review of asynchronous courses in the BBB School of Business

Resources for this Assignment: 

(I will attach the template)

(I will attach the syllabus below)

(I will attach the course description below)

Executive Summary #2 Prompt:

Please read the whole prompt to write this executive summary properly.

Dean Grier is completing a full review of asynchronous courses in the BBB School of Business. He would like to specifically know more about if BUSN 325 should include an asynchronous section and if so, how it can be improved. The Dean is asking that the executive summary contain 3-4 recommendations (solutions) for future BUSN 325 asynchronous sections (no required or recurring classes and all recorded lectures).

**It is important to provide recommendations for improvement that focus on asynchronous learning**

Your overview should quickly describe BUSN 325 in general so that the Dean first understands the course, especially details that might connect to your recommendations. Then use your problem section to explain why asynchronous courses and their review is critical in order to set up your solutions/recommendations & benefits section. Estimate costs associated with your recommendations and communicate any risks. Conclude with a theoretical timeline for implementing the recommendations.

Executive Summary Criteria:

• Content & Flow of Executive Summary (do not list 1, 2, 3, 4… as you write…)

1. Define the content (overall, what does the syllabus & BUSN 325 as a course entail?)
2. Explain the important parts of the syllabus (course description, learning outcomes, content, assignments, Module Structure, and course materials)
3. Describe the benefits of the course structure & content
4. Provide 2-3 recommendations for future asynchronous(no required or recurring classes, all recorded lectures) sections of BUSN 325
5. Explain the impact & potential costs for the recommendations
6. Impact examples: one or two concepts aren’t taught, development of new content, etc.
7. Cost example: smaller/more sections=more Instructors & GAs (again, estimate exact costs)
8. Quantify/Qualify the benefits of the solutions (not looking for the right answer, just practice writing)
9. For example, employment upon graduation from college increases 10%, improved writing ability, etc.
10. Articulate the risks of the solutions & how to mitigate those risks
11. What, if any, are the risks with the recommendations & how can we be sure to minimize those?
12. Lay out the timeline (when can the recommended changes be implemented

• Audience, Tone, and Formality
  • Writer demonstrates understanding of the level of context the intended audience needs
  • Tone & word choice is professional & straightforward, with little to no ambiguity
• Formatting
  • No more than 1 page, can be single or 1.5 spaced
  • Header is left justified & lists (Executive Summary: Title, Prepared By:Name, Date: ___)
  • Organizational devices such as bullet points or section headings (left-justified & bolded) are utilized to guide the eye of the reader and make content easier to digest (if needed)
• Mechanics
  • Controls mechanics of standard English (punctuation, spelling, grammar)
  • Transition sentences in & out of paragraphs provide the reader with a smooth & easy read.

Executive Summary #2 Rubric

COURSE DESCRIPTION- BUSN-325-905 – ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION.

Your effectiveness as a professional in any area of human endeavor depends in part on your ability to communicate complex ideas with both tone and depth. Even if you don’t possess much natural ability in this area, this course will master the skills to communicate your ideas for maximum impact through professional presentations, written business messages, and small talk conversations.

By strengthening your approach to written and oral communications, investigating your audience and situational context, and defining your communication goals, you will learn to employ the ideal communication method for each unique business situation you encounter.

Throughout this course, you will be given the opportunity to put your skills to the test as you practice writing business messages, job-search techniques, nonverbal communication, and effective presentations, while also refining the skills often perceived as most difficult: speaking in front of an audience and engaging listeners.

By the end of this course, you will have created a career development strategy, and have a stronger ability to describe, evaluate, develop, and improve communication in business and your professional brand!

Course Description

A study of the interpersonal, team, and organizational communication practices in modern dynamic work and virtual environments. This course includes dealing with written business messages, report writing, job-search techniques, nonverbal communication, oral presentations, and intercultural communication. The focus will include both theoretical constructs and skill development. (3 lecture hours. 3 credits.)

This course includes

• Creating or updating your resume
• Writing unique cover letters
• Enhancing your professional Social Media profiles
• Meeting with a representative from the School of Business Career Services
• Developing an elevator pitch and preparing for an interview
• Analyzing different types of digital messages used in a business context
• Writing executive summaries and memos

What you’ll do

• Identify personal communication styles and improve interpersonal written and oral communication skills.
• Identify the appropriate type of communication method for different scenarios.
• Analyze and meet the needs of varied audiences.
• Design professional-level documents and presentations.
• Compose business emails, memos, and letters for routine, bad-news, & persuasive situations that meet the needs of the audience and context.
• Write professional business documents and messages.
• Adapt messages to existing and emerging technologies.
• Demonstrate a professional image.
• Identify internship and job opportunities in alignment with personal skills, values, and interests, and effectively communicate how their experiences meet industry and employer needs.

SYLLABUS

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will have the ability to describe, evaluate, develop, and
improve communication in business and their professional brand. Specifically, students will be
able to (M=Module):

● Demonstrate ability to design application documents that are “employer ready” (M1).
● Demonstrate ability to engage in professional environments in person and online (M1).
●  Identify  internship  and  job  opportunities  in  alignment  with  personal  skills,  values,  and
interests, and effectively communicate how their experiences meet industry and employer
needs (M1).
● Demonstrate ability to write professional business documents and messages (M2).
●  Compose  business  emails,  memos,  and  letters  for  routine,  bad-news,  &  persuasive
situations that meet the needs of the audience and context (M2).
● Adapt messages to existing and emerging technologies (M2).
● Analyze and meet the needs of varied audiences (M2).
●  Identify personal communication styles and improve interpersonal communication skills
(M3).
● Identify the appropriate type of communication method for different scenarios (M3).
●  Demonstrate ability to develop professional business presentations (M4)
●  Demonstrate ability evaluate various company cultures at a macro level (M4)
●  Develop awareness of behavior that oftentimes leads to success in the workplace (M4)

Each student is able to move through content in the modules at their own pace once they become
available. Just be sure to pay attention to assignment & quiz due dates, those are set in stone.

The syllabus is broken down into modules, but you will also see a weekly structure that suggests
how to move through the content in accordance with assignment due dates.

• Module Video Content & Readings
  You will see topics listed throughout the syllabus within the 4 modules. Each topic has a video
  associated with it, which are all on Canvas. Some have readings associated as well and you will
  see that those readings are conveniently hyperlinked throughout the syllabus.
• Content Quizzes
  It is important that you complete the video content & readings for two reasons. One, if you do not
  complete the content, it is likely that you will have a tough time achieving a high score on the
  assignments that are associated with the content. Two, there are quizzes on Canvas for each
  piece of content, and all together, they are 125 pts of your grade. To score well on those, it is
  important to watch the videos & complete the readings.

Guidelines for written work:
●  In the heading, include student name, date, instructor name, and course
●  1-inch margins, double spaced
●  11-12 pt. font: Times New Roman, Calibri, Cambria
●  Written work is independent. Team writing, outside of the team presentation, is not
permitted

Completing Video Content & Readings
You are expected to complete the video content & readings. Most video content is tied directly
to  assignments.  To  score  well  on  assignments,  it  is  crucial  to  complete  the  video
recordings & readings. Slides will be posted in Canvas. There will be quizzes for each piece
of video content.

Late Assignment Policy
Late assignments are accepted up to 14 days after the assignment due date, but 5 points are
deducted  for  every  day  an  assignment  is  late.  Discretion  can  be  used  by  the  instructor
depending on the circumstance of the late submission. No late assignments will be accepted
once the assignment is closed on Canvas (14+ days after the assignment due date).