BUSINESS COMMUNICATION I - HSNCU - NEP

MODULE 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF COMMUNICATION

The concept of communication – Meaning and definition, Process, Feedback

Channels of communication – Formal & Informal

Methods of Communication – Verbal, Non-Verbal, and Technology Enabled Communication (Effective Presentation Skills)

Barriers to Communication – Physical, Semantic /Language, Socio cultural, and Psychological barriers, Ways of Overcoming these barriers

Listening – Barriers to Listening, Ways to Listen

Etiquette in Formal Communication: Etiquette at the workplace, Etiquette while communicating via internet, Phone and social media

 

Module 2  Written communication in organizations

Components of formal letter 

Job application letter and resume

Letter of acceptance of job offer

Statement of purpose

Letter of resignation

Sales letters

JOB APPLICATION LETTER

A job application letter is a formal letter written by a person who is interested in a particular job. It is usually sent along with a resume/CV and introduces the applicant to the employer.

The purpose of a job application letter is to:

• Introduce yourself to the employer.
• Mention the position you are applying for.
• Highlight your relevant qualifications and skills.
• Show your interest in the organisation.
• Request an opportunity for an interview.

 

Format of a Job Application Letter

1. Sender's Address: Write your address at the top.

2. Date: Mention the date below the sender's address.

3. Receiver's Address: Write the designation and address of the person/organisation receiving the application.

4. Subject: Clearly mention the position you are applying for.

Example: Subject: Application for the Post of Content Writer

5. Salutation: Use a formal greeting.

Example: Dear Sir/Madam,

6. Opening Paragraph: Mention:

• The position you are applying for.
• Where you came across the job vacancy.
• Your basic qualification.

7. Main Paragraph: Briefly explain:

• Your educational qualifications.
• Relevant experience.
• Skills and strengths.
• Why you are suitable for the position.

8. Closing Paragraph: Express your interest in an interview and thank the employer.

9. Complimentary Close: Use:

Yours sincerely,
Yours faithfully,

10. Signature and Name: Write your name below the closing.

 

Sample Job Application Letter

From:
Rahul Sharma
24, Green Park Road
Mumbai – 400050

2 October 2026

To,
The HR Manager
Creative Media Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Mumbai – 400001

Subject: Application for the Post of Content Writer

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to apply for the post of Content Writer in your organisation, as advertised on your company website. I have recently completed my Bachelor's degree in Mass Media and Communication and am keen to begin my career in the field of content creation and digital media.

During my course, I developed skills in writing, editing, research and social media content creation. I have also worked on academic projects involving digital content and have experience in creating articles, captions and promotional content. I am creative, willing to learn and comfortable working as part of a team.

I believe that my communication skills, creativity and interest in digital media would enable me to contribute effectively to your organisation. I would be grateful for an opportunity to appear for an interview and discuss my suitability for the position.

I have enclosed my resume for your consideration. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,
Rahul Sharma

 

One important tip: A job application letter should not repeat the entire resume. It should briefly highlight the most relevant qualifications, skills and experience that make you suitable for the particular job.

 

ETIQUETTE WHILE COMMUNICATING VIA THE INTERNET, PHONE & SOCIAL MEDIA

Communication etiquette means the set of polite, respectful and responsible behaviours we follow while communicating with others. In today's digital world, we communicate through emails, messaging apps, phone calls, video calls and social media almost every day.

Good digital etiquette helps us communicate clearly, avoid misunderstandings and maintain healthy relationships. Since online communication does not always show our tone or emotions, we need to be especially careful about the words we use.

1. Internet Communication Etiquette: Internet communication includes emails, online chats, websites, discussion forums, video meetings and messaging platforms.

Important Rules

1. Use polite and respectful language

• Avoid rude, insulting or offensive words.
• Disagree with an idea without attacking the person.
• Use respectful language even when communicating with someone you do not know personally.

2. Think before you send

• Read your message once before clicking Send.
• Check whether the message could be misunderstood.
• Avoid sending messages when angry or emotionally upset.

3. Use appropriate subject lines in emails
A subject line should clearly tell the receiver what the email is about.

Example: Request for Permission to Attend the Workshop

4. Avoid writing everything in CAPITAL LETTERS

Writing an entire message in capital letters may appear as if you are shouting.

