Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Business and Professional Speech Communication, is a course which provides students the opportunity to develop skills and understandings useful in the career environment.  A variety of communication situations may be analyzed, including: problem solving; discussion groups; organizational networks; interviewing; and, conference planning and speaking.  This course emphasizes the theory and practice of communication as it relates particularly to business and professional settings.  Readings and discussions focus upon the philosophies and practice of organizational communication.  Basic concepts of effective speech communication are presented, which students can apply in their career environments.

Upon successful completion:

1. Use an understanding of communication principles to effectively speak, listen, and interact, both verbally and non-verbally, within business and professional environments. 
2. Discern and apply communication in the modern organization, especially as it relates to persuasive strategies and the dissemination of information. 

The forms of assessment will be determined by the individual instructor.

Assessment strategies may include:

• Qualitative examinations
• Quantitative examinations
• Essays
• Journals
• Research papers
• In-class participation
• Portfolios
• Projects
• Oral presentations
• Group work
   

Themes, Concepts, and Issues:

• Communication in organizations
• Power                                        
• Rhetorical strategies
• Listening
• Language                         
• Nonverbal Communication
• Diversity                       
• Audience Analysis                                      
• Creating Business presentations

Competencies and Skills: 

Students will:

• Be able to recognize and analyze organizational channels and networks, in terms of formal and informal effects of these networks on message accuracy.
• Be able to explain principles for effective language use and principles for nonverbal code interpretation.
• Be able to recognize the factors involved in audience adaptation.
• Be able to demonstrate competence in public speaking situations including the use of visual and verbal supports.
• Be able to research a variety of business-related topics.

A textbook is required. Suggested texts (list). Alternative texts need Dept. or SAC chair approval.

• Ann Fisher & Margot Northey.   Impact:  A Guide to Business Communication, Prentice-Hall, Inc. 
• Ronald B. Adler and Jeanne M. Elmhorst. Communicating at Work, New York: McGraw-Hill
• Excellence in Business Communication, Thill.  Publisher:  Pearson