21878 Organisational Dialogue: Theory and Practice
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2015 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject is designed to develop students' sensitivity to the importance of organisational communication and dialogue. It enables students to evaluate communication practices in terms of their capacity to facilitate shared understanding among various organisational stakeholders. By integrating current management and communication theory, the subject emphasises the link between communication and the broader strategic and socio-cultural contexts of organisations. Cultural issues and leadership challenges are specifically considered to develop an understanding of the complexity of facilitating organisational dialogue. On a practical level, the subject assists students in developing their communication skills for academic and professional purposes.
Subject objectives
| 1. | discuss communication theory and its implications for leadership practice in organisations |
|---|---|
| 2. | appraise key communication issues in organisations |
| 3. | critically evaluate the factors contributing to effective organisational communication. |
This subject also contributes specifically to the following program learning objectives:
- Use high quality written and oral communication skills to interact effectively with others in order to work towards a common outcome (3.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject contributes to the MBA through developing students’ understanding of effective communication in organisations. Students learn how to evaluate communication practices and their implications for individual, group and organisational performance. By assisting students in developing their academic and professional communication skills, the subject also provides a foundation for enhanced performance in other studies.
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is delivered through a variety of face-to-face and online teaching strategies. Students will attend 1.5 hour lectures to develop an understanding of key issues in organisational communication. In addition, workshops/tutorials provide an opportunity for a more interactive in-depth engagement with the lecture content and reading material. Both individual and group work is expected.
UTS online provides access to subject material and assessment task information.
Content
- Foundations of communication
- Evaluation of organisational communication
- Leadership communication
- Communication structures & networks
- Organisational culture and communication
- Communication & change management
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Essay (Individual)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 This addresses program learning objectives(s): 3.1 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 2: Project (Group Report 25% and Individually Assessed Oral Presentation 25%)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 2 and 3 This addresses program learning objectives(s): 3.1 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 50% |
Assessment task 3: Reflective Paper (Individual)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 20% |
Minimum requirements
Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.
Required texts
A number of weekly eReadings and Online Modules has been compiled for students and is accessible via the UTS Online 'Weekly Readings & Online Modules' content area. The content of readings and online modules will inform tutorial discussions and activities so please ensure that, each week, you prepare the assigned materials prior to class.
Research has shown that passive learning environments whereby the lecturer simply covers vast amounts of theoretical material from the text, with little opportunities to explore or question, only encourages rote learning and is counterproductive to skill development. Come to class ready to discuss and participate. Class contribution will include:
- Making observations that integrate concepts and discussions;
- Citing relevant personal examples;
- Asking key questions that lead to revealing discussions;
- Engaging in devil's advocacy; Challenging an author's view or commonly held assumptions about various theories, concepts and models when the difference of opinion serves both as a counterpoint and a way of exploring all sides of a concept; and
- Working with others to come to a common understanding of topics
Recommended texts
The purchase of a textbook is not required. However, if you are looking for a good resource to improve your workplace communication skills that is aligned with the content of this course, we recommend:
Dwyer, J. 2012, The Business Communication Handbook, 9th edn, Pearson Australia, Frenchs Forest. (Available via UTS Library Open Reserve)
Further to this, the following resources are recommended to support your group project 'Organisational Communication Analysis':
Downs, C.W. & Adrian, A.D. 2004, Assessing Organizational Communication. Strategic Communication Audits,Guilford Press, New York. (Available via Library Open Reserve)
Hargie, O. & Tourish, D. 2009, Auditing Organizational Communication: A Handbook of Research, Theory and Practice, Routledge, London. (Available via Library Open Reserve)
Tourish, D. & Hargie, O. 2004, 'Communication Audits: Building World Class Communication Systems', in S. Oliver (ed.), Handbook of Corporate Communication and Public Relations, Routledge, London, pp. 131-44. Available from: https://openair.rgu.ac.uk/bitstream/10059/198/1/auditchapter.pdf
References
Dixon, N.M. 1998, Dialogue at Work. Making Talk Developmental for People and Organizations, Center for Creative Leadership, London.
Downs, C.W. & Adrian, A.D. 2004a, Assessing Organizational Communication. Strategic Communication Audits, Guilford Press, New York.
Eisenberg, E.M., Goodall, H.L. & Tretheway, A. 2009, Organizational Communication: Balancing Creativity and Constraint, 6th edn, Bedford/St. Martin's, Boston.
Eunson, B. 2012, Communicating in the 21st century 2nd edn, 3rd ed., Wiley, Milton QLD.
Gerard, G. & Ellinor, L. 2001, Dialogue at Work: Skills for Leveraging Collective Understanding, Pegasus Communications, Waltham, MA.
Gergen, K.J., Gergen, M.M. & Barret, F.J. 2004, 'Dialogue: Life and Death of the Organization', in D. Grant, C. Hardy, C. Oswick & L. Putnam (eds), The Sage Handbook of Organizational Discourse, Sage, London, pp. 39-59.
Fairhurst, G.T. 2007, Discursive Leadership, Sage, Thousand Oaks.
Heizmann, H. 2011, 'Knowledge sharing in a Dispersed Network of HR Practice: Zooming in on Power/knowledge Struggles', Management Learning, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 379-93.
Isaacs, W.N. 1999, Dialogue and the Art of Thinking Together: A Pioneering Approach to Communicating in Business and in Life, Currency, New York.
Mazutis, D. & Slawinski, N. 2008, 'Leading Organizational Learning Through Authentic Dialogue', Management Learning, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 437-56.
Miller, K. 2012, Organizational Communication. Approaches and Processes, 6th edn, Cengage Learning, Boston.
Tourish, D. & Hargie, O. 2004, Key Issues in Organizational Communication, Routledge, London.
Walker, R. 2011, Strategic Management Communication for Leaders, 2nd international ed., South Western, Mason.
Other resources
This course involves engagement with a number of communication online modules (via Lynda.com) that will help you support your assignments and professional practice:
1) Communicating acrosss Cultures
2) Communication Fundamentals
2) Conflict Resolution Fundamentals
2) Writing Business Reports
In addition, the 'learning support' area provides a range of useful resources on 1) academic writing, 2) presentation skills, and 3) business report writing. You may also find the following links useful which provide information on academic writing, assignment preparation and UTS Harvard Referencing.
http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/help/study-skills/writing-reading-speaking
http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/help/study-skills/assignment-survival-kit
http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/help/referencing/harvard-uts-referencing-guide
