IGNOU BCS-55 - Business Communication

Q1. Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow: It is rare to find someone with good technical and communication skills. You can get far ahead of your colleagues if you combine the two early in your career. People will judge, evaluate, promote or block you based on your communication skills. Since habits form by repeating both good and bad forms of communication, learn to observe great communicators and adapt their styles and traits in written and verbal forms. The art of listening and learning from each and every interaction is another secret recipe. Develop the subconscious habit of listening to yourself as you speak and know when to pause. Learning what not to say is probably more important than learning what to say. As your career develops, you will realise that the wise speak less. Speak when you have value to add, else refrain. Poorly constructed e-mails with grammatical errors are acceptable between friends, but they should be seriously avoided while communicating formally with your seniors. Avoid any communication in an emotional state when you might say things you will regret later. One unnecessary word uttered at the wrong time or place can ruin a relationship, career or even your life. Such is the power of words. If such a thing happens, you should immediately apologise, else it may haunt you for life. Another problem to overcome is speaking too fast since our minds are working faster than our speech, we are inclined to speak fast. This does not necessarily mean that the person hearing it will get it any faster. On the contrary, it is always the reverse. So slow down, think before you speak. “When I get ready to speak to people,” Abraham Lincoln said, “I spend two-thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one-third thinking what I want to say.” Adding humour and it is also essential. But realise that not all jokes are funny and observe certain boundaries. Never say anything that could offend. Remember you are not a comedian who must offend as many people as you can to be witty. (a) Why is it necessary to have good communication skills? (b) How can communication skills be developed? (c) What according to the writer should be avoided while communicating? (d) Why should you be careful when you tend to be humorous? (e) Choose the most appropriate meaning of the given words from the options provided. Evaluate: (i) estimate (ii) assume (iii) punish (iv) evolve (f) Choose the most appropriate meaning of the given words from the options provided. Trait: (i) treaty (ii) trail (iii) quality (iv) liberty (g) Choose the most appropriate meaning of the given words from the options provided Utter: (i) flatter (ii) speak (iii) rot (iv) unique (h) Choose the most appropriate meaning of the given words from the options provided Haunt: (i) hunt (ii) chant (iii) trouble (iv) avoid (i) Make two sentences using any of the two words given below: Avoid, verbal, subconscious, inclined, adapt, interaction Q2. The students in your study centre do not have a clean place to eat in the campus. Write a letter to the head of the study centre, persuading him/her to get one built. Describe in detail the requirements and give suggestions for the same on how this might be done. Q3. Write short notes on any two of the following: a) Phone interviews. b) Walk-in interviews. c) Active Listening Skills. d) Using Positive Influencing Skills in the Workplace. Q4. Complete the sentences with the comparative or superlative form of the adjective/adverb. 1. The little boy ran ____ (fast) than his friends. 2. He played ____(good) than any player. 3. You are driving _____(bad) today than yesterday! 4. Jim works ___(hard) than his brother. 5. Everyone in the race ran fast, but John ran the____(fast) of all. Q5. Change the following into passive voice: 1. The teacher asked a difficult question. 2. She made an attempt. 3. She wrote an award-winning novel. 4. The police caught the thief. 5. We must speak the truth. Q6. Complete the following sentences by putting the verbs in the Simple Past, Past Perfect or Past Continuous Tense: (a) Although we…………..(invest) a lot of money in the project, we ………….. (decide) to pull out of it. (b) When her father…………..(die), she …………..(run) the business. (c) Vikas Mathur…………..(be) in charge of the shop in Gurgaon before he …………..(take) over the company. (d) While my father…………..(build up) the business in the North, I …………..(do) the same in the South. (e) While Nautan…………..(talk) to the Manager, the workers………….. (pack) the garments ready for dispatch. Q7. Fill in the blanks with suitable articles (a/an, the or no article) (10) (a) I saw ____ bird flying in ____ sky. We went to ____ beach and enjoyed ____ sun and ____ sand. (b) …………..mangoes are selling at Rs. 40 …………..kilo. (c) Is this …………..book you were telling me about? Yes, it is about …………..life of …………..Ambedkar. Q8. Elaborate on different kinds of communication with suitable examples. Discuss kinds of communication and their appropriateness (20) Q9. Write an e-mail to your friend sharing your carrier goals. Give appropriate reasons for your choice and how that would be meaningful for the society at large.

