STRAYER COM510 2019 January Full Course Latest

COM510 Business Communications
Week 1  Discussion
“Communication Skill Rating” Please respond to the following:
How skillful is your communication right now? Let’s explore that.
Note: You are strongly encouraged to record and upload a video response to the following questions. Practice is the key to success!
Instructions: Record and Upload a Video
What are your communication strengths? Provide specific details.
What are the areas you would like to improve? Why? Provide specific details.
Rate your current level of professional communications skill based on the following five categories and explain how you arrived at your rating.
Note: Your goal is to identify accurately your current level of communications proficiency and to grow in this course and throughout your MBA program.
Communication Skill Levels
Novice: You tend to “wing it” when communicating. Your messages seldom achieve your desired goals.
Intermediate: Your communications are sometimes effective, but you lack an established process for communicating (and you aren’t actively testing your methods).
Proficient: You apply some tools and techniques of communications and, while you may do so inconsistently, you are fairly effective when you communicate.
Distinguished: You are considered highly professional. You regularly influence outcomes through communications and you are highly communications-oriented.
Expert: You have extensive experience in business communications, are well-versed in the topic, and can influence goals strategically while driving action with your messaging.
 
COM510 Business Communications
Week 2  Discussion
Real-Life Communication” Please respond to one of the following:
Option 1: Think of a time when you communicated reflexively. What were the results? Share this story with your peers.
Option 2: Think of someone who is a great communicator. What makes them skillful? What specifically do they do to project their professional presence? How have the techniques they use to communicate helped them accomplish their goals? How would communicating more skillfully help you in your own career? Provide a specific example.
 
COM510 Business Communications
Week 3  Discussion
“Your Communications Plan” Please respond to the following:
Part 1: Provide a brief overview of your Strategic Communications Plan. Include a short description for each of the following in bullet point format:
The purpose of the communication
Your goal
Audience
Key Message
Supporting Points
Channel Selection
Action Request
Part 2: Review at least two of your peers’ Strategic Communications Plan. Provide feedback. Don’t be afraid to challenge their assumptions, suggest new possibilities, and affirm their choices when those choices are good.
 
COM510 Business Communications
Week 4  Discussion
“Impressive Writing” Please respond to the following:
Share an example of a strategic, professionally written, strategic communication piece.
Identify the key message.
Detail how the organization and composition of the communication contribute to its effectiveness (4-8 sentences recommended).
 
COM510 Business Communications
Week 5  Discussion
Practice and Feedback” Please respond to the following:
Part 1: Complete your first draft of the written message (Assignment 2) and submit to the Discussion Board for peer review.
Part 2: Review another student’s work and provide constructive feedback.
 
COM510 Business Communications
Week 6 Discussion
“Making Progress”  Please respond to the following:
Part 1:
How has your communication changed?
What are you practicing now on a regular basis? 
Rate your progress using the following rubric and note how your rating has changed from week 1.
Communication Skill Levels
Novice: You tend to “wing it” when communicating. Your messages seldom achieve your desired goals.
Intermediate: Your communications are sometimes effective, but you lack an established process for communicating (and you aren’t actively testing your methods).
Proficient: You apply some tools and techniques of communications and, while you may do so inconsistently, you are fairly effective when you communicate.
Distinguished: You are considered highly professional. You regularly influence outcomes through communications and you are highly communications-oriented.
Expert: You have extensive experience in business communications, are well-versed in the topic, and can influence goals strategically while driving action with your messaging.
Part 2: How often do you verbally present to others? How do you feel about speaking/presenting in front of groups? 
 
COM510 Business Communications
Week 7 Discussion
“Hooking Your Audience” Please respond to the following:
Part 1: In preparation for Assignment 2, which in due in Week 9, share your opening. What story or data point are you using to hook and connect with the audience?
Part 2: Review another student’s opening and provide constructive feedback.
 
 
 
 
 
COM510 Business Communications
Week 8 Discussion
“Practice Makes Perfect – Or Close to It” Please respond to the following:
Part 1: Practice and record your verbal communication for Assignment 3, which is due in Week 10.  Submit the recording to the Discussion Board for peer feedback.
Instructions: Record and Upload a Video
Screen Recording
Part 2: Review another student’s verbal communication and provide constructive feedback. Refer to the assignment criteria and rubric to provide targeted, helpful feedback.
 
COM510 Business Communications
Week 9 Discussion
“Putting It All Together” Please respond to the following
Review your Strategic Communications Plan, written communication, and verbal communication plan.
Do your communications plan, written communication, and presentation plan all align to meet the objectives of your goal? Explain how they align.
What revisions will you make? Why?
Are you planning to use these communications in your workplace or in the future? Explain.
 
