MA602 - Professional Communication

Credit Points: 15 credit points

Workload: 36 hours

Prerequisite: N/A

Co-requisite: N/A

Aims & Objectives

This is a Year 2, Elective Unit in the Master of Professional Accounting. For Course Learning Outcomes and further information relating to Master of Professional Accounting program please visit our website:  http://www.mit.edu.au/study-with-us/programs/master-professional-accounting.

MA602 Professional Communication focuses on interpersonal job-oriented skills through an exploration of the main issues associated with human relations, critical thinking and communication in organisations. The unit explores effective communication in workplace environments. The unit addresses interpersonal communication skills, and examines theory and practice with regard to sustaining effective interpersonal relationships. By using rational thinking and reasoning skills the unit explores ways to enhance the assertive quality of arguments required in business communication. This unit uses a mixture of teaching approaches designed to involve you, the learner, as an active participant in your own development as a self-leader and futuristic global minded professional person.

In the Master of Professional Accounting at Melbourne Institute of Technology, professional communication studies are more than the development of communication skills: it extends to an understanding of how to apply verbal vocabularies, non-verbal gestures and theories learned in all other subjects within the business environment.

This unit will cover the following topics:

  • Developing Teamwork Skills
  • Interpersonal Skills for the Digital World; and Job Search and Career Management Skills
  • Interpersonal Communication; Group Problem Solving and Decision Making
  • Building Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence
  • Enhancing Ethical Behaviour
  • Motivating Others
  • Becoming an effective leader
  • Understanding Individual Differences
  • Cross-Cultural Relations and Diversity
  • Resolving Conflicts with Others    

Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

The Course learning outcomes applicable to this unit are listed on the Melbourne Institute of Technology’s website:  http://www.mit.edu.au/study-with-us/programs/master-professional-accounting.  

Unit Learning Outcome

At the completion of this unit, students will be able to: 
a. Demonstrate improvements in interpersonal skills through active participation in all units, and describe ways to develop interpersonal skills in the workplace environment.
b. Improve your self-esteem, self-confidence and self-efficacy, measurable by enhanced interpersonal interactions. 
c. Participate more effectively and openly in groups, and different types of teams, while understanding the advantages and disadvantages of teams.
d. Develop an approach to problem-solving in groups, and increase the efficiency of your contribution to group problem-solving.
e. Devise methods to motivate yourself and others, with a focus on improving your academic performance.
f. Determine new insights into conducting a job search and identify career-enhancing strategies and tactics.

Assessment

Assessment Task Due Date A B Unit Learning Outcomes
1. Contribution and Participation Weeks 1-12 - 6% a-f
2. Formative Assessment Week 3 - 4% a
3. Assignment [Individual] Week 7 15% - a,b,f
4. Project [Group] Week 10 20% - a-f
5. Presentation [Individual] Week 10 - 5% b-e
6. Case Study Analysis [Individual] (3 hours) TBA - 50% a-f
TOTALS   35% 65% 100%

Task Type: Type A: unsupervised, Type B: supervised.


Contribution and Participation (6%)

This unit has class participation as an assessment. The assessment task and marking rubric will follow the Guidelines on Assessing Class Participation (https://www.mit.edu.au/about-us/governance/institute-rules-policies-and-plans/policies-procedures-and-guidelines/Guidelines_on_Assessing_Class_Participation). Further details will be provided in the assessment specification on the type of assessment tasks and the marking rubrics.

Teaching Methods

NOTE: All School of Business units 3-hour workshops Flipped Classroom Mode.

Textbook and Reference Materials


Note: Students are required to purchase the prescribed textbook and have it available each week in class.

Copies of the textbook are available in the MIT Library.

Prescribed Text Book

  • Dubrin, A. J (2015). Human Relations: Interpersonal Job-Oriented Skills (12th edition.). Upper Saddle, New Jersey 07458, Pearson Education. 

Other recommended texts

  • Cottrell, S. (2011). Palgrave Study Skills: Critical Thinking Skills (Any Edition). Houndmills, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • DuBrin, A. J. (2015). Human relations: Interpersonal job-oriented skills (11th edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
  • Dwyer, J (2016). The Business Communication Handbook (10th edition). South Melbourne, Victoria, Cengage Learning Australia.
  • Gibblings, M (2018) Career Leap: How to Reinvent and Liberate your Career. Milton/Queensland: Australia, Wiley.
  • Lees, J (2017-18). How to Get a Job You Love. London: United Kingdom, McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Smith-Worthington, D. & Jefferson, S. (2008). Technical Writing for Success (3rd edition). Mason, OH: South Western Cengage Learning.

Website References

career.com.au; seek.com.au; au.indeed.com

Journals and Business publications

  • Ayub, S.H., Manaf, N.A., Hamzah, M.R. (2014). Leadership: Communicating Strategically in the 21st Century, The International Conference on Communication and Media, 18-20 October, Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 502-506. 
  • Malisuwan, S & Kaewphanuekrungsi, W, (2016). Analysis of roadmaps and trends for mobile communication technology in Thailand, International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), vol:7, Issue 1, Jan-Feb, 68-79. 
  • Shonubi, A.O & Akinataro, A.A (2016). The Impact of Effective Communication on Organizational Performance, The International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Invention, vol:3, no:3. 
  • Check the unit Moodle page for additional recommended readings throughout the trimester.
  • The Referencing style for this unit is APA: See the MIT Library Referencing webpage: https://library.mit.edu.au/referencing/APA and the Unit Moodle page for additional referencing support material and weblinks.

Graduate Attributes

MIT is committed to ensure the course is current, practical and relevant so that graduates are “work ready” and equipped for life-long learning. In order to accomplish this, the MIT Graduate Attributes identify the required knowledge, skills and attributes that prepare students for the industry.
The level to which Graduate Attributes covered in this unit are as follows:

Ability to communicate Independent and Lifelong Learning Ethics Analytical and Problem Solving Cultural and Global Awareness Team work Specialist knowledge of a field of study

Legend

Levels of attainment Extent covered
The attribute is covered by theory and practice, and addressed by assessed activities in which the students always play an active role, e.g. workshops, lab submissions, assignments, demonstrations, tests, examinations.
The attribute is covered by theory or practice, and addressed by assessed activities in which the students mostly play an active role, e.g. discussions, reading, intepreting documents, tests, examinations.
The attribute is discussed in theory or practice; it is addressed by assessed activities in which the students may play an active role, e.g. lectures and discussions, reading, interpretation, workshops, presentations.
The attribute is presented as a side issue in theory or practice; it is not specifically assessed, but it is addressed by activities such as lectures or tutorials.
The attribute is not considered, there is no theory or practice or activities associated with this attribute.