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow: Job interviews can be difficult and stressful. If you are currently looking for work and preparing yourself for an interview there are a few areas to consider in order mastering an interview. They are: Practice: The first thing needed is practice, as “practice makes perfect’”. This is especially true when it comes to job interviews. The more you practice, the better you will become. The best way to practice for an interview is to look at the typical questions that are asked during the interview. While some of the questions may be different, there are a few generic questions that will be asked commonly. However, it isn’t just enough to know the answers to these questions. You must know how to answer them. The way you answer is just as important as the questions themselves. When attending an interview, you should be able to explain with examples how you’ve used your skills and experience to solve problems. You thus build your credibility and impress the person interviewing you. Anyone can list their skills on a piece of paper. However, it takes a high level of skill to explain these things in detail during the interview process. Prepare: The next thing needed is to be prepared. The best way is to review the common questions which will be asked. Never allow yourself to be caught off guard. Surprises lead to failure, and can stop you from getting the job. Learn the name of the person who is conducting the interview, and use it while speaking to them. This conveys the message that you are professional and polite. Attire: Once you are prepared, you will next need to dress appropriately for the interview. Proper interview etiquette requires interviewees to be in an attire that is fitting to the environment around them. Always remember not to overdress and under-dress. Along with dressing well and decently, neatness in appearance matters a lot, too. Clothes should be wellpressed and aptly worn. Shoes should be polished and must be appropriate for the occasion. A pair of black shoes for men is a neutral and safe colour that goes along with any colour of the suit. Ladies must refrain from shoe colours that are too bright especially if it does not complement the dress worn. Hair should be well-combed and nails must be properly trimmed . Keep the make-up and cologne or perfume light. Make sure you wear minimal and unobtrusive jewellery. Do not wear bracelets, bangles or anklets that make a rattling sound. Body language: Everybody uses body language, but it takes place mostly at a subconscious level. It gives out a lot of information on the type of person one is. Based on the body language it can be seen if one comes across as insecure or self-assured, a busy or a quiet type, stressed out or relaxed and whether one is speaking truthfully or not. Q1. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false statements. (a) In any interview situation most of the questions are those which are commonly asked in all interviews. (b) It is important to answer all the questions asked in an interview. (c) How one uses one’s previous experience and skill set to solve problems at the workplace makes a positive impression in an interview. (d) It is not important to know the name of the person who is interviewing you. (e) Ladies must wear makeup and wear jewellery so that they look good at an interview. Q2. Answer the following questions. You may also include your own views if required. (a) What do you think are some of the generic questions that are commonly asked at interviews? List four such questions. (b) Keeping the suggestions given in the section on attire how would you dress for an interview? (c) Give an appropriate title to the passage. Q3. Give the opposite of the following words. You will find these words in the passage. (a) Peaceful (b) Previously (c) Specific (d) unusual/unique (e) Success (f) Rude Q4. Find the meaning of the following words/phrases and use them in sentences of your own: (a) build your credibility (b) caught off guard (c) Etiquette (d) refrain from Q5. Complete the following sentences by putting the verbs in the Simple Past, Past Perfect or Past Continuous Tense: (a) Although we…………..(invest) a lot of money in the project, we ………….. (decide) to pull out of it. (b) When his father…………..(die), he …………..(run) the business. (c) Arjun Sembale…………..(be) in charge of the shop in Gurgaon before he …………..(take) over the company. (d) While my father…………..(build up) the business in the North, I …………..(do) the same in the South. (e) While Natalia…………..(talk) to the Manager, the workers………….. (pack) the garments ready for dispatch. Q6. Fill in the blanks with suitable articles (a/an, the or no article Ǿ): (a) …………..people often say that …………..writer’s life is unimportant, and all that matters is in …………..books. That is usually …………..exaggeration. Books are important but …………..lives are important too. (b) …………..mangoes are selling at Rs. 40 …………..kilo. (c) Is this …………..book you were telling me about? Yes, it is about …………..life of …………..Ambedkar. Q7. As a warden of kaveri hostel, you have noticed that some of the students residing in this hostel smoke and drink in the night. This is against the rules. Write a memo to the students: (a) Clearly forbidding them from smoking and drinking (b) Stating the punishment that will be meted out to them if they are caught smoking/drinking in the hostel premises Q8. Discuss the different styles of communication. What kind of style do you prefer and Why? Q9. Imagine that you attended one of the following courses during the summer vacation last year: • A course in Python • A course in Cyber Security Write a report on the course mentioning: (a) Factual details (b) Effectiveness and limitations of the course (c) Lab Facilities Q10. You are a group of 6 friends, interested in visiting Vietnam. You have seen an advertisement of Awesome Travels on the web. Write an email to them to enquire about a one week trip to Vietnam. Ask about the following: • Visiting Places • Accommodation • Organization of sightseeing • Total cost per head • Itinerary