Do not write: PLEASE SEND THE FILE TODAY.
Instead use: Could you please send the file today?

5. Respect people's time

• Do not send unnecessary forwards or repeated messages.
• Avoid expecting an immediate response.
• Use appropriate communication channels for urgent matters.

6. Be careful with emojis and abbreviations
Emojis can make informal communication friendly, but they may not be appropriate in every situation.

For example, avoid excessive emojis while communicating with a teacher, employer or official institution.

7. Check information before forwarding: Do not blindly forward:

• Rumours
• Fake news
• Unverified information
• Misleading photographs or videos
• Unverified health or financial advice

8. Protect privacy: Never share another person's:

• Phone number
• Photograph
• Personal messages
• Documents
• Location
• Private information

without permission.

 

2. Phone Etiquette: Phone etiquette refers to appropriate behaviour while making or receiving phone calls.

Important Rules

1. Greet the person politely: Start with a greeting.

Example: “Good morning, Professor. This is Rahul from FYBMS.”

2. Introduce yourself: Do not expect the person to immediately recognise your number.

3. Ask if it is a convenient time to talk

For example: “Is this a good time to speak with you?”

This is especially important when calling teachers, employers or professionals.

4. Speak clearly

• Use a moderate volume.
• Speak slowly and clearly.
• Avoid shouting.
• Avoid using too much slang in formal conversations.

5. Listen without interrupting: Good phone communication involves active listening. Allow the other person to complete their point.

6. Avoid unnecessary calls: Before calling, consider whether the matter can be communicated through a short message or email.

7. Keep your phone on silent in appropriate places: Switch to silent mode during:

• Classes
• Meetings
• Lectures
• Religious services
• Interviews
• Theatres
• Formal events

8. Avoid using the phone while talking to someone: Constantly looking at the phone while someone is speaking can appear disrespectful.

9. End the call politely: Use expressions such as:

“Thank you for your time.”
“It was nice speaking with you.”
“Have a good day.”

 

3. Social Media Etiquette

Social media etiquette refers to responsible and respectful behaviour on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, LinkedIn and X.

Important Rules

1. Think before you post

Remember:

“Post with purpose, not just because you can.”

Ask yourself:

• Is it true?
• Is it necessary?
• Is it respectful?
• Could it hurt someone?
• Would I be comfortable if this became public?

2. Respect other people's privacy: Do not upload photographs or videos of others without their consent, especially when the content is personal or sensitive.

3. Avoid cyberbullying: Do not:

• Insult people
• Troll others
• Spread rumours
• Make threatening comments
• Create embarrassing posts about someone

4. Do not misuse hashtags or tags: Avoid unnecessarily tagging people in unrelated posts or repeatedly mentioning them to attract attention.

5. Give credit to creators: If you use someone's:

• Photograph
• Artwork
• Video
• Music
• Article
• Idea

give appropriate credit and follow copyright rules.

6. Avoid oversharing: Not everything needs to be posted online. Be careful about sharing:

• Personal details
• Travel plans
• Financial information
• Private family matters
• Personal documents
• Real-time location

7. Do not engage in online arguments: A disagreement can quickly become hostile online. If the conversation becomes abusive, it is often better to stop responding, mute, block or report rather than continue the argument.

8. Maintain professionalism: Social media can influence how others perceive us professionally. Students and professionals should remember that inappropriate posts can affect their academic and career opportunities.

9. Respond appropriately to comments: You do not have to respond to every comment. When responding:

• Be respectful.
• Avoid personal attacks.
• Correct misinformation politely.
• Ignore deliberate provocation.

10. Remember the digital footprint: Everything posted online can potentially be:

• Saved
• Screenshot
• Shared
• Reposted
• Viewed by a much larger audience

Therefore, think before posting.

4. Netiquette – The Golden Rules

Netiquette means Internet + Etiquette. It refers to the accepted rules of polite and responsible behaviour online.

The 10 Golden Rules of Netiquette

1. Be respectful.
2. Think before you post or send.
3. Do not type in ALL CAPS unnecessarily.
4. Respect privacy.
5. Do not spread unverified information.
6. Give credit to original creators.
7. Avoid cyberbullying and trolling.
8. Keep personal and professional communication separate.
9. Respect people's time and boundaries.
10. Remember your digital footprint.

