Organizational Dialogue: Theory & Practice, Autumn 2019, Assignment 1

This assignment is a reflective learning log from a student enrolled in the Organizational Dialogue: Theory & Practice course. The assignment is divided into two parts. Part A requires the student to describe and reflect upon a critical incident witnessed in a work-based setting, focusing on poor business communication. The student analyzes a scenario where a colleague's poorly written leave application, lacking formal tone and grammatical accuracy, led to rejection and disciplinary action. The reflection highlights the importance of formal business communication, including proper grammar, structure, and tone. Part B involves reflecting on the student's own business communication skills, drawing insights from course materials on verbal and non-verbal communication and interpersonal skills. The student emphasizes the significance of interpersonal communication in building relationships, including message delivery, feedback, and minimizing communication noise. The student also discusses the application of learned skills in a professional context, emphasizing a commitment to continuous improvement through self-reflection and practice. The assignment concludes with a self-assessment of the student's learning and a plan for future skill development.

Organizational Dialogue: Theory & Practice
Briefing sheet
Autumn
Session
2019
Assignment 1 – Learning log
REFLECTIVE LEARNING LOG
1

Organizational Dialogue: Theory & Practice
Briefing sheet
Autumn
Session
2019
Assignment 1 – Learning log
Introduction
Business communication is an integral aspect of business and everyday life (Guffey and Loewy,
2010, p. 68). The poor aspect of business communication often entails a negative impact on the
organization as well as on an individual. It might hamper progress in professional life. Reflection
allows analyzing the learning experience from an incident that has occurred during a particular
time period. In the current reflection log, description of a critical incident related to business
communication along with highlighting of business communication skills has been undertaken
(Hargie, 2016, p. 70). The reflection experience allowed me to recall on my learning's of
business communication lessons and to apply them when best needed in the situation.
Part A: Reflection on a critical incident
A critical incident describes my experience and witnessed in a work-based setting, involving an
aspect of poor communication. While I regard business communication to be a crucial part of
everyday life activity, it is extremely important that business communication is used in a prudent
manner in professional lives. Especially in organizations, poor business communication might
ruin an entire business transaction or customer experience. In the current reflection experience, I
witnessed a poor communication example in an organization setting. One of my classmates
working in an airline wanted to take leave in order to prepare for his studies. He needed to apply
for a leave, which he did and by way of a formal business letter. But he was not a native English
speaker and was Chinese. Instead of taking help from a native English speaker to write his letter,
he wrote it on his own. The letter sadly got rejected and he was show-caused by the Company for
not being enough serious in his job role.
The current incident is drawn from experiences you have had as an observer of organizational
life. Upon analysis of the letter he had written to his manager to apply for the leave he needed, I
realized the poor sense of written communication he had. He was not aware of the formal
addresses that form a part of the business letter. Moreover, his letter had no sense of gratitude or
pleads while requesting for his leave (Coombs and Holladay, 2010, p. 37). His letter rather
sounded as if he was demanding for leave and his authorities were liable to provide the same. His
letter sounded rather rude. Though there were no spelling errors, there were multiple
2

Organizational Dialogue: Theory & Practice
Briefing sheet
Autumn
Session
2019
Assignment 1 – Learning log
grammatical mistakes that he overlooked or might have not considered important while writing
an important official communication.
Being an observer of the ineffective and poor communication undertaken by him, I became
aware of any further communication that I make in the future. I pointed out to him the mistakes
he had made while writing his letter. Though he was a very hard working and dedicated fellow,
his unofficial and rude tone ruined his professional repute in the organization that he worked for.
From the subject learning, I can draw that it is crucial that in every business communication has
a formal tone. It is important that one has a grasp over the English language prior to writing
down any official document. Checking spelling and grammar mistakes in writing is a crucial step
that needs to be undertaken every time an official document is written (Danziger, 2013, p 140).
Structures for all official communications have to be followed in a diligent manner to avoid any
miscommunication or misinterpretation. Verbal communication plays an extremely important
role in determining success in professional life. Every individual needs to consider verbal
communication in an important tone and avoid casualness with it.
Describing my feelings regarding the incidents, I can say that he was too casual while writing a
letter to his company. He should have possessed a more formal tone and consulted peers and
friends prior to writing down such a letter. I feel, he is a bit over-confident due to the hard work
that he does in his company. But nothing can justify writing an inappropriate letter to the
management demanding for leave. I feel if he would have been a bit serious, the letter could have
been better off and he would not have been show-caused by the management. The poor
communication in the letter could have been improved; if he would have taken up classes in the
English language or have consulted any friend then he could have written the letter in a better
manner.
Part B: Reflecting upon self- business communication skills
While engaging with the subject’s learning materials, there were several insights that I gained for
the development of your my interpersonal communication skills in work-based settings. The
module on business communication is extremely practical oriented and has tremendous
application. I learned aspects of verbal as well as non-verbal communication, ways to enhance
them and everyday challenges faced in them. Amongst all learning’s, most integral is
3

