How to communicate business information using appropriate methodsAudience requirements: e.g. age, gender, ethnicity, special

Assignment Brief – QCF BTEC BUSINESS

Assignment front sheet

Qualification

Unit number and title

BTEC National Business

4 Business Communication

Learner name

   Assessor name

Date issued

 Hand in deadline

Submitted on

Assignment title

2 Communication law and technology

In this assessment you will have opportunities to provide evidence against the following criteria.
Indicate the page numbers where the evidence can be found.

Criteria reference

To achieve the criteria the evidence must show that the learner is able to:

Task no.

Evidence

P5

P6

M2

explain the legal and ethical issues in relation to the use of business  Information

explain the operational issues in relation to the use of business  Information

analyse the legal, ethical and operational issues in relation to the use of business information, using appropriate examples

1

Report

P7

outline electronic and non-electronic methods for communicating business information, using examples for different types of audience. [IE]

2

Summ-ary

Learner declaration

I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own. I have clearly referenced any sources used in the work. I understand that false declaration is a form of malpractice.

Learner signature:                                                                           Date:

Qualification 

BTEC National Business           

Unit number and title

4 Business Communication

Assessor name

Date issued

Hand in deadline

Assignment title

2 Communication law and technology

Purpose of this assignment

Understand the issues and constraints in relation to the use of business information in organisations

Know how to communicate business information using appropriate methods.

Scenario

The M & S restaurant recognises that even if they have improved marketing that they are still competing (to an extent) with the fast food chains, especially McDonalds, where they are excellent at collecting and using information.

Task 1

Produce a report on McDonalds

1.1       You need to explain the following legal issues that affect communication:

•          Data Protection Act 1998,

•          Freedom of Information Act 2000

•          Computer Misuse Act 1990

1.2       You must find an example of these to support your statements from McDonalds

1.3       You need to find the company policy on business communications, e.g. acceptable ICT usage and explain how it protects the communication channels

1.4       You also need to explain what a ‘whistle –blower’ is and explain the ethical implications surrounding them and the company (P5/M2)

1.5       Explain the operational factors that a business must consider when they are dealing with communication and information. Specifically looking at; how they keep information safe, health and safety, development of new software and staff training.  You need to give examples to support your statements. (P6/M2)

Understand the issues and constraints in relation to the use of business information in organisations:

Legal issues: relevant data protection legislation e.g. Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000; other relevant legislation, e.g. Computer Misuse Act 1990

Ethical issues: codes of practice, e.g. on use of email, internet, ‘whistle blowing’;  organisational policies; information ownership

Operational issues: security of information; backups; health and safety; organisational policies; business continuance plans; costs, e.g. additional resources required, cost of development; impact of increasing sophistication of systems, e.g. more trained personnel, more complex software

This provides evidence for P5 P6 M2

Task 2 Electronic and non-electronic communication methods

2.1 You must explain in a written summary how the new technologies have changed/enhanced communication methods, using examples

2.2 You must list all the forms of communication that McDonalds use. Then categorize them into electronic vs non-electronic communication

2.3 For each form of communication you have identified, describe an example of where it could be used and who it is aimed at. You must give examples that covers different types of audiences.             (P7)

Know how to communicate business information using appropriate methods

Audience requirements: e.g. age, gender, ethnicity, special needs, readability, legibility, attention span, accessibility, interest, distraction avoidance, business experience and knowledge, industry-related experience and knowledge

Methods of written communication: e.g. letter, memorandum, fax, invoice, flow charts, publicity material, email and screen based, SMS (short message service), www (worldwide web)

Methods of non-written communication: e.g. telephone call, video conferencing

Technologies: computers; touch screens; digital broadcasting; DVD (digital versatile/video disc); mobile phones; the internet and WAP (wireless application protocol)

Communication skills: formal/informal; verbal/non-verbal; listening; understanding; seeking clarification; responsiveness; eye contact; facial expressiveness; body language; use of appropriate professional language; ability to adapt communication techniques to audience requirements; presentation skills; ability to invite commitment to shared goals

This provides evidence for P7

Evidence checklist

[Summarise evidence required, e.g. ‘leaflet’, ‘presentation notes’ etc.]

 [tick boxes]

Report

Written Summary

All work referenced/sourced/page numbered

Sources of information

Textbooks

Bevan J, Dransfield R, Coupland-Smith H, Goymer J and Richards C – BTEC Level 3 National Business Student Book 1 (Pearson, 2009) ISBN 9781846906343

Bevan J, Goymer J, Richards C and Richards N – BTEC Level 3 National Business Student Book 2

(Pearson, 2009) ISBN 9781846906350

Coupland-Smith H and Mencattelli C – BTEC Level 3 National Business Teaching Resource Pack

(Pearson, 2009) ISBN 9781846906367

Argenti P – Corporate Communication (Irwin McGraw-Hill, 1998) ISBN 0256-21723-8

Davies C – Finding and Knowing: psychology, information and computers (Routledge, 2004) ISBN 0851424546

Lowe M – Business Information at Work (Europa Publications, 1999) ISBN 0851424031

Niederst J – Web Design in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (O’Reilly, 2001) ISBN 0596001967

Websites

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business The business pages of the BBC website

www.bized.co.uk A business education resource site

www.thetimes100.co.uk The Times 100 case studies

Assessor's Comments

Qualification

Assessor name

Unit number and title

Learner name

Criteria reference

 To achieve the criteria the evidence must show that the learner is able to:

Achieved?

Learner feedback

Assessor feedback

Assessor signature

Date

Learner signature

Date