Course Outline

BUS100 Strategic Business Communication

Course Coordinator:Karen Sutherland (ksutherl@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

In this course, you will explore how communication influences leadership and decision-making in business settings. You'll learn to recognise and apply key strategic communication theories, use AI ethically in persuasive messaging, and develop practical skills for handling conflict and negotiating with confidence.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities 1hr Week 1 11 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled face to face workshops. 2hrs Week 1 11 times
Online
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities 1hr Week 1 11 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled online workshops. 2hrs Week 1 11 times

Course Topics

  1. Communication and business (course introduction, communication model, why communication is essential in business and leadership).
  2. AI and communication (reliability, ethics, prompting, fact-checking).
  3. Leadership and communication (leadership styles, group dynamics and the influence of communication).
  4. Persuasive communication (emotional intelligence, non-verbal communication, personality, interpersonal relations and skills).
  5. Negotiation (principles of negotiation, strategies and techniques of bargaining, influences on negotiation).
  6. Conflict resolution (what is conflict, why conflict isn’t always bad, assertive communication, dispute resolution, crisis communication).
  7. Selling and sales.
  8. Cross-cultural communication.
  9. Internal communication.
  10. Public communication.
  11. Virtual collaboration and communication.

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
1 Apply professional communication skills to inform, influence, or persuade diverse audiences across business contexts. Empowered
PC1, PC1.1, PC1.2, PC1.3
2 Demonstrate socially responsible communication practices in persuasive messaging and leadership. Ethical
PC1, PC3, PC3.1, PC5
3 Analyse and apply strategic communication concepts to address business problems and support decision-making. Creative and critical thinker
PC1.1, PC6.2
4 Analyse how emerging communication technologies, including AI, can be used ethically and effectively in business communication. Knowledgeable
PC3, PC4, PC5, PC5.1
5 Evaluate media and communication practices across intercultural and international business contexts. Sustainability-focussed
PC1, PC1.1, PC1.2, PC1.3, PC6

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
PC1 Communication
PC1.1 Written Communication
PC1.2 Oral Communication
PC1.3 Digital Literacy
PC3 Creative and Critical Thinking
PC3.1 Problem Solving
PC4 Community Consciousness
PC5 Cultural Awareness
PC5.1 Diversity
PC6 Career-ready
PC6.2 Discipline Knowledge

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Early feedback will be provided through formative assessments.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Artefact - Creative Individual 50%
2,000 words (including AI generated essay).
Week 6 Online Submission
All 2 Portfolio Individual 50%
Approximately 2600 words equivalent, with adjustments based on communication modality.
Week 12 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:AI essay response
Goal:
In this assessment you will prompt a generative AI tool (e.g. ChatGPT, Copilot) to write a 500-word essay on the importance of strategic communication. You must briefly outline your iterative prompts and working, critique/annotate/fact-check/edit the essay (500 words) and write a 1000-word response outlining the pros and cons of using AI to write strategic business communication.
Product: Artefact - Creative
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Word doc or PDF
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Prompting and AI Engagement
4
2
Critical Analysis
3
3
Contextual and Cultural Awareness
2 5
4
Clarity and Communication
1
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Business Communication Portfolio
Goal:
In this task, you will apply your knowledge of strategic and professional communication by compiling and analysing a portfolio of business communication artefacts from class (worked on in workshops throughout the semester) and annotate/explain/justify their choices and working. Examples include meeting plans, emails, conversation flow charts, webinar plan, external communication plan aspects.
Product: Portfolio
Authorship Statement:
Format:
A series of digital multimodal business communication artefacts produced and compiled throughout the term, incorporating written, visual, and other relevant elements, accompanied by a written piece analysing the work and explaining communication choices.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Clarity and Communication
1
2
Ethical and Social Responsibility
2
3
Application of Strategic Concepts
3
4
Digital and Technological Integration
4
5
Contextual and Cultural Awareness
5
Generic Skills:
Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy

Assessment to competency mapping

Programme Delivery Mode Assessment Type Title Competency Teaching Methods
2020 UniSC Business School Standards Undergraduate
All delivery modes Artefact - Creative AI essay response PC1.1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
PC3.1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Portfolio Business Communication Portfolio PC1.1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
PC3.1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
PC5.1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: