Mastering influence in business communication

Update: This course is full

Course information

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. analyze communication situations and prepare effective communication strategies for different contexts
2. write coherent and convincing, reader-friendly business texts
3. plan and deliver effective objective-driven relational, informational, promotional and transformational business presentations
4. negotiate more effectively by selecting and employing relevant strategies and tactics

Content

Whenever you communicate with others, you influence them in one way or another. This course increases your understanding of how you can communicate successfully in the business context, meaning that you influence the audience in the way that you intend to, and thereby enhance your chances of getting the desired response.

In the course, we focus on writing, presenting and negotiating successfully in business, as these are critical skills needed by all managers and employees. To enable you to learn as effectively as possible, the course is highly interactive and task-oriented. It approaches business communication with an analytical approach and provides you with clear insight into effective communication strategies.

Case analyses, written assignments, individual and team presentations and negotiation simulations will allow you to practice the theories and key concepts introduced during the course. Peer and lecturer feedback will give you a clear picture of your present communication skills, and an indication of how you can further enhance your performance.

Attendance is mandatory especially at the first lecture in order to complete the course, and any absences (maximum 2 absences) must be agreed in advance with the teacher. If you are absent from the first lecture without prior arrangement with the teacher, you will be removed from the course. In such cases, the course fee will not be refunded.

Teacher

Kirsti Iivonen

Study material

Teaching materials prepared by the lecturer.

Workload

Contact teaching: 36h (Mandatory attendance)
Independent work: 124h
Total: 160h (6 ECTS)

Prerequisites

CEFR-level: Starting level: C1 (CEFR Levels). Please note that this is not a language course but a course in communication theory and skills. It is therefore essential that participants meet the required C1 level in English.

Evaluation

1. Assignments
2. Class contribution 

Mandatory attendance.

Evaluation: 0 (fail) - 5 (excellent)

Teaching time and location

This course has a mandatory attendace. Attendance is mandatory especially at the first lecture in order to complete the course, and any absences (maximum 2 absences) must be agreed in advance with the teacher. If you are absent from the first lecture without prior arrangement with the teacher, you will be removed from the course. 

The course is taught in a blended mode, please see the exact teaching times and locations from the table below.

NB! Teacher will register the course grades before the deadline for Open University route studies (Kauppatieteen avoimen väylän opinnot).

Further information

Equivalences to other courses: Mastering influence in Business Communication (AMNGT-A4004), Business Communication Skills (A61A00200, 61A00200)

Online learning environment for the course  

MyCourses online learning environment is a tool for both students and teachers for communication and managing everyday course work. You need an Aalto User ID to log in to the course's MyCourses workspace and participate in teaching.

Digital workspace of the course:
MyCourses

More details on completing the course will be available at MyCourses closer to the start of the course.

Registration and course fee

Registration for Open University courses is done via the link below: 
Course registration 

Registration for this course starts on 23.3.2026 at 9.00  
Registration for this course ends on 5.5.2026 at 23.59

It is not possible to register before the registration period has started or after it has ended.

The course fee is paid upon registration for each course at a time and it is binding. Familiarize yourself with registration and payment rules as well as other guidelines for students:
Registration, payments and rules

The number of participants is limited to 28.
This course is organized by the Aalto University Open University.

Activating Aalto ID and Multifactor Authentication

You can activate your Aalto User ID the day after the registration and you should activate it no later than the day before the start of the course.
Instructions for activating your Aalto user ID

Once you have activated your Aalto user ID, also enable multifactor authentication. Some of Aalto University's services require multifactor authentication.

Instructions for using Multifactor Authentication