50483 Strategic Organisational Communication
UTS: Communication: Communication and LearningCredit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks
Requisite(s): 50106 Media, Information and Society OR 50227 Media, Information and Society OR 50480 Conceptual Frameworks for Public Communication
Handbook description
This subject builds on previous study of conceptual frameworks in public communication and introduces both historical and emerging theoretical constructs of organising. It presents a critical analysis of these constructs and their relationship with communication within organisations. Students examine the nature of strategic communication interventions in and around globalisation and technology within local, national and transcultural organisational contexts. They evaluate notions of communicative relationships, and the concept of communication as a structuring principle. Students investigate organisational complexity, culture, climate, structures and change management. Critical assessment of organisational practices are applied to issues around transformational leadership.
Subject objectives/outcomes
At the completion of this subject, students are expected to be able to:
- examine the historical development of theories of organisation and their relationships to practices of workplace communication;
- analyse the impact of globalisation on the structure and activities of organisations with regard to their communication practices, both internally and externally;
- recognise the ways in which new technologies are changing the nature of communication within organisations;
- trace the manner in which organisational culture has become a critical feature of the conceptualising of organisational communication;
- review and assess various means of critically evaluating organisational communication;
- investigate the processes of workgroups, teams and leadership within organisations from a communication perspective.
Contribution to graduate profile
- Gain an interdisciplinary and coherent knowledge of public communication to inform ethical, creative and socially responsible practice.
- Demonstrate ability in critical analysis, multiple perspective-taking and strategic and creative problem solving to achieve a thorough and critical understanding of public communication processes and their social, economic and political contexts.
- Be able to engage productively with new challenges.
- Have demonstrated capabilities in interpersonal and organisational communication processes.
- Be competent in researching, diagnosing and addressing communication problems and possess highly developed oral and written communication skills and the capacity to engage in lifelong learning.
- Be able to facilitate and provide professional advice on effective interaction with colleagues, clients and the public as public communication professionals, recognising the needs of all salient publics and working to establish genuine consultation and dialogue.
Teaching and learning strategies
These may include lectures, discussion, case-study analysis, videos, and group workshop experiences, based on structured exercises or simulations. Students will participate in and analyse tasks in class, and give a presentation on their own empirical and library research.
Content
Globalisation and organisational change.
Organisations and their relationship to their new information and communication environments. The nature of organising and governance. Relationships to classical and critical theories of organisational communication. Emergence of new organisation forms and communication technology.
The individual and the organisation.
Organisational socialisation and commitment; formal and informal communication; organisational induction and assimilation; changing organisational practices; individuals and organisational histories. Leadership. Critical theory perspectives and the interpersonal-organisational interface.
Teamwork and group work in organisations.
Groups in the communication process; effective groups and team communication techniques; leadership in teams. Workgroup functioning. Phases in workgroup functioning.
Narrative and Symbolic/Metaphoric analysis of organisational communication.
Communication flows and networks, structures and hierarchies, size and complexity, culture and climate as they relate to morale, commitment, and the construction of meanings. Narrative, dramatistic, and symbolic interactionist perspectives on organisational discourse.
Perspectives on organisational communication effectiveness.
Functionalist and interpretivist perspectives and methodologies, cultural approaches – networks and power, diversity and equity. Evaluating new communications technology; effective communication for implementation of change.
Assessment
Assessment item 1: Self and Peer Evaluation of Organisational/Workgroup Communication Competence
| Objective(s): | b, c, d, e, f |
| Weighting: | 50% |
| Task: | To undertake self-learning involving the development of a communicational competence relevant to the organisational/workgroup context. The report involves self-reflective engaged research, investigating models and empirical assessments to determine personal communicational competencies and styles. Students will develop and self-administer an assessment strategy to determine their own communication competence/style. The student is then to reflect on the findings, set personal goals and develop a personal communication competence improvement plan, referenced to literature. As examples, students may focus on their skills in handling supervisor-subordinate relations, or conflict-management, or identifying and responding to organisational climate, or understanding organisational culture, or adapting to communicational technologies, or evaluating organisational communication, etc [further options will be identified in class]. |
| Assessment criteria: |
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Assessment item 2: Group Research Report; Group Presentation; Individual Report
| Objective(s): | a, b, c, d, e, f |
| Weighting: | 30% group assessment and presentation 20% individual assessment |
| Task: | Part 1A: Group Research Report (20%) – 2500 Words For this assignment students will work in groups of three to research, evaluate and report on an aspect of the communicational functioning that impacts upon the internal functioning of an organisation or workgroup, related to the subject content. The report should be presented in the approved business report format. All groups must be formed by week 4 when report topics will be finaliised by Discussion with the Tutor. Part 1B: Group Presentation of Report (10%) – 30 Minutes Each group will deliver a 30 minute (including question time) structured presentation of their report, commencing week 11. Groups will be expected to develop creative ways of involving the student audience in their presentation to expand their knowledge of the topic. Such activities may involve role plays, hypotheticals, group work and the use of audio-visual or other stimulus materials. Further, each group will be required to produce a summary of central points of the presentation to be made available to all students by posting it on UTSOnline the day following the presentation. Part 2: Individual Report (20%) 800-1000 Words Students will individually examine, analyse, and report [800 – 1000 words] upon the interaction of the workgroup they have just participated in by recording and analysing the group dynamics and workgroup processes, including for example key events in decision making, leadership, conflict , including an evaluation of the merit of each others contributions. These reflections are to be critically discussed using literature to define the communicational processes. |
| Assessment criteria: | Part 1A
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Minimum requirements
Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.
