Lesson Note on Business Structure: Inter and Intra Departmental Communication for SS 2

Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS 2)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 8
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Commerce
Curriculum Theme: Business Organization
Previous Lesson: Structure of Business: Organizational Setup and Delegation.
Topic: BUSINESS STRUCTURE CONTD
Subject Matter: Inter-departmental communication (meaning, media), intra-departmental communication (meaning, media), comparison of inter and intra departmental communication (importance), media of communication, power of an individual, power of an office

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

• Define inter-departmental and intra-departmental communication.
• Explain the difference between personal power and the power of an office.

Affective Domain:

• Appreciate the importance of effective communication in a business organization.
• Value the different sources of power within an organization.

Psychomotor Domain:

• List various media used for inter and intra-departmental communication.
• Differentiate between the power of an individual and the power of an office with examples.

Social Domain:

• Participate actively in discussions about communication and power in business.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
• State Unified Scheme of Work
• Adeyemi, K. (2018). Comprehensive Commerce for Senior Secondary Schools. University Press PLC.
• https://waeconline.org.ng/e-learning/Commerce/COMMERCE.html
• https://passnownow.com/lesson/business-structure/

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Charts showing organizational structure
• Diagrams illustrating communication flow

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how different parts of a business communicate and how individuals and positions hold influence. It enables pupils to grasp the internal workings of an organization, which is important for efficient business operations.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have basic knowledge of business organization and departmentalization.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

BUSINESS STRUCTURE (CONT’D)

Inter-departmental Communication

Inter-departmental communication refers to the exchange of information, ideas, or messages between different departments within the same organization. This type of communication is essential for coordinating activities, making decisions, and achieving overall organizational goals.

The following are common media for inter-departmental communication:

• Memos
• Internal reports
• Emails
• Meetings (departmental meetings, cross-functional meetings)
• Company newsletters
• Teleconferencing/Videoconferencing

Intra-departmental Communication

Intra-departmental communication is the exchange of information, ideas, or messages among individuals or groups within the same department. This communication helps in managing daily tasks, sharing updates, and resolving issues specific to that department.

The following are common media for intra-departmental communication:

• Face-to-face discussions
• Internal memos
• Emails
• Team meetings
• Notice boards
• Instant messaging (internal company chat)

Comparison of Inter and Intra-departmental Communication

The importance of both types of communication lies in their ability to foster collaboration, improve decision-making, and enhance productivity. The key differences include:

• Scope: Inter-departmental communication involves multiple departments, while intra-departmental communication is confined to a single department.
• Purpose: Inter-departmental often focuses on coordination and broader organizational goals, while intra-departmental focuses on specific departmental tasks and efficiency.
• Formality: Inter-departmental communication can sometimes be more formal due to the involvement of different departmental heads, while intra-departmental can be more informal.

Media of Communication (General)

Communication media are the channels or tools used to transmit information. They can be broadly categorized as:

• Oral Communication: Face-to-face conversations, telephone calls, meetings, presentations, interviews.
• Written Communication: Memos, letters, reports, emails, faxes, company policies, notice boards.
• Visual Communication: Charts, graphs, diagrams, pictures, videos, signs.
• Non-verbal Communication: Body language, gestures, facial expressions.

Power in an Organization

Power refers to the ability to influence the behavior of others or to make things happen. In an organization, power can be derived from various sources.

Power of an Individual (Personal Power)

Personal power is derived from an individual’s unique characteristics, skills, and relationships rather than their formal position. It is earned through respect and influence.

Examples include:

• Expert Power: Derived from special knowledge, skills, or expertise. E.g., a senior engineer respected for their technical abilities.
• Referent Power: Derived from personal charisma, attractiveness, and the ability to inspire loyalty and admiration. E.g., a manager who is highly admired and respected by their team.
• Information Power: Derived from access to and control over valuable information. E.g., an assistant who knows all the important details of a project.

Power of an Office (Positional Power)

Positional power, also known as legitimate power, is derived from the formal authority granted to an individual by virtue of their position or role within the organizational hierarchy. It is associated with the title or office held.

Examples include:

• Legitimate Power: Derived from the formal authority given to a position. E.g., a CEO or a department head by virtue of their job title.
• Reward Power: Derived from the ability to give rewards, such as promotions, raises, or favorable assignments. E.g., a manager who can approve bonuses.
• Coercive Power: Derived from the ability to punish or withhold rewards, such as demotions, reprimands, or unfavorable assignments. E.g., a supervisor who can issue disciplinary actions.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher welcomes the pupils and reviews the previous lesson on business structure, then introduces the topic of inter and intra-departmental communication.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions about the previous lesson and listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils recall prior knowledge and are prepared for the new topic.

Step 2: Explanation of Inter-departmental Communication

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher illustrates with a chart of an organization, guiding pupils to identify different departments and explains the meaning and media of inter-departmental communication.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils outline departments in an organization and listen to the explanation.
Learning Point: Pupils understand inter-departmental communication and its media.

Step 3: Explanation of Intra-departmental Communication

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of intra-departmental communication and guides pupils to list common media used within departments.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils list communication media used in intra-departmental communication.
Learning Point: Pupils understand intra-departmental communication and its media.

Step 4: Comparison of Inter and Intra-departmental Communication

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Comparison/Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher facilitates a discussion on the similarities and differences, highlighting the importance of both types of communication for organizational effectiveness.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils compare and contrast inter and intra-departmental communication, identifying their importance.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the distinct roles and importance of both communication types.

Step 5: Discussion on Media of Communication (General)

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Listing/Categorization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher lists various general media of communication (oral, written, visual) and encourages pupils to provide examples for each.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify and give examples of different communication media.
Learning Point: Pupils gain a broader understanding of communication channels.

Step 6: Explanation of Power of an Individual vs. Power of an Office

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Differentiation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the difference between personal power and the power of an office, providing clear examples for each.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask questions, and differentiate between the power of an individual and the power of an office.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the sources and types of power in an organization.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Define inter-departmental communication.
2. List three media used for intra-departmental communication.
3. State two differences between the power of an individual and the power of an office.
4. Mention two types of personal power.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key learning points of the lesson and assigns homework, asking pupils to research how technology has impacted inter and intra-departmental communication.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the homework and ask any final questions.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and prepare for further study.

Lesson Keywords

• Inter-departmental communication – Exchange of information between different departments.
• Intra-departmental communication – Exchange of information within a single department.
• Personal power – Influence derived from an individual’s characteristics, skills, or relationships.
• Positional power – Authority derived from an individual’s formal role or office within an organization.

Differentiation

The teacher will provide additional examples and simpler explanations for pupils who are struggling, while more complex scenarios and critical thinking questions will be posed to advanced learners.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure to use real-life examples from Nigerian businesses to make the concepts relatable. Encouraging active participation and group discussions will enhance understanding. Visual aids like organizational charts are important for illustrating communication flows.