COM10007-PROFOLIO

STUDENT NAME:DO TRONG KHOI

STUDENT ID: 104178668
WEEK 01: Which soft skills do you think you are good at and why? Provide an
example (can be a
workplace or university or personal example).

Soft skills are always a matter of concern to employers. With the development of
technology, globalization and demographics, companies increasingly demand soft
skills. Soft skills are highly diverse. , which is a collection of suitable talents for
life activities. Some examples of "necessary competencies" include language
ability, communication, behaviour, conduct, human-to-human attitudes, thinking,
communication, teamwork, presentation and problem-solving, and resolving
disagreements. Thanks to that, employers can evaluate the candidate's
communication and teamwork ability and consider the candidate's suitability for
the corporate environment. If I have an advantage in my communication skills, or
to be more precise, I'm an active listener. So what is an active listener? Active
listening allows you to focus on what your interlocutor is telling you. Active
listening will let them know that you recognize their needs, ideas, and feelings and
help them understand how to address their issues better. I had great use of the skill
while I was in high school when the school told me to go and listen to a podcast
and summarize it back to my classmate, and being an active listener, I had able to
understand and summarise the detail fully back to my classmate.
REFERENCE:
Deloitte Access Economics. (2017). Soft skills for business success. Deloitte
Access Economics.

WEEK02 : Refer to the following mediums of communication: Email, SMS,

Radio, Phone
Conversation. Refer to the Communication Process Model and explain what types
of
'noise' can affect at least two or all of these mediums. Give an example to explain
your
answers.

In my opinion, the loss of phone signal will be the noise that affects both the phone
and the email. So what is the phone signal? Phone wave is a phrase used to
describe the strength and weakness of the signal that the phone receives. This is the
type of electromagnetic wave used to transmit information, so it also has some
similarities with electromagnetic waves. The data transmission mechanism of the
phone wave is the conversion between the audio signal and the high-frequency
signal. We can simply understand that if our phone signal is cut off, we will not be
able to transmit good information. I can't communicate over the phone anymore. I
once experienced no phone signal; that day was when I was travelling because I
was in an area with poor signal, so I couldn't email my job or call Everyone; I seem
to have disappeared from the virtual world for two days in a row!
References:
1. DeVito, J. A. (2016). The interpersonal communication book. Pearson.
2. Griffin, E. A. (2018). A first look at communication theory. McGraw-Hill
Education.
3. Wood, J. T. (2018). Interpersonal communication: Everyday encounters.
Cengage Learning.

WEEK 3: There are six principles in persuasion put forward by theorists Robert
Cialdini. Explain
showing examples.

Case Scenario: A manger is attempting to persuade their staff to use a new project
management tool
1. Reciprocity: To begin, the management might volunteer to give the new
software training and support, demonstrating their willingness to contribute
before they ask for something in return. For instance, the manager could
offer to arrange for team members to attend private training sessions or offer
to supply them with online tools and tutorials.
2. Commitment and Consistency: The team's manager may inquire as to
whether they have ever employed a similar project management tool and, if
so, whether they have had any successful results. The team will be more
likely to commit to this new software if the manager builds on the team's
prior commitment and consistency with using comparable technologies.
3. Social proof: The manager may present endorsements or examples of team
or organization success using the software. By doing this, the team will be
able to see that others have had success with the program and may be more
inclined to use it themselves.
4. Authority: The manager may discuss the software provider's credentials and
experience, or the advantages of adopting the software in terms of
productivity, efficiency, and collaboration. Because of this, the team may be
more inclined to believe in the program and the manager's decision to use it.
5. Liking: The manager may attempt to establish rapport with the team by
demonstrating an understanding of their needs, worries, and preferences, as
well as by providing opportunities for feedback and involvement. The team
may like and trust the manager more as a result, and they may also be more
willing to use the program.
6. The management might state that the software is only available for a short
period of time or at a discounted rate. As a result, the team may be more
motivated to use the program before the price rises or the promotion ends.
The manager can improve their chances of persuading the team to use the new
project management software by applying these six persuasion concepts in a
professional communication setting. Nonetheless, it's crucial to apply these
guidelines morally and with regard for the preferences and best interests of the
team.
REFERENCES:
1. Cialdini, R. B. (2007). Influence: The psychology of persuasion. Harper
Business.
2. Petty, R. E., & Cacioppo, J. T. (1986). The elaboration likelihood model of
persuasion. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social
psychology (Vol. 19, pp. 123-205). Academic Press.
3. Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. Macmillan.

WEEK 4: Explain Hofstede's dimensions of cultural values. Choose 2

dimensions (Individualism,
Masculinity, Power Distance, Uncertainty avoidance, Long-term orientation
and
Indulgence). Explain these 2 dimensions between 2 countries showing
examples. You can
use the following link for information or personal examples.

A paradigm for comparing cultural differences among various nations is

Hofstede's dimensions of cultural values. Individualism and Power Distance are
two dimensions. The level of individualism is determined by how much people
value their personal liberties and rights over the interests of the whole.
1. Individualism: Whereas China is more collectivist and values social
harmony, Brazil is more individualistic and places greater emphasis on
personal freedom.
2. Power Distance: China has a high power distance and values hierarchy,
whereas Brazil has a low power distance and values egalitarianism.
REFERENCE:
 Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture’s Consequences: International Differences
in Work-Related Values. Sage.

Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J., & Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and

Organizations: Software of the Mind. McGraw-Hill.

Taras, V., Kirkman, B. L., & Steel, P. (2010). Examining the impact of
culture’s consequences: A three-decade, multilevel, meta-analytic
review of Hofstede’s cultural value dimensions. Journal of Applied
Psychology, 95(3), 405–439.

WEEK 5: Search for a purchase warranty and find points where the wording
may be hard to
understand. Explain why you believe the communication may be deliberately
hard to
understand. What are the ethical issues?

Case: An email announcing a new code of behavior for the workplace is sent
to all employees. The email does, however, use a number of ambiguous
terminology and phrases that cause misconceptions and confusion among
the staff.

Analysis: It may not be the aim to use ambiguous language, but it can still
have unfavorable effects, such as miscommunication and a lack of openness
between the employer and its employees. As the business has a duty to
communicate with its employees in a clear and effective manner, there are
ethical considerations involved as well.

Recommendation: The company should have reviewed the wording in its

communications and policies and make the necessary changes to ensure that
it is concise and clear. The staff can also be instructed on the implications of
the policy through additional resources or training. It can improve openness
and transparency in the workplace to encourage people to seek explanations.
Finally, ambiguous terminology in communication can lead to
misunderstandings and ethical quandaries. Companies should stress clear
and direct communication and take steps to increase employee transparency
and comprehension.
REFERENCE:
Brink, A., & Wood, W. (2019). Making sense of confusing language in
consumer contracts. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 53(3), 760-786.
 Klass, G. (2018). Boilerplate and default rules: Teasing apart the
relationship. Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law, 20, 67-90.

Mirow, M. C. (2019). Contracts and their meaning: Historical and

contemporary perspectives. Journal of Contract Law, 35(2), 155-186.

WEEK 6: There has never been a time when there were more ways to
communicate with
another person. Why is a personal letter still important in the workplace? When
should
you expect to be sent a personal letter in the workplace?

Before answering the question, I would like to define personal mail briefly. Private
mail is a private account used to exchange personal information or for private
purposes. Why is private mail important in a work environment? Personal mail, as
mentioned above, is a message with unique content, or users need to convey
private information, so why is it essential in a work environment? Because
personal letters are so personal, as well as the subjectivity of the letter, it seems
that it gives a feeling that people seem to have "forgotten" human-to-human
communication. A personal letter is even more critical for the work environment,
due to the nature of the work, where some people have to work and communicate
24/7 via computer, the use of personal mail is like adding to that "cold"
environment a "human feeling". A private letter can also be said to have depth as
well as an investment because the writer can express all his opinions. After all, as
said, personal letters are bold in the colour of the subject. Nevertheless, we must
know how to use personal mail; personal mail should only be used on formal
occasions such as talking to a friend, making a job offer, or a thank you note, etc.
In conclusion, the importance of personal letters is indisputable; it is the way we
use them that matters.
REFERNCE:
DiMicco, J. M., Millen, D. R., Geyer, W., Dugan, C., Brownholtz, B., & Muller,
M. (2008). Motivations for social networking at work. Proceedings of the 2008
ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work, 711-720.

Eisenberg, E. M., & Witten, M. G. (1987). Reaching the uninformed: How people
know what they know about politics. Cambridge University Press.
Kruger, J., Epley, N., Parker, J., & Ng, Z. W. (2005). Egocentrism over e-mail:
Can we communicate as well as we think?. Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology, 89(6), 925-936.

WEEK 7: What are the issues associated with searching for and referencing
information from
the internet? How do you ensure information is valid and reliable?

Cyberspace is always a space with a lot of different information because anyone

can post and speak on this space. Therefore, it is extremely important to select
information, because there is incorrect information. or ideologically false
information, when we do not know, but post or support this information, it will
directly affect network users, affect from individuals to the whole community, so
when we look up or find Understanding and publishing information should be
knowledgeable, and select reputable sources, sources that are authorized by the
government as well as created by the government.
REFERENCE:
Jones, S., & Fox, S. (2009). Generations online in 2009. Pew Internet & American
Life Project.

Metzger, M. J., Flanagin, A. J., & Medders, R. B. (2010). Social and heuristic
approaches to credibility evaluation online. Journal of Communication, 60(3), 413-
439.

Norman, D. A. (2002). The design of everyday things. Basic books.

WEEK 8: Do you think that non-verbal communication is more important,

especially as we are
communicating less face to face.

Effective communication involves using both words and actions. Nonverbal

communication, which includes tone of voice, facial expressions, and body
language, is essential because it can help create a lot of meaning in a
message. People increasingly communicate through websites, email, and
other digital platforms in the digital age. However, these tools can be
convenient, but they also need some help regarding nonverbal
communication. Because these forms of communication are primarily text-
based, nonverbal cues like tone of voice and facial expressions can be lost,
making it more difficult to convey meaning and emotion accurately. Some
people have trouble talking with others, but that doesn't mean that
 communication isn't essential. Nonverbal communication can be
constructive in professional settings and personal relationships. Nonverbal
communication is critical when communicating with others; you can use
your body language to help you express your feelings, intentions, and
thoughts. This can be helpful whether speaking face-to-face or
communicating through digital media.
REFERENCE:
Smith, J. (2019). The importance of nonverbal communication in the digital age.
Communication Quarterly, 67(3), 320-335. doi: 10.1080/01463373.2019.1573103