Communication is essential in all business. It is important at all levels and in all areas of organisations what ever they do and where ever they are. In this course we look at some basic communication theory that you need to understand to help you communicate more effectively.  Communication is a complex subject as we, as human beings, are complex, our work tasks are complex and our world is becoming increasingly more complex.

Communication skill is an enabling factor that allows us to perform the work of the organisation. It is essential for business success and as an individual, you need to be an effective communicator for your future career.

In this course we look at some communication models and some effects on and barriers to the communication process. It is obviously important for us to understand how these might arise, if we want to improve organisational effectiveness and efficiency. We also consider how organisational structure affects the flow of information required for co-ordination, decision-making and awareness.

The term communication covers a vast field of study. There are many books you can consult on specific skills such as report writing, presentations, interviews, and body language. The aim of this course is to cover basic concepts which will help you in the world of communication at work.

Introduction

Objectives

Communication: Some Theories and Models

Introduction

What is communication?

Purposes of organisational communication

Communication and leadership

Verbal and non-verbal communication

Five models of communication

Perspectives of communication

Summary

Barriers to Communication

Introduction

Barriers to communication

Message ambiguity

Language

Distortion

Physical noise and distance

Emotions - fear, anxiety, mistrust, anger

Perceptions

First impressions and frozen evaluations

Stereotyping

Polarization

Evaluate too early and not listen

Summary

Formal and Informal Communication

Introduction

Formal and informal communication

Vertical communication

Network patterns

Horizontal (lateral) communication

The grapevine

Summary

Course Summary

References

Tutor-marked Question Paper

Qualification 1: Business Communication (Byte Size) Certificate

Business Communication (Byte Size) Certificate issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Cert after your name.

In order to offer our students the most convenient and flexible distance learning courses, Stonebridge Associated College offers you the option to study for your course via two methods:

• 1. Via the traditional paper-based method.
• 2. Through the online method via ElearnUK.

When you study through ElearnUK you can quickly access your course material online and submit all of your question papers to your tutor online, using your unique student account. You have access to all of your course material immediately, and when you submit question papers, your tutor sends you an email containing your results and feedback.

With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor.

You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 20 hrs.

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

What's Included

• All study materials
• Study Guide
• Full Tutor and Admin support

Below you will find a list of courses that previous students have taken to complement their course. We hope that this list will give you some idea of the types of progression courses we offer, or alternative course options that may be of interest to you.

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