ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

MSM 504/ SPRING 2008

  

Instructor:                Karla Seaman

                                  UGF Adjunct Faculty

 

Telephone:              (406) 868-9980

Email:                       kseaman01@ugf.edu

Office Hours:           By Appointment

 

Class Time:              6:00 p.m. – 6:50 p.m.

Class Days:             Tuesdays

Room:                       Distance Learning

Discussion Board:   http://student.ugf.edu/moodle

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

This course examines the role and importance of organizational communication and of effective communication within an organization.  We will explore the breadth of communication tools available to organizational leaders to effectively convey and receive information.  We will delve into the connection between communication and effective leadership.  Students will learn how to apply communication theory and research into policy and practice.  Policy and Practice is broadly defined to include the development, implementation and use of information and communication.  More often as prospective managers and professionals students will face novel problems, situations, or events that do not come hand in hand with theories for them to apply.  During this course we will look at a wide repertoire of theory and research from which students can creatively draw to inform action in the organizational setting. 

 

GOALS

After studying and completing all the necessary components of this course, students will:

1.      Be able to use critical thinking to analyze communication issues.

2.      Understand communication as an integral part of management decision making process.

3.      Demonstrate knowledge of the communication process from a systems approach including cultural organizational, technological, and interpersonal perspectives.

4.      Be able to analyze and choose appropriate communication strategy.

5.      The student will be able to understand basic theories of communication and understand the impact and importance of social trends on communication.

6.      The student will understand the theoretical foundation underlying organizational communication and will be able to explain the systems models of organizational communication.

7.      Be able to define and understand the cultural approach to communication.

8.      Will examine the frameworks for understanding the differences in communication styles.

9.      The student will view interpersonal relationships and organizational communication:

a.      Examine a variety of interpersonal communication contexts.

b.      Understand communication impact on clients, supervisors and peers.

c.      Appreciate the need for effective communication in teams.

d.      Examine the issues arising in group communication processes.

e.      Gain an awareness of their own communication style and analyze strengths and areas for improvement when communicating.

 

 

COURSE MATERIALS

Text book and required viewing of videos which will be available at the UGF book store.  Any supplemental reading will be available through a link off the proposed weekly schedule found in the course schedule on the UGF web site.  This will include any required reading assignments and resource materials for your communication projects.

 

Text Book         

 

The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication

Edited by Tamara Gillis, Ed.D, ABC
published by Jossey-Bass

 

The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication is the fourth edition of the best-selling book formerly known as Inside Organizational Communication. The Handbook offers a comprehensive collection of practical knowledge and insights about effective corporate communication and its effect on organizational success.

 

With contributions from the leading experts in organizational, business and corporate communication, this invaluable resource examines each of the functional areas of organizational communication including internal communication, public relations, marketing and communication strategy. This important book is written for communicators in organizations of all types—large and small, public and private, for profit and nonprofit. The contributors demonstrate how these fields are changing and what the future holds.

 

 

 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1.      Read, Review, and Understand the Course Material.

2.      Video Lecture and moodle board.

3.      Session Attendance is mandatory.

4.      Class Participation is mandatory.

 

NOTE

This class is designed to be an overview of Organizational Communication.  All work must be maintained at a graduate level.

 

EVALUATION

 

Topic Reviews                       200 points            

(50 points each)

 

Pick from the following topics for each paper:

1.      Value or Characteristics or Culture

2.      Trust or Ethics or Strategic Approaches

3.      Change or Crisis or Diversity

4.      Internal Communication or CEO’s role or Branding or Future of Communication

 

Each Review Paper will be three to four pages APA style and will cite two outside references.  Please ensure that you submit these papers utilizing APA format.

 

Mid term                                100 points               

Take home/essay)

 

Final                                       100 points               

(Take home/essay)

 

Moodle Discussions             260 points              

(20 points for each post:   with the exception of the first and last discussion which will be 10 points each.)   

 

Each post needs to be approximately 300-500 words and needs to cite one outside source.  Each week this post will be due on Friday and then you must choose one post and provide a response (feedback) that will expand on their post or provide an additional view point.  Please ensure that you cite any materials used in your response post.

 

Class Participation                140 points            

(10 points for each class:  5 points for attendance and 5 points for participating.)