Undergraduate Courses 2025-26

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LABU

Language for Business

LABU 2040
Business Case Analyses
3 Credit(s)
Prerequisite(s)
LANG 1403 OR LANG 1404 OR LANG 1003 (prior to 2022-23)
Exclusion(s)
LABU 2051, LABU 2052
Description
This course seeks to equip students with persuasive communication skills, both oral and written, through analyzing business cases and presenting solutions to problems identified. It provides students with a solid framework and hands-on practice to communicate persuasively and professionally in business settings. In presenting the case problem, analysis and recommendations, students learn to identify issues, develop and organize key ideas, and eventually to persuade the audience of the validity of the arguments and proposed actions. The course sharpens students' ability to explain and support ideas logically, coherently and cohesively using various techniques, to communicate clearly, concisely and accurately, and in appropriate tone and style. Through a range of learning activities involving reading, discussion, writing and making oral presentations, students also develop critical reading, critical thinking and problem solving skills as well as teamwork and leadership skills. For students who have this course as a program requirement.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Write with effectiveness and tactfulness:
  - Adapt the message to the purpose and context of the communication and to the audience's needs;
  - Identify, develop and organize ideas logically, coherently and cohesively (e.g. use relevant evidence, the pyramid principle, paragraphing such as time order, structural order, and degree order, pronouns, synonyms,and fronting);
  - Use clear, concise and accurate language;
  - Adjust style and tone to suit the purpose, context and audience
- 2.
  Give an oral presentation effectively to persuade others:
  - Identify and adapt the message to the purpose, context and audience's needs;
  - Identify, develop and organize ideas logically, coherently and cohesively;
  - Create effective openings (e.g. hook the audience using stories, belief statements, rhetorical questions, statistics, video/graphics; give an overview of the situation; preview content; establish common ground; andbuild credibility);
  - Use rhetorical signposts and memory aids/meta-commentary (e.g. use old-to-new transitions, parallel sentence structure, repetition of key words/ideas, numbers, and thesis restatement);
  - Create effective closings (e.g. use a summary statement, a call to action, and a request for questions);
  - Use voice (e.g. pace, volume, emphasis, pauses and intonation) effectively to enhance the message;
  - Create effective visual aids (e.g. 'clean', relevant, understandable, consistent);
  - Demonstrate confidence, engage the audience and establish rapport using space, eye-contact, gestures and movement meaningfully;
  - Handle question and answer sessions professionally
- 3.
  Develop critical reading, critical thinking and problem-solving skills by analyzing/interpreting a business case (defining the problem, conducting quantitative/qualitative analysis, evaluating solutions, makingrecommendations, creating an action plan)
- 4.
  Apply knowledge/concepts across business disciplines
- 5.
  Display teamwork and leadership skills
- 6.
  Manage learning individually and in teams
- 7.
  Use technology to enhance learning
- 8.
  Demonstrate awareness of cultural sensitivity and ethical issues
LABU 2051
Business Case Analyses I
2 Credit(s)
Prerequisite(s)
LANG 1403 OR LANG 1404 OR LANG 1003 (prior to 2022-23)
Description
For students who have this course as a program requirement. This course lays the foundation for students to engage in business case analyses by developing their critical reading and thinking skills, as well as their ability to present case analysis findings and recommendations in spoken and written forms.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Understand and apply decision-making principles in business contexts across various disciplines.
- 2.
  Write effective recommendation reports by adapting the message to the purpose, context, and audience; structuring and organizing ideas logically and cohesively; and using appropriate tone, style, and language.
- 3.
  Deliver effective oral presentations by tailoring the message to the purpose, context, and audience; organizing ideas logically; and using voice, pronunciation, body language, and appropriate language to engage and sustain the audience's attention.
- 4.
  Critically analyze business cases, identify problems, research and evaluate information, generate solutions, and make justified recommendations.
- 5.
  Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues.
- 6.
  Display teamwork and leadership skills, manage learning individually and in teams, and use technology to enhance learning.
LABU 2052
Business Case Analyses II
2 Credit(s)
Prerequisite(s)
LABU 2051
Description
For students who have this course as a program requirement. This course builds on the foundation built in LABU 2051 and further develops students' ability to comprehend and analyze business cases, and eventually to present findings and recommendations clearly and persuasively.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Apply critical thinking, problem-solving skills and the principles of decision-making in business contexts across two business disciplines, namely finance and management.
- 2.
  Analyze business cases, and generate and evaluate recommendations by applying relevant business concepts and theories.
- 3.
  Act as business consultants to persuade a variety of external business audiences through financial consultations and oral presentations.
- 4.
  Construct persuasive emails as senior managers to respond to internal and external audiences.
- 5.
  Execute teamwork and leadership skills, and evaluate personal and peer performance.
- 6.
  Display awareness of ethical issues and social responsibilities in both local and global business contexts.
LABU 2060
Effective Communication in Business
3 Credit(s)
Prerequisite(s)
LANG 1403 OR LANG 1404 OR LANG 1003 (prior to 2022-23)
Description
The course activates students' previously acquired English language skills into a useful managerial communication toolkit targeted toward specific business applications and strategies. Students will learn how to be an effective communicator in the global workplace. The course is designed and structured to address the learning needs of students in job-seeking and in their early careers. Students will have opportunities to learn and practice how to succeed in business writing, presentations, interviews, meetings, and collaborative assignments. The course also introduces students to strategies for handling the communication challenges which fresh graduates can expect in the global workplace. For students who have this course as a program requirement.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Recognize how communication takes place through different channels and in different directions within an organization
- 2.
  Understand the importance of intercultural communication to career success in a global work environment
- 3.
  Think critically and analyze business-related issues in a critical manner
- 4.
  Demonstrate competence in selecting, synthesizing and using information to inform discussion and decision-making
- 5.
  Give effective oral presentations to a business audience to address needs and concerns; influence decisions and choice; and achieve business objectives
- 6.
  Write a well-researched business document to analyze issues, summarize views and practices, discuss implications; and propose solutions
- 7.
  Demonstrate leadership and team skills in teamwork
- 8.
  Give and take feedback in a team

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