BUSN20017: Effective Business Communications – Assessment 3: Reflective Practice Essay – Developing Communication Competency
General Overview
This assessment contributes 40% to your final grade. Submit it by Week 12, Friday, 4 October 2026, at 5:00 pm AEST. The essay requires 2500 words, with a 200-word allowance either side; exceeding or falling short by more than this incurs a two-point penalty. Include at least 12 academic references, where the course textbook counts as one. Meeting only this minimum affects your research grade accordingly. Late submissions deduct two points per day. Attach a cover page with your name, student ID, campus, assessment title, and lecturer details. Follow APA 7th edition for formatting and citations. Marks release post-grade certification.
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Task Purpose
The task encourages reflective practice through diagnostic tools and feedback to pinpoint two areas for improving personal communication skills, enhancing overall effectiveness. It evaluates advanced written communication knowledge and your capacity for self-directed reflection on workplace practices. Self-reflection fosters better communication competencies by enabling appropriate behaviors in varied contexts.
Assessment Components
- Diagnosis and Reflection (1000 words)
- Select and apply five diagnostic tools on communication aspects like verbal skills, active listening, nonverbal cues, and assertiveness. Complete these in tutorials; your lecturer signs off on them. Attach signed diagnostics after references; non-attendance prevents completion.
- Interpret tool results in relation to your personal communication style.
- Highlight two key issues needing development from your analysis.
- Examine two professional interactions from the last 12 months, assessing how these issues appear and justify development needs.
- Literature Review (1000 words)
- Define and explain the two identified issues.
- Discuss relevant models, theories, and behaviors for effective practice.
- Cover theoretical concepts and interpersonal skills required for competence in these areas.
- Action Plan (500 words)
- Outline a six-month plan with activities like short courses, advanced studies at CQU or elsewhere, reading specific texts, journaling interactions, or mentoring (provide evidence).
- Include timelines, such as a Gantt chart, and success measures.
Submission Guidelines
Upload via Moodle as a single Word document. Ensure originality; plagiarism checks apply. Seek support from academic learning services if needed.
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Marking Criteria
Criteria include depth of reflection (30%), literature integration (30%), action plan feasibility (20%), structure and APA adherence (10%), and overall writing quality (10%). Detailed rubric available on Moodle.
Personal diagnostics revealed moderate assertiveness but low nonverbal awareness in group settings. Recent team meetings showed hesitation in voicing ideas, linking to assertiveness gaps. Literature suggests models like Gibbs’ reflective cycle aid in processing experiences. Developing active listening involved practicing paraphrasing in conversations. The action plan includes weekly journaling to track progress. Mentoring from a senior colleague provides feedback on interactions (Gibbs, 1988, as cited in Bassot, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-60338-8). Short courses on communication build foundational skills. Measuring success tracks improved confidence in monthly reviews.
References
- Bassot, B., 2016. The reflective practice guide: An interdisciplinary approach to critical reflection. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315768298
- Keyton, J., 2018. Communication in organizations. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 5, pp.501-526. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032117-104341
- Arnold, R.M. and Back, A.L., 2020. Communication skills training in serious illness: A review of methods and findings from recent literature. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 37(9), pp.713-722. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909120904085
- Robbins, S.P. and Judge, T.A., 2022. Organizational behavior. 19th ed. Pearson. https://books.google.com/books?id=exampleid (Note: Actual link varies by access; search Google Books for ISBN 9781292403069)