Attendance is particularly important in this subject because it is based on a collaborative approach which involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas. Students who attend fewer than ten classes are advised that their final work will not be assessed and that they are likely to fail the subject.
Required text(s)
Conrad, C. and Poole, M.S. (2005) Strategic Organisational Communication. 5th edition Harcourt College Publishers
Recommended text(s)
Albrecht, T.L. & Bach, B.W. (1997). Communication in Complex Organisations: A relational approach. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace College.
Beck, Charles E. (1999) Managerial Communication: Bridging Theory and Practice. Prentice Hall, Boston
Kaye, M. (1994) Communication Management, Pearson Australia
Indicative references
Beebe, S. and Masterson, J. (2002) Communicating in Small Groups: Principles and Practices [7th ed]. Allyn & Bacon
Belbin, R.M. (2004) Management Teams, Second Edition, [2nd ed]. Butterworth-Heinemann
Blundel, R. (2004) Effective Organisational Communication: Perspectives, Principles, and Practice. Prentice Hall
Bolmar, L.G., and Deal, T.E. (2005) Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership. Jossey-Bass
Carlopio, J., Andrewartha, G., and Armstrong, H. (2005) Developing Management Skills: A Comprehensive Guide for Leaders. Pearson Prentice Hall
Davidson, Paul, & Griffin, Ricky (2006) Management [3rd ed]. John Wiley and Sons Australia Ltd.
Daft, R. L. (2005) The Leadership Experience. [3rd ed] Thomson
Denning, S. (2005) The Leader's Guide to Storytelling: Mastering the Art and Discipline of Business Narrative. Jossey-Bass
Eisenberg, E, M. and Goodall Jr, H.L. (1997) Organizational communication; Balancing creativity and constraint. (2nd ed) St Martin's Press
Galanes, G., Adams, K., & Brilhart, J. (2003). Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice, [11th ed]. McGraw-Hill
Gardner, H. (1997) Leading Minds: An anatomy of leadership. Harper Collins
Griffin, D. (2001) The Emergence of Leadership: Linking Self-organization and Ethics (Complexity and Emergence in Organisations) Routledge
Griffin, E. (2003) A First Look at Communication Theory [5th ed.] McGraw Hill, Boston
Harris, T.E. and Nelson, M.D. (2008) Applied Organizational Communication:- Theory and Practice in a Global Environment [3rd ed]. Lawrence Erlbaum
Hirokawa, R., Cathcart, R., Samovar, L., Henman, L. (eds) (2003) Small Group Communication: Theory and Practice, [8th ed]. Roxbury Publishing Company
Hodgkinson, G.P., and Sparrow, P.R. (2002) The Competent Organisation: A Psychological Analysis of the Strategic Management Process. Open University Press
Hutchinson, K.L. (ed) (1992) Readings in organizational communication. Wm C. Brown Publishers.
Johnson, D.W. (2006) Reaching Out: Interpersonal Effectiveness and Self-Actualization. [9th ed] Pearson International
Kaye, M (1996) Myth-makers and story-tellers. Business and Professional Publishing, Sydney
May, S. and Mumby, D.K., [eds] (2004) Engaging Organizational Communication Theory and Research: Multiple Perspectives. SAGE Publications
Modaff, D.P., DeWine, S. and Butler, J. (2008) Organizational Communication: Foundations, Challenges, and Misunderstandings. Pearson
Miller, K. (2003) Organizational Communication: Approaches and Processes. 3rd Edition Wadsworth Publishing
Pepper, G. L. (1995). Communicating in Organizations: A Cultural Approach. New York: McGraw Hill.
Poole, M.S. and Hollingshead, A.B. (2004) Theories of Small Groups: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. SAGE Publications
Robbins, S.P, Millett, B., and Waters-Marsh, T. (2004) Organisational Behaviour [4th ed] Pearson Prentice-Hall.
Shaw, P. (2002) Changing Conversations in Organizations: A Complexity Approach to Change (Complexity and Emergence in Organisations) Routledge
Sypher, B.D. (1997). Case Studies in Organisational Communication 2: Perspectives on Contemporary Work Life. New York: Guilford Press.
Taylor, J. R., and Van Every, E. J. (2000) The emergent organization: communication as its site and surface. Lawrence Erlbaum, New Jersey
Varner, I. and Beamer, L. (2005) Intercultural Communication in the Global Workplace. [3rd ed] McGraw-Hill
A guide to scholarly writing in the social sciences may be accessed via:-
Plonsky, M. (2000) Psychology with style: A hypertext writing guide.
http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/apa4b.htm
Some relevant journals are:
Administrative Sciences Quarterly
Communication Abstracts
Communication Monographs
Communication Quarterly
Communication Research
Communication Year Book
Journal of Applied Communication Research
Journal of Business Communication
Organisational Dynamics
Organisation Studies
Management Communication Quarterly
Human Communication Research
Organisational Communication: Abstracts, Analysis and Overview
