Master of Business Administration-MBA Semester 1

MB0039– Business Communication - 4 Credits

(Book ID: B1128)

Assignment Set- 1 (60 Marks)

Note: Each question carries 10 Marks. Answer all the questions.

Q 1. Describe any situation that you experienced where the communication went wrong

because the listening was faulty. Analyze the situation by explaining the type of listening

barrier. . How could this barrier be overcome? (10 marks).

Q 2. Select a business article from any business publication. Evaluate it in terms of :

a) Appropriate level of readability b) Use of jargon, slang and metaphors c)

Use of simple vs. complex words. Is it well or poorly written, in your opinion? Attach

a copy of the article with your response. (10 marks)

Q 3 List out and briefly explain five “do”s and “don’t’s” for each of participants and

chairperson of a meeting. (10 marks).

Q 4. Evaluate email as a channel of internal communication, explaining its

advantages and disadvantages. Suggest five ways in which to overcome some of

the problems associated with email messages. (10 marks).

Q 5. Write an unsolicited job application letter addressed to the HR Manager of a company

of your choice, seeking a position in your area of specialization, along with a one page

profile about yourself. (10 marks).

Q 6. Case Study (10 marks)

The Informal Communication Network

In Secunderabad, a maintenance employee of the A to Z Construction Company asked for

three months’ leave of absence for personal reasons. The request was granted because it

was in keeping with the Company and Union policy. A few weeks later, Mr. Subbaya, the

Industrial Relations Manager of A to Z, heard through the “grapevine” that Mr. Reddy, the

maintenance employee, had actually taken this leave to work on a construction project in

another part of the state. The rumor was that Reddy needed some extra money and had

taken up this job since the wages were nearly twice what he earned in his regular

maintenance job.

The act of taking leave for personal reasons with the hidden purpose of working for another

employer was contrary to the labor contract and the penalty for this could be dismissal. After

investigation to determine that the grapevine probably was correct, Mr. Subbaya prepared a

“Notice of hearing concerning dismissal action” to be mailed to Reddy at his local address.

The letter of notice was dictated by Subbaya to his secretary on Monday morning.

The same night, Mr. Subbaya received a call from Reddy at his home, saying that he had

heard that the notice was being prepared and that he felt that there was a misunderstanding.

Reddy said that he thought that his action was acceptable under the contract, but if it was

not acceptable, he was willing to return immediately, since he did not want to give up his

permanent job.

When Subbaya asked him how he knew about his pending dismissal notice, Reddy said that

his wife had called him that evening, telling him that at the local supermarket, the mother of

their son’s friend had told her about the pending dismissal order.

Questions

1. Assume that grapevine facts are as follows –

Subbaya’s secretary told a fringe benefit clerk about the dismissal notice.

The clerk, not realizing that the information might be confidential, told

someone else.

If you were Subbaya, would you try to suppress grapevine leaks of this type?

How? (5 marks)

2. After Reddy’s telephone calls, what action should Subbaya take? Discuss.

(5 marks)

Master of Business Administration-MBA Semester 1

MB0039– Business Communication - 4 Credits

(Book ID: B1128)

Assignment Set- 2 (60 Marks)

Q 1 Explain with the help of specific examples, four different ways in which positive non

verbal communication can create a better work environment. (10 marks).

Q 2. Explain the difference between corporate and product advertising. Give two examples

of corporate advertising with two different objectives. ( 10 marks).

Q 3. You have been asked to make a presentation on Edunxt, the technology

enabled learning platform, to prospective students. Develop an outline of a

presentation, explaining your choice of visual aids and your style of delivery.(10

marks).

Q 4. Imagine that you have bought a pack of ready to eat food manufactured and

marketed by a well-known Fast Moving Consumer Goods multi-national, during your

regular weekly visit to a neighbouring supermarket. On opening the pack, you find to

your dismay that the contents are spoilt and are not in a condition to be eaten.

Write a routine claim letter to the Vice President, Marketing of the company, asking

for an adjustment or some kind of action.(10 marks).

Q 5. As a student of management, write a report to the Director of your institute, suggesting

how the library facilities and procedures may be improved. (10 marks).

Q 6. Case Study (10 marks).

The Power of Nonverbal Communication

Soon after I graduated from engineering college, I accepted a position with the Sundaram

Foundry, a medium-sized firm located in a small town in Tamil Nadu. It was a good position,

since I was the assistant to Mr. Vishwanath, the General Manager and president of this

family owned company, Although there were many technical problems, the work was

extremely interesting and I soon learnt all about the foundry business.

The foundry workers were mostly older men and were a closely knit team. Many of them

were related and had been in the foundry for several years. Therefore, they felt that they

knew the business in and out and that a technical education had no value. In fact, Mr.

Vishwanath had mentioned to me even at the time of my joining, that I was the only engineer

ever to be employed in the foundry. He also let me know that the foundry workers, although

a good group, were very clannish, since they had been working together for several years.

Therefore, it would probably take them some time to accept me.

I introduced myself to the group of foundry workers, a few days after my joining. As I went

around in turn, I felt them eyeing me coldly. As I went down the main aisle of the foundry, I

heard them talking to each other in low voices and laughing. I found their behavior to be very

childish and felt that it was best to ignore these signs of hostility. I thought that if I ignored

them, they would automatically stop these antics.

A few weeks after this incident, I happened to visit the enamel shop. As I entered, I noticed a

worker cleaning the floor with a hose, from which water flowed at high pressure. I was aware

that it was the practice to clean the shop at least once a week.

I turned my back on the worker and was busy near a dipping tank, when I suddenly felt the

force of a stream of water hitting me. I was almost knocked down by the pressure and

slipped on the wet floor. When I turned around, the worker looked away in the other

direction, as if he had not noticed this happening. However, I was pretty sure that he had

intentionally turned the hose on me.

Questions

1. What message did the foundry workers and the new engineer convey to each other

through their non-verbal behavior?

2. What do you suggest that the engineer should do, after the hosing incident?