Organizational Dialogue: Theory & Practice
Briefing sheet
Autumn
Session
2019
Assignment 1 – Learning log
interpersonal communication skills. As interpersonal communication is the exchanging of
information by verbal and non-verbal messages in face-to-face communication, it plays an
important role in building and developing relationships (Berger, 2014, p. 590). From my
learning, I gathered that interpersonal communication includes the language that is used along
with the way, tone of voice, gestures, facial expressions, and body language used.
The attribute of interpersonal communication message that I need to pay attention while
communicating is the message and the way I transfer the message. It is a two-way
communication process, hence I need to bring into as much as the affirmative tone in my
message as I can. As a negative tone or body language might make the entire message
ineffective. Moreover, feedback is a process with which it can be ascertained whether the
message has gone across to the receiver in the manner that I had intended to (Washington,
Okoro, and Thomas, 2012, p. 220). In the case of negative or improper feedback, I will need to
resend the same message in a better manner. Noise is another factor that might deter the
effectiveness of interpersonal communication. Special attention needs to be paid to noise, which
includes any factor that distorts the message from its course. I will try to minimize noise as much
as possible in my interpersonal communication, by using minimum possible jargons, reducing
differences in culture in my communication and inappropriate body language.
In the course of business communication, there was a high transfer of learning for me that had
taken place. I learned several skills and knowledge of business communications (Guffey and
Loewy, 2012, p. 65). I also developed insights into the relevant concepts that are applied in day-
to-day business activities. I can understand that all the knowledge gained will be applied
practically in my work based settings, once I will be employed. It is crucial that I develop such
skills and knowledge in great depths and details, to be able to apply in my organizational role. I
will try to develop my skills in business communication so that I am able to become a successful
professional.
Conclusion
Reflection experience is crucial for all types of learning, as it allows recalling experiences and
transfer of knowledge. Business communication is an important domain within the business
4

Organizational Dialogue: Theory & Practice
Briefing sheet
Autumn
Session
2019
Assignment 1 – Learning log
sector and any professional willing to achieve success needs to master the knowledge provided
by the subject. I feel that I need to further enhance my skills in business communications so that
I can emerge as a successful professional in organizations. I need to undertake the practice of the
several theories and knowledge taught in class in a rigorous manner. I am sure that if I possess
good business communication skills, I will be able to become a successful professional in my
future life. I will maintain a self-reflective journal, where I will note down my monthly progress
such that I am able to enhance my skills in business communication.
5

Organizational Dialogue: Theory & Practice
Briefing sheet
Autumn
Session
2019
Assignment 1 – Learning log
Reference Lists
Berger, J., 2014. Word of mouth and interpersonal communication: A review and directions for
future research. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 24(4), pp.586-607. doi:
10.1016/j.jcps.2014.05.002. Retrieved from
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jcps.2014.05.002
Coombs, W.T. and Holladay, S.J. eds., 2010. The handbook of crisis communication. Retrieved
from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9781444314885
Danziger, K., 2013. Interpersonal Communication: Pergamon General Psychology Series (Vol.
53). Elsevier. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=GuhFBQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=interpersonal+communication&ots=x
ZC6IrEVTC&sig=anDTrkgUzPfR9IwPEkt3GYMqq5A#v=onepage&q=interpersonal
%20communication&f=false
Guffey, M.E. and Loewy, D., 2010. Business communication: Process and product. Cengage
Learning. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=gbE8AAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR4&dq=challenges+of+business+communicat
ion&ots=jpXpt8FtpY&sig=cbBK_1E96Y4jDTDp3ydodAVJnx0#v=onepage&q=challenges
%20of%20business%20communication&f=false
Guffey, M.E. and Loewy, D., 2012. Essentials of business communication. Cengage Learning.
Retrieved from https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=ogWEV66kKE4C&oi=fnd&pg=PT14&dq=challenges+of+business+communica
6

Organizational Dialogue: Theory & Practice
Briefing sheet
Autumn
Session
2019
Assignment 1 – Learning log
tion&ots=vI6p8siz92&sig=Gc9obye3sHv0NlotaOBDTt01wpI#v=onepage&q=challenges%20of
%20business%20communication&f=false
Hargie, O., 2016. Skilled interpersonal communication: Research, theory and practice.
Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315741901. Retrieved from
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781317584568
Koester, J. and Lustig, M., 2012. Intercultural competence: Interpersonal communication across
cultures. Pearson Prentice Hall. Retrieved from http://sinbooksret.com/intercultural-competence-
interpersonal-communication-across-cultures-these-e-books-will-change-your-life-for-better.pdf
Washington, M.C., Okoro, E.A. and Thomas, O., 2012. Intercultural communication in global
business: An analysis of benefits and challenges. International Business & Economics Research
Journal (IBER), 11(2), pp.217-222. doi: 10.19030/iber.v11i2.6776. Retrieved from
http://clutejournals.com/index.php/IBER/article/view/6776
7