Course info

Course Description

Robert Kent, former dean of Harvard Business School has said, “In business, communication is everything.”

I believe that the one attribute common to all successful managers is their soft-skill proficiency - their ability to communicate, handle themselves at work and relate with people within and outside the organization they work for. From listening and communicating clearly to showing empathy and optimism to extreme self-awareness to knowing what's going on around them, these vital competencies are an integral part of a progressive manager.

Typically, managers spend 75 to 80 percent of their time engaged in some form of written or oral communication. Research spanning several decades has consistently ranked communication skills as crucial for managers. Effective communication is an essential component of organizational success whether it is at the interpersonal, inter-group, intra-group, organizational, or external levels.

In spite of this awareness of the importance of communication skills, many individuals continue to struggle, unable to communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively – whether in oral or written format. This inability makes it nearly impossible for them to compete effectively in the workplace, and stands in the way of career progression. The Indian industry has consistently ranked the lack of soft skills, and specifically communication skills, among its managerial work-force as the biggest cause for concern.

At Praxis we realize that your success will, to a large extent, depend on your ability to communicate and work with people. Consequently, communication and soft skill training will attempt to improve the student's listening, speaking and presentation skills and make the student confident of conducting himself/ herself in formal, boardroom kind of situations, without losing sight of the virtues of empathy and team- work.

The course provides a theoretical frame-work that helps in understanding communication from a definitional, functional and process view-point. There is an emphasis on individual and group activity right though the course – the objective being to “learn by doing.” The benefit derived from each activity would be enhanced by a detailed analysis of its quality and a prompt and honest feedback that would include suggestions for improvement.

I believe that the course is of fundamental importance in the Business Management program. It is designed to enable participants to develop the ability to grasp, assimilate, analyze and eventually present information in an effective and compelling manner.

Key Learning Objectives:

Develop an understanding of group dynamics and an ability to contribute to and lead a group.

1. Develop perception management and analytical skills in formal communication situations

2. Enhance your ability to „tell the story‟ and present results persuasively

3. Develop writing skills across a broad range (e-mail to formal reports) of applications.

4. Enhance self-awareness and empathy, and a sense of comfort and confidence with the idea of communicating in one-to one and one-to-many situations.

 

Course Outcomes and PEO mapping:

After the completion of the course, the students are expected to achieve following Course objectives (COs) that in turn will be mapped to following Program Educational Outcomes (PEOs).

Course Methodology

The delivery system at Praxis is interactive and has a participatory orientation. There is an emphasis on consistent and continuous practice of skills through individual and group activity.

The pedagogy includes presentations by students and faculty members, case discussions, writing exercises, group discussions, role plays, etc.

Class time will be split evenly between lectures and group activity. All readings MUST be completed prior to the class for which they are assigned.

Group and individual Activity

It is very important that you spend time (both individually and in groups) preparing for each activity. I will grade the participation in presentations /cases/ discussions on 3 dimensions:

1. The quality of research you have done to find support for your viewpoints – anyone can have an opinion, you need to back it up with research on the web, the library sites and other sources.

2. The logical development of your arguments – are your arguments carefully and logically developed or do they appear ad-hoc and not well thought through?

3. Presentation – how well you organize your oral or written presentations. Do I have to listen to or read every word and decipher the key points hidden somewhere, or does your presentation facilitate my understanding of the arguments made.
   

Class Participation

In assigning grades for participation, both your class attendance and your contribution during activity and other discussions will be taken into consideration. The quality demonstrated in your individual activity and in your contributions to the group activity and other discussions will be evaluated using the following criteria:

Content:

• Does your comment/ speech/ presentation represent a solid analysis and insight or is it just a reiteration of the facts discussed?

• Does the contribution demonstrate an ability to listen to and build from what others have said?

• Does your contribution demonstrate an ability to think laterally and creatively?

• Does your performance show a significant improvement over your past performances?

• If “cold called” were you prepared with assigned readings/ presentations?

Form:

• Have you been able to clearly articulate your viewpoint?

• Does your presentation (oral or written) demonstrate structure and an “audience-friendly” orientation?

• Have you been able to demonstrate the ability to work well in a group?

• Does your performance show a significant improvement over your past performances?

Grading

We will assign grades on the following basis: