Business Communication and Ethics

Title	% from total grade	Grade
1. Individual work	-	-
Literature review; summary development; homework completion; group work – a case study, analysis, and preparation of presentations for seminars; individual report that includes: 1) identification of the basic problem for the topic and description of its manifestations in practice; 2) research and assessment of alternative opinions (including those of theorists) on the topic; 3) opinion on the results of the research, and its justification.

Title	% from total grade	Grade
1. Examination	-	-
Written report that entails: 1) determine the main problem within the topic and describe its appearance in practice; 2) research and assess alternative opinions (including those of theorists) on the topic; 3) express an opinion on the results of the research, and substantiate it.
2. Examination	-	-
Practical case research and analysis, presentation of results. Identification of problematic situations. Discussion.
3. Examination	-	-
Practical case research and analysis, presentation of results. Identification of problematic situations. Discussion.
4. Examination	-	-
Practical case research and analysis, presentation of results. Identification of problematic situations. Discussion.
5. Examination	-	-
Attendance of lectures and seminars – compulsory. Summaries – 15%. Preparation for seminars (group work) – 20%. Participation in seminars (active participation, quality of answers) – 10%. Report – 15%. Exam – 40%.

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. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. What is communication – definition and nature of the concept. 2. The role of communication for individuals, organisations, and society. 3. Communication and personal/corporate development. 4. Communication as a process, its elements. 5. Communication barriers. 6. How to minimise communication barriers in business. Topics covered during the class: 1. What are the most common definitions of "communication"? What are their main aspects? 2. How can communication influence the everyday life of an individual, an organisation, and a society? 3. How can communication influence the development of an individual, an organisation, and a society? 4. How does the process of communication occur? 5. Describe the elements of the communication process, their interactions. 6. What is described by "communication barriers"? 7. Which are the most common communication barriers in the business environment and in organisations? Why do they occur? 8. How does one minimise communication barriers in the business environment?

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. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. What is communication – definition and nature of the concept. 2. The role of communication for individuals, organisations, and society. 3. Communication and personal/corporate development. 4. Communication as a process, its elements. 5. Communication barriers. 6. How to minimise communication barriers in business. Topics covered during the class: 1. What are the most common definitions of "communication"? What are their main aspects? 2. How can communication influence the everyday life of an individual, an organisation, and a society? 3. How can communication influence the development of an individual, an organisation, and a society? 4. How does the process of communication occur? 5. Describe the elements of the communication process, their interactions. 6. What is described by "communication barriers"? 7. Which are the most common communication barriers in the business environment and in organisations? Why do they occur? 8. How does one minimise communication barriers in the business environment?

Examples of communications barriers in business practice in Latvia. Description Annotation: Practical lessons – examples and analysis of communication barriers in the work of Latvian organisations. Topics covered during the class: Questions to be assessed in case analysis: 1. What communication errors have occurred in the communications of a specific organisation, resulting in communication barriers? 2. What problems have occurred in the organisation due to this?

Examples of communications barriers in business practice in Latvia. Description Annotation: Practical lessons – examples and analysis of communication barriers in the work of Latvian organisations. Topics covered during the class: Questions to be assessed in case analysis: 1. What communication errors have occurred in the communications of a specific organisation, resulting in communication barriers? 2. What problems have occurred in the organisation due to this?

Types of communication. Communication codes. Corporate logos, symbols, corporate colours, product packaging, interior design etc. as communication codes in business. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. Types of communication: 1) intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, mass communication; 2) verbal, non-verbal communication; 3) formal, informal communication. 2. Communication codes (visual, audio). 3. Corporate logos, symbols, corporate colours, product packaging, interior design etc. as communication codes in business. Topics covered during the class: 1. What are the main parameters for classifying communications? 2. Who is the communicator and who is the receiver in each type of communication: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, mass communication. 3. What are the basic principles and special characteristics of verbal communication? 4. What are the basic principles and special characteristics of nonverbal communication? 5. What differences are there in formal and non-formal communications? 6. Characterise communications codes in audio communications. 7. Characterise communications codes in visual communications. 8. What rules and special characteristics have to be observed when using different types of communications codes in business?

Communication codes and their use in Latvian businesses.

Communication codes and their use in Latvian businesses.

Internal communication within an organisation. Vertical and horizontal communication within a business. Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within businesses. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. Internal communication within an organisation – definition of the concept, basic principles of development. 2. Vertical (upwards and downwards) and horizontal communication within a business. 3. Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within businesses. Topics covered during the class: 1. What are the main characteristics and levels of internal communications in an organisation? 2. What are the aims and importance of internal communications in an organisation? 3. Characterise the manifestations and differences of individual, expanded, or public communications in an organisation. 4. Characterise the manifestations and differences of formal and non-formal communications in an organisation. 5. What is the difference between vertical upwards and downwards communications in an organisation? 6. What is the difference between vertical and horizontal communications in an organisation? 7. Which channels are used for developing internal communications in an organisation? 8. What are the most common tools used for developing internal communications in an organisation?

Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within a specific Latvian business (examples). Description Annotation: Practical classes – the audiences, channels, and tools of internal communications within Latvian organisations, analysis thereof. Topics covered during the class: Main questions to be addressed in case analysis: 1. What are the main functions, goals and tasks of internal communications in these organisations? 2. Which channels and tools are used for carrying out internal communications in these organisations? 3. What are the main problems in the internal communications of these organisations?

External communication within an organisation. Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within businesses. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. External communication within an organisation – definition of the concept, basic principles of development. 2. Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within businesses. Topics covered during the class: 1. What are the goals and importance of external communications in an organisation? 2. Characterise the principles of developing external communications for an organisation. 3. Which channels are used for developing external communications in an organisation? 4. Which are the most common tools used for developing external communications in an organisation? 5. Name and characterise audiences for external communications in organisations. 6. Which of these are the most important in the business environment?

Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within a specific Latvian business (examples).

The definition of ethics. Ethics as a philosophical discipline. The use of applied ethics, its links to business. Ethical choices in business. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. The definition of ethics. Ethics as a philosophical discipline. 2. The use of applied ethics, its links to business. 3. Ethical choices in business: making ethical decisions, ethical dilemmas within an organisation, codes of ethics and their role in the development of business. Topics covered during the class: 1. Which main principles are covered in ethics? 2. What types of ethics are there? Briefly characterise them. 3. What is the essence of applied ethics? 4. Why is learning ethics important when studying business? 5. What are the criteria for ethical choices in business? 6. What is an ethical code and how is it developed? 7. What is the role of an ethical code in the work of an organisation?

Ethical business practices in Latvian businesses (examples). Description Annotation: Practical classes – manifestations of ethical business practices in Latvian organisations, analysis thereof. Topics covered during the class: Questions to be assessed in case analysis: 1. What ethical dilemmas are possible in internal and external communications of the given organisations? 2. What ethical transgressions can be identified in the work of the given organisations? 3. What is positive, and what is controversial in the ethical codes analysed?

Ethical business practices in Latvian businesses (examples). Description Annotation: Practical classes – manifestations of ethical business practices in Latvian organisations, analysis thereof. Topics covered during the class: Questions to be assessed in case analysis: 1. What ethical dilemmas are possible in internal and external communications of the given organisations? 2. What ethical transgressions can be identified in the work of the given organisations? 3. What is positive, and what is controversial in the ethical codes analysed?

Ethics within a business. Corporate social responsibility as a category of ethical entrepreneurship and longevity within a business. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. Ethics within a business: ethical corporate behaviour, ethical management, ethics within staff relationships and communication, conflict resolution. 2. Corporate social responsibility as a category of ethical entrepreneurship and longevity within a business. Topics covered during the class: 1. Which parameters are included in the concept "ethical corporate behaviour"? 2. Which parameters are included in the concept "ethical organisational management"? 3. What are the criteria for relationships and communications between employees? 4. What actions can be viewed as unethical in employee relationships? 5. Characterise the signs of unethical conflict resolution. 6. Which are the dimensions for corporate social responsibility in organisations? 7. How can ethical practice make an impact on the longevity of an organisation?

Unethical business practices in Latvian businesses (examples).

Participation in organisation of IBSE international visit – practice of business communication (by R.Putāns).

Participation in organisation of IBSE international visit – practice of business communication (by R.Putāns).

Participation in organisation of IBSE international visit – practice of business communication (by R.Putāns).

Participation in organisation of IBSE international visit – practice of business communication (by R.Putāns).

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. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. What is communication – definition and nature of the concept. 2. The role of communication for individuals, organisations, and society. 3. Communication and personal/corporate development. 4. Communication as a process, its elements. 5. Communication barriers. 6. How to minimise communication barriers in business. Topics covered during the class: 1. What are the most common definitions of "communication"? What are their main aspects? 2. How can communication influence the everyday life of an individual, an organisation, and a society? 3. How can communication influence the development of an individual, an organisation, and a society? 4. How does the process of communication occur? 5. Describe the elements of the communication process, their interactions. 6. What is described by "communication barriers"? 7. Which are the most common communication barriers in the business environment and in organisations? Why do they occur? 8. How does one minimise communication barriers in the business environment?

Examples of communications barriers in business practice in Latvia. Description Annotation: Practical lessons – examples and analysis of communication barriers in the work of Latvian organisations. Topics covered during the class: Questions to be assessed in case analysis: 1. What communication errors have occurred in the communications of a specific organisation, resulting in communication barriers? 2. What problems have occurred in the organisation due to this?