COM510 Business Communications
Week 10 Discussion
“Feedback Can Be Tricky” Please respond to the following:
Part 1: Share a time when you provided feedback to someone (e.g., informal colleague feedback after a meeting or presentation or formal feedback such as during a performance review). How was it received? What did you do well? Knowing what you know now, how would you have improved it for a better result and/or relationship?
Part 2: Share a time when someone provided you with feedback. How did it make you feel and what was your response? Knowing what you know now, would you have listened and/or responded differently?
 
 
 
COM510 Business Communications
Week 11 Discussion
Part 1: Post a Response
You did it! You’ve reached the end of this course. In doing so, you’ve developed your skills in organizational behavior and leadership. Take what you have learned and continue to apply it, both in your MBA courses and in your career.
In our last discussion, reflect on your experience in this course by addressing the following items in your response:
What skills do you feel you developed most in this course?
Emotional Intelligence
Motivation
Diversity
Leadership
Decision-Making
How do you plan to continue growing your leadership and organizational behavior skills you identified above?
More of a feel-good message but hey you earned it!
Click here to watch the video
Part 2: Respond to a Peer
Read a post by one of your peers and respond, making sure to extend the conversation by asking questions, offering rich ideas, or sharing personal connections.
 
 
COM510 Business Communications
Assignment 1
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
Due Week 4, worth 150 points
The ability to effectively communicate is one of the most in demand and sought
after skills in today’s workforce. As a business professional, you will be
expected to not only communicate in a clear and concise way, but to do so
strategically. These communication skills are necessary to manage personnel
effectively and to drive your organization toward its strategic goals and
outcomes. Effective communication starts with planning. By developing a
strategic communications plan you will be more intentional in your messages
and the actions you ask of your audience. This plan is the foundation for
Assignments 2 and 3.
INSTRUCTIONS
Create a written strategic communications plan for the professional communication challenge or opportunity of your choice. Your plan should include the
following components and may be written in a professional report format. See
the formatting requirements for additional information.
1. Description
 a) What is your challenge or opportunity?
 b) Why is this professionally important to you?
2. Goal
 a) What goal or outcome do you want to achieve with
 this communication?
 i. Is it clear, concise, and actionable?
 3. Audience
 a) Who is your target audience?
 i. What are the professional positions of the
 audience members?
 ii. What demographic characteristics will the
 audience comprise?
 iii. What is your relationship to the audience?
 iv. What background knowledge and expertise does
 the audience have?
 v. What does the audience know, feel about, and expect
 concerning this communication?
 vi. What preconceptions or biases do you possess
 that might prevent you from building rapport
 with your audience?
 b) What information is available about your audience?
 i. What research/sources will you use to obtain information
 about the audience?
 ii. What conclusions have you been able to draw about
 the audience?
 c) What tone will you use to convey your message?
 i. Is the setting casual or formal?
 ii. Is the communication personal or impersonal?
4. Key Message
a) What is the primary message you must convey to
your audience?
i. Is the message compelling and memorable?
ii. Is the message clear and concise?
iii. Is the message aligned with your audience’s goals
and needs?
5. Supporting Points
a) What three to four points, reasons, or justifications
support your message?
i. What research/sources will you use to obtain facts/data
about your message?
6. Channel Selection
a) What communication style will you employ
(Tell/Sell or Consult/Join), and why?
b) What channel(s) will you use to deliver your message,
and why will they be the most effective?
c) What purpose is served by each channel you have selected?
7. Action Request
a) Is your call to action you are making to your audience clear,
concise, and easily actionable?
Note: You may create and establish all necessary assumptions needed
for the completion of this assignment. The scenario is yours to explain.
This course requires use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The
format is different than other Strayer University courses. Please take a
moment to review the SWS documentation for details.
 
