UCMN 120 - Business and Professional Communication

1. Explain basic concepts, principles, processes, and techniques of intercultural, cross-cultural, and small-group communication in a multicultural/global business environment.
2. Demonstrate awareness of cultural diversity in the U.S. & cultural variables (i.e. race, gender, age, religion, etc.) that affect business communication in the U.S.
3. Understand how diverse cultural beliefs, values, norms, & practices influence cross-cultural communication in international business.
4. Demonstrate principles and techniques of interviewing.
5. Demonstrate principles/techniques of informative, persuasive, and special occasion speaking in diverse cultural business contexts

1. Communication in a Multicultural/Global Business Environment 
   1. The nature of business communication
      1. Communication principles and models 
      2. Ethical dimensions of communication 
      3. Communication competence 
2. Globalization and Communication 
   1. The concept of international business in a global marketplace 
   2. Cultural synergy and the global organization 
   3. Technology and globalization
3. Organizational Culture 
   1. Characteristics of organizational culture 
   2. Communication networks 
   3. Communication barriers 
4. Cultural Diversity Issues in Business Communication in the United States 
   1. Communication in a culturally diverse society 
      1. Race and ethnicity
      2. Social class/status 
      3. Generational differences 
      4. Regional differences 
      5. Disabilities and military veterans 
5. Diversity and Ethical Issues 
   1. Relativity and Universality  
   2. Self-reflexivity
   3. Sense of social justice 
6. Diversity-consciousness and cultural competence 
   1. Cultural literacy and cultural humility 
   2. Constructive attitudes 
   3. Strategies for adapting one’s communicative behaviors 
7. Cultural Differences in International Business 
   1. Fundamental Dimensions of Cultural Diversity 
      1. Individualism vs collectivism 
      2. Power distance
      3. Masculinity vs. femininity
      4. Uncertainty avoidance
      5. Confucian dynamism 
8. Customs and Behaviors Across Cultures 
   1. Social Norms 
   2. Formality 
   3. Gender Roles 
   4. Tolerance for conflict 
9. Cross-Cultural Communication Skills 
   1. Verbal and nonverbal messages 
   2. Tolerance for ambiguity
   3. Ethnorelativism 
   4. Listening at work
   5. Cross-Cultural conflict management and resolution strategies/techniques 
10. Principles and Techniques of interviewing 
    1. Interviewing stages 
       1. Planning the interview 
       2. Conducting the interview 
       3. Post-interview follow-up 
11. Types of Interviews 
    1. The information-gathering interview
    2. The career research interview 
    3. The employment interview 
12. The Ethics of Interviewing 
    1. Interviewing and the law 
    2. Obligations of the interviewer 
    3. Obligations of the interviewee 
    4. Handling difficult questions 
13. Business Speaking in Culturally Diverse Contexts
    1. Types of business presentations
       1. Informative presentations 
       2. Persuasive presentations 
       3. Group presentations 
       4. Special occasion speaking 
    2. Researching, Organizing, and Delivering Informative, Instructional and Persuasive Presentations  
       1. Claims of fact, value, and policy 
       2. Analysis of customer need (selling benefits) 
       3. Problem/solution and cause /problem/solution organizational patterns 
       4. Monroe’s motivated sequence for building on need 
       5. Similarities, differences, and conversion techniques 
       6. Guidelines for effective use of presentational aids 
    3. Group Process in Business 
       1. The nature and types of a team (including virtual teams)
       2. Leadership and influence in teams 
       3. Effective communication in teams