Remember: Good digital communication is not only about what we say; it is also about how, when and where we say it.

THINK → CHECK → RESPECT → SEND

This simple rule can help us become responsible digital citizens.

DIGITAL DHAROHAR - REIMAGINING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE FOR THE DIGITAL AGE

GROUP STRUCTURE: 4–5 students per group

Project Concept: Students will identify one traditional/indigenous knowledge system, cultural practice, craft, art form, food tradition, oral tradition, folk performance, healing practice, ecological practice, occupation or community tradition and transform it into a digital media story.

The objective is not simply to “make a video”. Students must explore: What is being lost? → Who keeps it alive? → What can digital media do? → How can young audiences reconnect with it?

THE BIG CHALLENGE: “Find something traditional that deserves to be remembered—and make the digital generation care about it.”

Students should choose something that is:

• disappearing
• misunderstood
• underrepresented
• practised by a small community
• passed down orally
• connected to a particular region
• threatened by modernisation
• interesting but unfamiliar to young people

WHAT CAN STUDENTS DOCUMENT? Students can choose ONE area.

Category	Possible Topics
🎭 Folk Arts	Powada, Tamasha, Lavani, Dashavatar, folk theatre
🎵 Music	Folk songs, traditional instruments, community music
🧵 Crafts	Warli art, Paithani, Kolhapuri craft, bamboo craft
🍲 Food	Traditional recipes, festival foods, community food practices
🌿 Ecology	Traditional water conservation, seed preservation, farming practices
🏠 Architecture	Traditional houses, village architecture, indigenous construction
👵 Oral Traditions	Folk tales, legends, proverbs, family histories
🧑‍🌾 Occupations	Traditional occupations and disappearing livelihoods
🪔 Festivals	Local rituals, community celebrations and their meanings
🧘 Knowledge Systems	Yoga traditions, Ayurveda-related traditional practices, local knowledge
🗣️ Language	Dialects, disappearing words, oral expressions
🎨 Regional Culture	Clothing, jewellery, visual traditions, symbols
🌊 Coastal Knowledge	Fishing traditions, boat-making, coastal practices
🌳 Tribal Knowledge	Forest knowledge, traditional ecological practices

 

Mumbai/Maharashtra possibilities: Students could explore:

• Koli community traditions
• Warli art
• Powada
• Lavani
• Maharashtrian folk theatre
• traditional food practices
• Parsi community traditions
• East Indian community culture
• traditional occupations in Mumbai
• Girgaon cultural traditions
• old neighbourhood stories
• traditional artisans and craftsmen
• disappearing Marathi words/expressions
• traditional fishing practices
• local architecture and heritage
• traditional festival practices

THE “DIGITAL DHAROHAR” FORMULA: Every group must answer these 5 questions:

1. WHAT?: What is the traditional knowledge/practice?

2. WHO?: Who possesses, practises or transmits this knowledge?

3. WHY?: Why is it culturally or socially important?

4. WHAT IS CHANGING?: Is the practice disappearing, changing or adapting?

5. WHAT CAN DIGITAL MEDIA DO?: Can YouTube, podcasts, Instagram, OTT or digital archives help preserve it?

CHOOSE YOUR DIGITAL FORMAT: Students can choose ONE primary format.

OPTION A – MINI DOCUMENTARY - Duration: 5–8 minutes

OPTION B – PODCAST: Duration: 8–12 minutes

OPTION C – SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN: Create a 7-day digital revival campaign.

OPTION D – DIGITAL ARCHIVE

OPTION E – “60-SECOND HERITAGE” SERIES: Create five 60-second videos. Each episode answers one question.

Episode 1: What is it?
Episode 2: Where did it come from?
Episode 3: Who keeps it alive?
Episode 4: Why is it disappearing?
Episode 5: Can Gen Z revive it?

 

DIGITAL FUTURE: How could digital media preserve/revive it?

For example: Grandmother's recipe book → family WhatsApp → Instagram Reel → YouTube archive

This makes the project directly connected to New Media.

