Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Business Communication and Ethics
Course Code
SZF_316
Branch of Science
Economics and Business
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Marketing and Advertising
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Renāte Cāne
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Kuldigas Street 9, Riga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To provide knowledge and develop competence in communication nature and its types, internal and external communication of an organisation (a company, institution), communication development and management in business, and the basic ethical principles that determine communication between individuals, organisations, and society as a whole. On completion of the course the students will have acquired both knowledge and practical skills required for developing and managing ethical business communication within organisations.
Preliminary Knowledge
Basics of business environment, organisational management and communication theory.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.On completion of this study course, students will gain an understanding of the process of modern business communication, its interactions and impact on work within an organisation; they will know the principles and methods for developing and managing internal and external communication within an organisation; understand the foundations of ethics, principles of individual and professional ethics, and the necessity for adherence to ethical standards within a business environment.
Skills
1.On completion of this study course, students will be able to use theoretical knowledge of business communication and ethics by performing an analysis of the business environment; will be able to assess and determine appropriate methods for carrying out internal and external communication in an organisation; will be able to critically assess entrepreneurial situations from a business ethics perspective; to identify and analyse problems caused by lack of adherence to ethical standards in business and business communication.
Competences
1.On completion of this study course, the students will be able to analyse and interpret internal and external communication codes, channels, and tools within an organisation; to determine areas for improvement in communication and ethical practice in an organisation; to evaluate professional communication from an ethics standpoint and to develop it in accordance with individual and professional ethical standards.
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
0.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Analysis of literature; performance of home tasks; case studies, analysis and preparation of presentations for seminars. |
||
Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examples of communication barriers in the practice of Latvian enterprises. |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Practical case research and analysis, presentation of results. Identification of problematic situations. Discussion. |
||
|
2.
Communication codes and their use in the practice of Latvian enterprises. |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Practical case research and analysis, presentation of results. Identification of problematic situations. Discussion. |
||
|
3.
Internal communication audiences, channels and instruments of certain Latvian enterprises. |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Practical case research and analysis, presentation of results. Identification of problematic situations. Discussion. |
||
|
4.
Audiences, channels and instruments of specific external communications of the Latvian company. |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Research and analysis of practical situations, presentation thereof. Identification of problem situations. Discussion. |
||
|
5.
Ethics in the company. Corporate social responsibility as an ethical business and sustainability category in an enterprise (examples). |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Research and analysis of practical situations, presentation thereof. Identification of problem situations. Discussion. |
||
|
6.
Ethical and unethical business representations in Latvian enterprises (examples). |
5.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Research and analysis of practical situations, presentation thereof. Identification of problem situations. Discussion. |
||
|
7.
Ethical and unethical business representations in Latvian enterprises (examples). |
5.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Research and analysis of practical situations, presentation thereof. Identification of problem situations. Discussion. |
||
|
8.
A written examination regarding the substance of the study course. |
40.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
The student answers two questions during the exam. Structure of the written answer: theory on each question, practical examples on each question. |
||
Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introduction to the study course (information about the contents and requirements of the course, assignments throughout the course). What is communication (definition and nature of the concept). The role of communication for individuals, organisations, and society. Communication and personal/corporate development. Communication as a process, its elements. Communication barriers. How to minimise communication barriers in business.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introduction to the study course (information about the contents and requirements of the course, assignments throughout the course). What is communication (definition and nature of the concept). The role of communication for individuals, organisations, and society. Communication and personal/corporate development. Communication as a process, its elements. Communication barriers. How to minimise communication barriers in business.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Examples of communications barriers in business practice in Latvia.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Types of communication. Main types of communication groups.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Types of communication. Communication codes. Corporate logos, symbols, corporate colours, product packaging, interior design etc. as communication codes in business.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Communication codes and their use in Latvian businesses.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Internal communication within an organisation. Vertical and horizontal communication within a business. Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within businesses.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Internal communication within an organisation. Vertical and horizontal communication within a business. Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within businesses.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within a specific Latvian business (examples).
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
External communication within an organisation. Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within businesses.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
External communication within an organisation. Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within businesses.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within a specific Latvian business (examples).
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
The concept of ethics. Ethics as a philosophical discipline. The concept of ethics to be applied, its relation to the business field. An ethical choice in business. Ethics in the company. Corporate social responsibility as an ethical business and sustainability category within the company.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Ethics within a business. Corporate social responsibility as a category of ethical entrepreneurship and longevity within a business.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Ethical and unethical business representations in Latvian enterprises (examples).
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Ethical and unethical business representations in Latvian enterprises (examples).
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
PART-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introduction to the study course (information about the contents and requirements of the course, assignments throughout the course). What is communication (definition and nature of the concept). The role of communication for individuals, organisations, and society. Communication and personal/corporate development. Communication as a process, its elements. Communication barriers. How to minimise communication barriers in business.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introduction to the study course (information about the contents and requirements of the course, assignments throughout the course). What is communication (definition and nature of the concept). The role of communication for individuals, organisations, and society. Communication and personal/corporate development. Communication as a process, its elements. Communication barriers. How to minimise communication barriers in business.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Examples of communications barriers in business practice in Latvia.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Types of communication. Communication codes. Corporate logos, symbols, corporate colours, product packaging, interior design etc. as communication codes in business.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Communication codes and their use in Latvian businesses.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Internal communication within an organisation. Vertical and horizontal communication within a business. Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within businesses.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within a specific Latvian business (examples).
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
The concept of ethics. Ethics as a philosophical discipline. The concept of ethics to be applied, its relation to the business field. An ethical choice in business. Ethics in the company. Corporate social responsibility as an ethical business and sustainability category within the company.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Ethical and unethical business representations in Latvian enterprises (examples).
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
18 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Veinberga, S. (2019). Komunikācija. Teorija un prakse. Rīga: Sava grāmata, 331 lpp.
2.
Hannawa, A. F., & Spitzberg, B. H. (2015). Communication Competence. De Gruyter, Inc. (nav jaunāks izdevums)
3.
Gillis, T., IABC. (2011). The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication: A Guide to Internal Communication, Public Relations, Marketing, and Leadership. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (nav jaunāks izdevums)
4.
Lasmane, S. (2012). Komunikācijas ētika. Rīga: LU akadēmiskais apgāds, 304 lpp. (nav jaunāks izdevums)
5.
Meyer-Galow, E. (2018). Business Ethics 3. 0: The New Integral Ethics. Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
6.
Communication and Media Ethics. Edited by Patrick Lee Plaisance. (2018). Boston; Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
Additional Reading
1.
Mautner, G., Rainer, F. (2017). Handbook of Business Communication: Linguistic Approaches. De Gruyter, Inc.
2.
Kazaka, O. (2019). Pirmā PR grāmata. Rīga, 182 lpp.
3.
Jones, B., Tench, R., & Sun, W. (2014). Communicating Corporate Social Responsibility: Perspectives and Practice. Emerald Publishing Limited.
4.
Conaway, R. N., & Laasch, O. (2012). Communication in Responsible Business: Strategies, Concepts, and Cases. Business Expert Press.
5.
Machado, C., Starr-Glass, D., Davim, J. C., Bràs, F. A., Sanz, G. C., et.al. (2018). Micro MBA: Theory and Practice. De Gruyter, Inc.
6.
Rocci, A., & de Saussure, L. (2016). Verbal Communication. De Gruyter, Inc.
7.
DiMarco, J. (2017). Commmunications Writing and Design: The Integrated Manual for Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.