week 4 Lecture and/or complete the Week 4 OLM BEFORE your tutorial.
  • download the Tutorial Exercise from the Week 4 OLM and complete Part A.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05
Lecture

Written communication #2

Please attend a live lecture AND/OR complete the OLM BEFORE your tutorial.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05
Week 6
Tutorial

Written communication #2

Please

  • attend the Week 5 Lecture and/or complete the Week 5 OLM BEFORE your tutorial.
  • download the Tutorial Exercise from the Week 5 OLM and complete Part A.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05
Lecture

Employment communication

Please attend a live lecture AND/OR complete the OLM BEFORE your tutorial.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05
Week 7
Tutorial

Employment communication

Please

  • attend the Week 6 Lecture and/or complete the Week 6 OLM BEFORE your tutorial.
  • download the Tutorial Exercise from the Week 6 OLM and complete Part A.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05
Lecture

Multimodal communication #1

Please attend a live lecture AND/OR complete the OLM BEFORE your tutorial.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05
Week 8
Tutorial

Multimodal communication #1

Please

  • attend the Week 7 Lecture and/or complete the Week 7 OLM BEFORE your tutorial.
  • download the Tutorial Exercise from the Week 7 OLM and complete Part A.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05
Lecture

Multimodal communication #2

Please attend a live lecture AND/OR complete the OLM BEFORE your tutorial.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05
Week 9
Fieldwork

Group Research - Fieldwork

All regular classes are cancelled - and there is no OLM - this week.

Student groups should use this time to complete their research fieldwork for Assignment 3, including

  • participant recruitment / consent
  • data collection
  • data analysis.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05
Mid Sem break
No student involvement (Breaks, information)

In-Semester Break
Week 10
Tutorial

Multimodal communication #2

Please

  • attend the Week 8 Lecture and/or complete the Week 8 OLM BEFORE your tutorial.
  • download the Tutorial Exercise from the Week 8 OLM and complete Part A.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L05
Lecture

Multimodal communication #3

Please attend a live lecture AND/OR complete the OLM BEFORE your tutorial.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05
Week 11
Not Timetabled

Multimodal communication #3

Due to the King's Birthday public holiday on Monday, 7 October, all tutorials will be replaced by an asynchronous online activity (involving tutor feedback).

  • Send your group's draft Assignment 3 PPT slides and workshop outline to your tutor by 4pm on Tuesday, 8 October to receive feedback by the end of this week
  • Use this feedback to refine your Assignment 3 presentation (due for delivery in Week 12 or 13).
  • Tutors will NOT provide personalised feedback on PPT slides outside this timeframe.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05
Lecture

Special issues #1 (Cross cultural communication)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05
Week 12
Tutorial

Group Research - Presentations (1)

Group Research Presentations (Assignment 3) will take place during the Weeks 12 and 13 tutorials.


Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05
Lecture

Special issues #2 (Crisis communication)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05
Week 13
Tutorial

Group Research - Presentations (2)

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05
Lecture

Special issues #3 (Difficult conversations)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05

Additional learning activity information

Group work

  • You will be assigned to a group during the Week 2 tutorial.
  • Group changes will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances, and only with the Course Coordinator's written permission.

Please post any course-related questions to the Ed Discussion Board

  • the course Discussion Board is accessible via Blackboard
  • please check the Discussion Board before posting a new question, because your question may already have been answered

Send any personal questions to the course email address: uqbs-mgts2606@business.uq.edu.au

  • PLEASE DO NOT send questions to the Course Coordinator's personal email address
Learning resources
Policies and procedures

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

Course guidelines

All group research MUST be conducted in accordance with UQ's Human Research ethics.

Learning activities