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OMBA 101 · Unit 5 of 6

Business Communication

Business Foundations and Managerial Thinking

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Learning objectives

After completing this unit, you will be able to:

  • Write executive memos with clear context, options, and recommendations
  • Present recommendations to decision makers with structure and credibility
  • Use data to support arguments without overwhelming non-technical audiences
  • Communicate risk and uncertainty honestly and usefully
  • Adapt the same core message to different stakeholders

Why this matters

The best analysis fails if the audience cannot act on it. Unit 5 builds the communication skills that separate trusted advisors from smart people who are ignored: clarity, brevity, appropriate evidence, and stakeholder awareness. These skills compound across every later MBA course and career role.

Unit overview

Work through the five lessons below in order. Draft real documents as you go; do not only read.

#LessonCore idea
1Writing Clear Executive MemosBLUF, structure, and decision-ready prose
2Presenting Recommendations to Decision MakersNarrative arc and Q&A readiness
3Using Data Without Overwhelming the AudienceOne chart, one point
4Communicating Risk and UncertaintyRanges, scenarios, and honest limits
5Adapting a Message to StakeholdersSame facts, different frames

Connection to applied work

Produce a two-page executive memo recommending one action on your anchor company problem from Units 1-3. This is a direct draft of your OMBA 101 executive memo deliverable.

Practice

  1. Rewrite a long email into a one-page memo with recommendation upfront.
  2. Build a five-slide outline for a decision meeting (no slides required, just headlines).
  3. Take one dataset or metric and design a single exhibit that supports a claim.
  4. Rewrite the same recommendation for a CFO vs a product lead (audience shift).

Knowledge check

  1. What belongs in the first paragraph of an executive memo?
  2. How do you present a recommendation without hiding tradeoffs?
  3. When does more data hurt communication?
  4. How should managers state uncertainty without sounding weak?
  5. What changes when the audience changes?

Key takeaways

  • Communication is part of analysis, not packaging after the fact.
  • Decision makers want recommendations, options, and risks, not data dumps.
  • Credibility comes from structure and intellectual honesty.
  • Stakeholder literacy is a core managerial skill.
  • Finish lessons before unit assessments.

Unit assessment

Complete each section below. Score 80%+ on the quiz to finish this unit's assessment.

40% applied project35% knowledge checks25% reflections

Exercises

Apply what you learned in this unit with structured practice.

ExerciseApplied practice: Business Communication45 min
Complete a focused practice exercise on **Business Communication**. 1. Choose a real company, product, or situation you know. 2. Apply one core framework from this unit to analyze it. 3. Write your analysis in 300–500 words with a clear recommendation. 4. Cite at least one credible source.

Deliverable

300–500 word analysis document saved to your portfolio under OMBA 101.

Rubric

  • • Framework applied correctly (not just named)
  • • Specific evidence from a real example
  • • Clear recommendation with tradeoffs acknowledged
  • • Professional writing with source citation
ExerciseDrill: Business Communication30 min
Work through the practice problems in the unit lesson without looking at notes. Then check your work against the lesson and write a short reflection: - What you got right - One mistake you caught - One concept to review before the next unit

Deliverable

Problem solutions + 150-word reflection in your OMBA 101 workbook.

Rubric

  • • Attempted all practice items before checking answers
  • • Honest reflection on errors
  • • Identifies a specific review action

Memo / written deliverable

Write a concise managerial deliverable for this unit.

MemoExecutive memo: Business Communication50 min
Write a one-page executive memo applying **Business Communication** to a business decision. **Format (SCR):** - **Situation:** Context in 2–3 sentences - **Complication:** What problem or opportunity exists - **Resolution:** Your recommendation and rationale Maximum one page, 12pt font, no appendix.

Deliverable

One-page PDF memo uploaded to your portfolio.

Rubric

  • • SCR structure is clear in first 30 seconds of reading
  • • Recommendation is specific and actionable
  • • Evidence supports the conclusion (not just opinion)
  • • Concise: no filler paragraphs

Knowledge quiz

Check your understanding before marking the unit complete.

1. Which opening paragraph best follows BLUF for an executive memo?

2. In SCR structure, what does the Complication section answer?

3. Why should a BLUF paragraph name the main tradeoff even when it weakens the author's case?

4. When presenting recommendations live, what habit best respects executive attention?

5. You have twelve charts for a CFO review. Which principle from 'using data without overwhelming the audience' applies?

6. How should you communicate forecast uncertainty to decision makers?

7. The same vendor consolidation story is shared with the CFO and frontline support agents. What must change between versions?

8. Which element is missing from a weak headcount memo that lists 17 Jira tickets and team biography?

Next unit: Professional and Managerial Practice →