THE “ONE PERSON, ONE STORY” RULE

To avoid generic internet-based projects: Every group must interact with at least ONE real knowledge-holder/practitioner.

Examples:

• artisan
• musician
• dancer
• storyteller
• craftsperson
• farmer
• fisherperson
• community elder
• traditional performer
• language expert
• cultural practitioner

Students must conduct an interview.

Minimum:,1 person + 5 meaningful questions + 1 recorded interview

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Students can use questions such as:

1. How did you learn this tradition?
2. Who taught you?
3. How has it changed over the years?
4. Do young people still practise it?
5. What is one thing outsiders commonly misunderstand about it?
6. What challenges does the tradition face?
7. What should young people know about it?
8. Can social media help preserve it?
9. Are you comfortable with your knowledge being digitally recorded?
10. What would you like future generations to remember?

 

THE “DIGITAL ETHICS” COMPONENT: This is an important part of the project. Students must understand: Not everything that can be recorded should automatically be uploaded.

Before recording: ASK → INFORM → CONSENT → RECORD → CREDIT → SHARE RESPONSIBLY

Students should consider:

• consent
• privacy
• cultural sensitivity
• copyright
• ownership of photographs
• ownership of traditional knowledge
• sacred/private practices
• commercial exploitation
• misrepresentation
• AI manipulation
• deepfakes
• inappropriate editing

“DIGITAL REVIVAL” CHALLENGE: Students must propose one realistic digital strategy for the tradition.

Examples: If documenting a disappearing craft:

YouTube: Documentary
Instagram: Reels
Podcast: Artisan stories
Google Drive/Website: Digital archive
QR Code: Link to archive
College exhibition: Physical display

Thus:

One tradition → Multiple digital platforms

THE 'DIGITAL TIME CAPSULE': Every group creates a digital time capsule titled:

“If Someone Finds This in 2050…”

Students record: “This is what we want future generations to know about ______.”

The time capsule should contain:

• 1 video
• 1 audio recording
• 5 photographs
• 1 interview
• 1 written account
• 1 message to the future

FINAL PROJECT SUBMISSION: Each group submits a Digital Dharohar Kit.

 

A. Research File: 1,000–1,500 words

Include:

1. Title
2. Introduction
3. Background of the tradition
4. Community/location
5. Knowledge-holder
6. Current status
7. Challenges
8. Role of digital media
9. Ethical considerations
10. Conclusion
11. References

B. Media Product: Choose ONE: Documentary, Podcast, Social media campaign, Digital archive OR Short video series

C. Digital Archive: Minimum:

• 5 photographs
• 1 interview
• 1 video/audio recording
• 1 written description
• source/credit information

D. Reflection Video: Each group submits a 2-minute reflection video answering:

“What did we understand about Indigenous Knowledge that we did not know before this project?”

 

THE “NO COPY-PASTE” RULE

Students cannot simply download information from Google and make a presentation.

At least 50% of the project must come from original documentation, such as:

• interviews
• photographs
• observations
• recordings
• field visits
• original narration
• original video
• original social media content

Secondary sources can be used for background research.

 

FOR EDUCATORS: 

ASSESSMENT RUBRIC – 50 MARKS

Criteria	Marks
Understanding of Indigenous Knowledge	8
Originality of topic & idea	6
Field research & interview	8
Storytelling	7
Use of digital media	6
Technical execution	5
Cultural sensitivity & ethics	5
Digital archive/Documentation	3
Reflection & learning	2
TOTAL	50

Important: Technical perfection is NOT the primary criterion.

A simple mobile-phone documentary with a powerful story can score better than a technically polished video with superficial research.

 

 

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

By completing this project, students should be able to:

1. Understand the importance of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS).
2. Explore how traditional knowledge is represented in documentaries and regional films.
3. Understand the role of YouTube, podcasts, OTT platforms and social media in digital preservation.
4. Conduct basic field research and interviews.
5. Record oral histories and community narratives.
6. Use mobile phones and digital tools for documentation.
7. Develop storytelling skills for new media.
8. Understand issues of cultural ownership, consent, authenticity and representation.
9. Convert traditional knowledge into engaging digital content.
10. Create a small digital archive that can potentially be preserved beyond the classroom.