COM510 Business Communications
Assignment 2
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
Business managers use written communication every day. Opportunities for written communication in the business world include everything from reports, memos, and documentation to emails, instant messaging, and social media.
Effective written communication can help build and grow business relationships, accelerate results, solicit input and feedback, and rally personnel toward shared goals. Your ability to write messages that are clear and concise, while positioned strategically and presented professionally, will distinguish youin your field.
In this assignment, you will develop a written communication for the challenge or opportunity scenario you have identified. The written message needed to fulfill this assignment will depend on your scenario.
INSTRUCTIONS
Compose a written communication based on your Strategic
Communications Plan.
WEEK 1
IT’S A DIGITAL WORLD
ASSIGNMENT 2
PART 1
1. Develop Your Written Communication
 a) State your key message clearly
 i. Do not “bury the headline” — the main point should be  presented directly
 ii. Your key message must be clear and concise
 b) Provide the necessary information and build credibility
 i. Provide an appropriate amount of background information for the audience, given the type of  communication
 ii. Get to the point without unnecessary verbiage
 iii. Build your position as an expert or trusted colleague
 c) Support your key message with three or four supporting  points/reasons
 i. Supporting points should be appropriate for the context and needs of the audience
 ii. Reasons should be compelling and relevant
 d) Employ either the Consult/Join or Tell/Sell techniques
 e) Clearly relay to the audience an actionable request
2. Write Professionally
 a) Communication should be clear and concise
 b) Communication should build logically
 c) Sentences should flow smoothly, using appropriate  transitions and varying sentence structure
 d) Employ appropriate formatting for ease of reading and clarity  of message (headers, bullet points, etc.)
3. Demonstrate Professional Presence
 a) Be authentic and genuine in your communication
 b) Use the appropriate tone and vocabulary for your audience
 c) Establish rapport to connect with your audience and  grow the relationship
PART 2
4. Channel and Style
a) Explain why you chose the specific channel you used for thewritten communication
b) Explain what style you employed in your written communicationand why (Sell/Tell or Consult/Join)
5. Use Feedback to Refine Your Communication
a) Describe or list the feedback you received on your written communication from the week 6 Discussion Board
b) Explain how you used the feedback to revise and improve your message
 
 
COM510 Business Communications
Assignment 3
VERBAL COMMUNICATION
From quick conversations to phone calls, meetings, formal presentations, and sales pitches, you must employ effective verbal communication skills at all times. While verbal interactions are extremely common, they can also be stressful. Every interaction contains the potential for success…and the dangerof failure. To be “on your game” at all times requires purposeful practice,reflection, and adjustment based on input and feedback. No matter what yourverbal communication skills are, you can improve them.
In this assignment, you will develop and deliver a verbal communication for the scenario you have identified. Your communication should match your challenge or opportunity. For example, if your challenge is an interview for a new position,you may choose to record yourself answering a few key questions that might be posed by the interviewer.
For the purposes of this course, your video presentation should not exceed fiveminutes. (Your scenario
INSTRUCTIONS
For Part 1, create and deliver a verbal communication (recording your presentation for submission to your instructor) that aligns with your Strategic
Communication Plan.
For Part 2, reflect on your presentation, and document your preparation and how you used feedback to refine your verbal communication.
PART 1 – VERBAL COMMUNICATION (VIDEO)
 1. Develop and Deliver Your Verbal Communication
 a) Use an impactful opening statement to engage, set context, and/or create relevant meaning for the audience
 b) Use compelling stories/statistics/facts to support your key message
 c) Where appropriate, make your request of the audience  clear and actionable
 d) Use visual aids (where necessary) that support and  complement your verbal communication, but which do not
 drive the conversation
 e) Limit recordings to no more than 5 minutes
 2. Demonstrate Professional Presence
 a) Be authentic and genuine in your delivery
 b) Use the appropriate tone and vocabulary for your audience
 c) Use body language and eye contact effectively
 d) Speak concisely with clarity and confidence
 e) Build rapport and connect with your audience to grow  the relationship
 f) Dress appropriately and employ an appropriate camera frame
 (with a neutral background that is free of distractions)
 g) Employ only professionally presented and appropriately  prepared visual aids, if used
VERBAL COMMUNICATION
From quick conversations to phone calls, meetings, formal presentations, and sales pitches, you must employ effective verbal communication skills at all times. While verbal interactions are extremely common, they can also be stressful. Every interaction contains the potential for success…and the danger of failure. To be “on your game” at all times requires purposeful practice, reflection, and adjustment based on input and feedback. No matter what yourverbal communication skills are, you can improve them.
In this assignment, you will develop and deliver a verbal communication for the scenario you have identified. Your communication should match your challenge or opportunity. For example, if your challenge is an interview for a new position, you may choose to record yourself answering a few key questions that might be posed by the interviewer.
For the purposes of this course, your video presentation should not exceed five minutes. (Your scenario might require a much longer presentation, but limit your response to the key five minutes in this case.)
PART 2 – REFLECTION AND FEEDBACK (WRITTEN)
3. Reflect on Your Presentation Preparation
a) Describe the approach you took to plan for your presentation
b) Explain how you rehearsed for the presentation
c) Offer suggestions for how you might better prepare
in the future
4. Use Feedback to Refine Your Communication
a) Describe or list the feedback you received on your verbal
communication from the week 8 Discussion Board 4. Use
Feedback to Refine Your Communication
a) Describe or list the feedback you received on your verbal
communication from the week 8 Discussion Board
b) Explain how you used the feedback to revise and improve your
message and/or delivery