2.6 Communication
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
- George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950), Irish playwright
Effective communication is essential for business success. Without effective communications, misunderstandings and conflict are more likely to occur, which negatively impacts on all aspects of an organization's activities and operations. For example, communication is one of the four key factors that affect effective crisis management (HL only).
Communication skills are also an important as one of the five approaches to learning (ATL). The IB Business Management course emphasizes the development of strong written, verbal, and visual communication skills (see the DP Business Management guide, page 16).
The learning outcomes (or assessment objectives) for this section of the IB Business Management syllabus are:
Formal and informal methods of communication for an organization in a given situation (AO3)
Barriers to communication (AO2)
Teacher only boxNote to teachers
Note that although this appears as a completely new section of the syllabus, communication did feature is some parts of the previous syllabus (final exams N23):
Unit 2.1 Functions and evolution of human resource management - Internal and external factors that influence human resource planning (such as demographic change, change in labour mobility, new communication technologies) (AO3)
Unit 2.2 Organizational structure - How cultural differences and innovation in communication technologies may impact on communication in an organization (AO3)
Unit 2.6 Industrial/employee relations (HL only) - Human resource strategies for reducing the impact of change and resistance to change (such as getting agreement/ownership, planning and timing the change and communicating the change) (AO3)
Unit 5.7 Crisis management and contingency planning (HL only) - The following factors that affect effective crisis management: Transparency, Communication, Speed, and Control (AO2).
Therefore, it may be possible for teachers to use some of their previous resources for the above sections and to update these for the new syllabus when covering formal and informal methods of communication as well as the barriers to effective communications.
Watch this short comedy scene which highlights a far more serious message about the importance of effective communications in the workplace.
InThinking resources
Click the hyperlinks below to access the InThinking resources for this particular section of the IB Business Management syllabus.
Top tip for teachers
Advice for teachers teaching EAL/ESL students
A commonly asked question from workshop participants is how best to support EAL/ESL students in their learning of Business Management.
Some suggestions are outlined in the Teacher only box below.
Teacher only boxDevelop vocabulary lists that are related to each topic area of the new syllabus. Stick closely to the syllabus language (vocabulary and terminology) and repeat these where you can (but not to the point where it becomes completely unnatural). The glossary of key terms here might also help your students.
Avoid more complicated constructions (for example, avoid phrasal verbs, use active voice instead of passive verbs, and avoid colloquial language where you can).
Avoid overly lengthy sentences. Be concise and as clear as possible.
Model the kind of language that we might expect students to produce in the exam.
Give thinking time without extra language input.
Notice and acknowledge both verbal and non-verbal communication from students.
Provide opportunities for group work so students can communicate with and support each other.
Use visual stimuli to support knowledge and understanding.
Click to return to the Unit 2 - Human resource management homepage
