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
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