Types of communication. Communication codes. Corporate logos, symbols, corporate colours, product packaging, interior design etc. as communication codes in business. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. Types of communication: 1) intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, mass communication; 2) verbal, non-verbal communication; 3) formal, informal communication. 2. Communication codes (visual, audio). 3. Corporate logos, symbols, corporate colours, product packaging, interior design etc. as communication codes in business. Topics covered during the class: 1. What are the main parameters for classifying communications? 2. Who is the communicator and who is the receiver in each type of communication: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, mass communication. 3. What are the basic principles and special characteristics of verbal communication? 4. What are the basic principles and special characteristics of nonverbal communication? 5. What differences are there in formal and non-formal communications? 6. Characterise communications codes in audio communications. 7. Characterise communications codes in visual communications. 8. What rules and special characteristics have to be observed when using different types of communications codes in business?

Communication codes and their use in Latvian businesses.

Internal communication within an organisation. Vertical and horizontal communication within a business. Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within businesses. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. Internal communication within an organisation – definition of the concept, basic principles of development. 2. Vertical (upwards and downwards) and horizontal communication within a business. 3. Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within businesses. Topics covered during the class: 1. What are the main characteristics and levels of internal communications in an organisation? 2. What are the aims and importance of internal communications in an organisation? 3. Characterise the manifestations and differences of individual, expanded, or public communications in an organisation. 4. Characterise the manifestations and differences of formal and non-formal communications in an organisation. 5. What is the difference between vertical upwards and downwards communications in an organisation? 6. What is the difference between vertical and horizontal communications in an organisation? 7. Which channels are used for developing internal communications in an organisation? 8. What are the most common tools used for developing internal communications in an organisation?

Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within a specific Latvian business (examples). Description Annotation: Practical classes – the audiences, channels, and tools of internal communications within Latvian organisations, analysis thereof. Topics covered during the class: Main questions to be addressed in case analysis: 1. What are the main functions, goals and tasks of internal communications in these organisations? 2. Which channels and tools are used for carrying out internal communications in these organisations? 3. What are the main problems in the internal communications of these organisations?

External communication within an organisation. Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within businesses. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. External communication within an organisation – definition of the concept, basic principles of development. 2. Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within businesses. Topics covered during the class: 1. What are the goals and importance of external communications in an organisation? 2. Characterise the principles of developing external communications for an organisation. 3. Which channels are used for developing external communications in an organisation? 4. Which are the most common tools used for developing external communications in an organisation? 5. Name and characterise audiences for external communications in organisations. 6. Which of these are the most important in the business environment?

Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within a specific Latvian business (examples).

The definition of ethics. Ethics as a philosophical discipline. The use of applied ethics, its links to business. Ethical choices in business. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. The definition of ethics. Ethics as a philosophical discipline. 2. The use of applied ethics, its links to business. 3. Ethical choices in business: making ethical decisions, ethical dilemmas within an organisation, codes of ethics and their role in the development of business. Topics covered during the class: 1. Which main principles are covered in ethics? 2. What types of ethics are there? Briefly characterise them. 3. What is the essence of applied ethics? 4. Why is learning ethics important when studying business? 5. What are the criteria for ethical choices in business? 6. What is an ethical code and how is it developed? 7. What is the role of an ethical code in the work of an organisation?

Ethical business practices in Latvian businesses (examples). Description Annotation: Practical classes – manifestations of ethical business practices in Latvian organisations, analysis thereof. Topics covered during the class: Questions to be assessed in case analysis: 1. What ethical dilemmas are possible in internal and external communications of the given organisations? 2. What ethical transgressions can be identified in the work of the given organisations? 3. What is positive, and what is controversial in the ethical codes analysed?

Ethics within a business. Corporate social responsibility as a category of ethical entrepreneurship and longevity within a business. Description Annotation: Concepts and questions to be learned during this topic: 1. Ethics within a business: ethical corporate behaviour, ethical management, ethics within staff relationships and communication, conflict resolution. 2. Corporate social responsibility as a category of ethical entrepreneurship and longevity within a business. Topics covered during the class: 1. Which parameters are included in the concept "ethical corporate behaviour"? 2. Which parameters are included in the concept "ethical organisational management"? 3. What are the criteria for relationships and communications between employees? 4. What actions can be viewed as unethical in employee relationships? 5. Characterise the signs of unethical conflict resolution. 6. Which are the dimensions for corporate social responsibility in organisations? 7. How can ethical practice make an impact on the longevity of an organisation?

Unethical business practices in Latvian businesses (examples).

Participation in organisation of IBSE international visit – practice of business communication (by R.Putāns).

Participation in organisation of IBSE international visit – practice of business communication (by R.Putāns).