MAN434 Business Communication
MAN434 Business Communication
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
Management
Course Objectives
This course introduces the students with the theory and practice of written, oral, and interpersonal communication used in the workplace with the emphasis on composing clear, concise, and effective business correspondence.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Thill, J.V., Bove, C.L., (2013). Excellence in Business Communication. 10th edition. Pearson International
Additional Literature
Teaching Methods
The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation
Video and audio aids)
Student presentations
Projects and class discussions.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overview and principles of the course | |
| 2 | Achieving Success Through Efective Business Communication | Chapter 1 |
| 3 | Mastering Team Skills and Interpersonal Communications | Chapter 2 |
| 4 | Communicating in a Word of Diversity | Chapters 3-4 |
| 5 | Planning Business Messages | Chapters 3-4 |
| 6 | Writing Business Messages | Chapter 5 |
| 7 | Completing Business Messages | Chapter 6 |
| 8 | Midterm Exam | |
| 9 | Writing positive, negative and persuasive messages | Chapter 8-10 |
| 10 | Planing Reports and Proposals | Chapter 11 |
| 11 | Writing and Completing Reports and Proposals | Chapter 12-13 |
| 12 | Designing and Delivering Presentations | Chapters 14 |
| 13 | Building carrer and Writing Resumes | Chapters 15 |
| 14 | Applying and Interviewing for Employment | Chapters 16 |
| 15 | Presentations |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Case study
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4
Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Home Study
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Case study
10 hours ⏳ (1 week × 10 h)
Project
20 hours ⏳ (1 week × 20 h)
Midterm Exam Study
15 hours ⏳ (1 week × 15 h)
Final Exam Study
15 hours ⏳ (1 week × 15 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [MAN434] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| MAN434 | Business Communication | 3 | 0 | 6 | Th 15-17.50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | ELIT200 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Currently not available |
||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course introduces the students with the theory and practice of written, oral, and interpersonal communication used in the workplace with the emphasis on composing clear, concise, and effective business correspondence. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Thill, J.V., Bove, C.L., (2013). Excellence in Business Communication. 10th edition. Pearson International | |||||||||
| Additional Literature | ||||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation, video and audio aids), student presentations, projects and class discussions. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | |||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Overview and principles of the course | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Achieving Success Through Efective Business Communication | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Mastering Team Skills and Interpersonal Communications | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Communicating in a Word of Diversity | Chapters 3-4 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Planning Business Messages | Chapters 3-4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Writing Business Messages | Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Completing Business Messages | Chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Writing positive, negative and persuasive messages | Chapter 8-10 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Planing Reports and Proposals | Chapter 11 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Writing and Completing Reports and Proposals | Chapter 12-13 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Designing and Delivering Presentations | Chapters 14 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Building carrer and Writing Resumes | Chapters 15 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Applying and Interviewing for Employment | Chapters 16 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Presentations | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 25 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Project | 1 | 25 | 3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 25 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Case study | 1 | 10 | 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Participation | 1 | 15 | 3 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Home Study | 3 | 15 | 45 | |||
| Case study | 10 | 1 | 10 | Project | 20 | 1 | 20 | |||
| Midterm Exam Study | 15 | 1 | 15 | Final Exam Study | 15 | 1 | 15 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||
