BUSINESS COMMUNICATION FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES

1.       Objectives

            The course is designed to make the students:

Ø Acquire basic knowledge of English

Ø Develop basic understanding of the communication process and its application in everyday business/corporate world.

Ø Develop all the FOUR skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking, using them as effective tools to respond and interact in different challenging situations.

Ø Improve in all areas of written communication

Ø Polish interpersonal skills

Ø Enhance business vocabulary, particularly related to new technology

2.       Curriculum

2.1 Conceptual Understanding

· The Global Marketplace

Ø Financial aspects of Business operations

Ø Human aspects of Business organizations

Ø Business and technology

· Today’s Communication Challenges

Ø Cultural diversity and socializing

Ø Effective speaking skill

Ø Communication in groups

Ø Participation in discussions

Ø Interpersonal communication

            2.2       Operational Areas

In order to assimilate input on the practical application of the conceptual areas of the subject in practical banking, emphasis should be laid on:

Ø Conveying effective messages with emphasis on the positive aspect

Ø Creating goodwill and better mutual understanding

Ø Passing persuasive messages, avoiding the negative tone

Ø Conducting business meetings

Ø Making oral presentations

Ø Developing negotiation skill

Writing

(A) Basic knowledge of English

Ø Use of grammatically correct English in responding to written communication

Ø Appropriate use of words, phrases and idioms

Ø Sentence structure and developing Business vocabulary

Ø Punctuation

(B) Communication Strategy

Ø Image building

Ø Training for effective communication

Ø Quality of communication

Ø Communication trends

(C) Developing a Positive Corporate Image

Ø Understanding the reader

Ø Use of business terminology

Ø Dealing with new clients

Ø Dealing with regular clients

Ø Judging your competitor

Ø Simple communication

Ø Preciseness of message

Ø Avoiding ambiguity

Ø Read, write and correct

(D) Communication Process

Ø What is communication?

Ø Types of communication

Ø Communication barriers

Ø Channels of communication

(E)       Written Communication

Ø Basic principles of written communication

Ø Essentials of business letters

Ø Different type of business letters

Ø Report – writing

Ø Different kinds of reports

Ø Memorandum

Ø E-mail and fax messages

Ø Proposals

(F)       Conveying Messages

Ø Favourable messages

Ø Persuasive messages

Ø Positive tone, reducing negative affects of refusal

Reading

Ø Improving reading skills – answering questions related to passages about business and commerce

Ø Different kinds of questions to test comprehension skill

· Multiple choice questions

· True/false questions

· Inference questions

· Precis-writing

Speaking

Ø Interpersonal communication

Ø Participating in a business meeting

Ø Essentials of negotiating skill

Ø Preparing for an interview

Ø Talking on the telephone – exercises based on it

Ø Making presentation

Listening

Ø How to be a good listener

Ø Concentration and application in listening

Non-Verbal Communication

Ø Body language

Ø Behaviour implication

Ø Voice

Ø Gestures

Ø Using visual aids

Ø Using images, charts, maps etc.

Legal Aspects of Business Communications

Ø Risk of Fraud

Ø Invasion of privacy

Ø Defamation

RECOMMENDED READING MATERIAL

CORE READINGS

1.         Pakistan, Institute of Bankers                Business Communication for Financial Services

2.         Pakistan, Institute of Bankers                Lesson Notes – Business Communication

                                                                        (Volume I & II)

3.         Murphy, Hearta A.                               Effective Business Communication

            Hildebrandt……

4.         Tayler Shirley Letters                            Gartside’s Model Business Letters 5^th edition

                                                                        English Language Book Society

                                                                        Pitman Publishing.

SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS

1.         Azar Betty S.                                        Understanding and Using English Grammar

                                                                        Prentice-Hall.

2.         Kitty O. Locker                                    Business Communication

            Stephen Kyo Kaczmarck                      Building Critical Skills

                                                                        Irwin McGraw-Hill, Unit 1, 2, 3

3.         Lesikar/Petit                                         Report Writing for Business

                                                                        10^th edition

                                                                        Irwan McGraw-Hill, 1998.

4.         John Rogers                                         Market Leader Practice File

                                                                        Financial Times

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