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Unit outline_

WORK3205: Organisational Communication

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Communication is integral to many organisational processes; for instance, effective planning, decision-making, negotiation, conflict management, change management and leadership all rely upon effective communication by organisational actors. At the same time, organisational communication has become more complex due to increasing levels of diversity in the workplace and an increasing reliance on emergent and rapidly changing communication technologies. Drawing on communication research models, theories and case studies, this unit provides students with insight into how to manage the complexities of contemporary organisational communication. The unit focuses primarily on internal organisational communication and examines communication processes at various levels: interpersonal (dyadic), group and organisation.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Work and Organisational Studies
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
Completion of at least 48 credit points
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
WORK2221
Assumed knowledge
? 

WORK1004 or WORK2201

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Maria Ishkova, maria.ishkova@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home short release) Type D final exam Final exam
a combination of essay questions based on unit topics and class activities
40% Formal exam period 3 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Presentation group assignment Team Project (UPSKILL)
video presentation followed by class discussion and activities
20% Multiple weeks
Due date: 25 Mar 2022 at 12:00

Closing date: 20 May 2022
5-7 min video + 10-20 min facilitation
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Communication analysis report
Written report
30% Week 06
Due date: 28 Mar 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 11 Apr 2022
1200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO3 LO2
Participation Tutorial participation and overall engagement
Informed contribution to class discussions synchronously and asynchronously
10% Weekly n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type D final exam = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Tutorial participation and overall engagement: Learning to be a more effective communicator involves applying knowledge, practicing skills and developing new strategies, which cannot take place if students watch from the sidelines. Students will be assessed based on their preparation and active participation in class activities during tutorials and/or online discussion boards/forums.
  • Communication analysis report: Students are required to analyse and make recommendations about an organisational communication by drawing on, integrating, and applying the learnings from communication theories introduced in the first part of the course.
  • Team Project (UPSKILL): In groups of 4-6 members, students are required to examine a communication challenge/process through the lens of communication process theories, formulate recommendations to the company/industry of their choice, create a video Professional Development Resource UPSKILL in line with the analysis and recommendations and facilitate a class discussion and activities to support their presentation. Choice of topics will be provided early in the semester.
  • Final exam: This will consist of a combination of essay questions. The aim of the exam is to test understanding of the relevant topics, the ability to critically analyse and engage in self-reflection. Topics covered in the exam may be based on any of the weekly topics, activities and readings.

 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas. 

 

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late submission penalties for the individual report follow the Business School Policies. Team Project will have varied dates of submission in line with the chosen topic (starting from week 6). Key rule: both parts must be submitted before the actual day of the presentation. Please note that in the event that a team member does not contribute to the Team Project in a meaningful / reasonable way then the unit coordinator may consider the evidence and adjust the mark for that individual.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to the UoS and Flipped Classroom approach Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6
Week 02 Feedback and Listening as a key to success in Organisational Communication Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 03 Understanding how communication in organisations is shaped by underlying assumptions and world views: Theories that shape communication in organisations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Week 04 Key challenges to the Organisational Communication Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Week 05 Socialisation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Nonverbal communication and Emotion Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 Decision making and Persuasion Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Self-study: working in teams and individually to progress assignments Individual study (4 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 09 Communication in groups and teams Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Conflict management processes Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Leadership processes Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 12 Organisational change Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO6
Week 13 Content review Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes. In line with the Business School Policy, students are expected to attend a minimum of 90 per cent of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption through special consideration, special arrangement, previously arranged disability adjustment or by the Associate Dean. See Resolutions of the University of Sydney Business School (Faculty resolutions) https://www.sydney.edu.au/handbooks/business_school_PG/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library, available on Canvas. Recommended textbook:

  • Miller, K. (2015). Organizational Communication: Approaches and Processes.7th ed., Cengage Learning, Wadsworth.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the key challenges for organisations in managing and facilitating effective communication
  • LO2. analyse communication approaches and processes within organisations using communication theories
  • LO3. apply theory to communication challenges within organisations to identify strategies for improvement
  • LO4. analyse communication processes within groups and teams and identify strategies to improve these processes, as well as engage in experiential learning and learn by doing
  • LO5. develop an awareness and understanding of how individual differences, cognitive, affective and perceptual processes influence communication
  • LO6. develop effective interpersonal communication skills and learn to apply them in different contexts.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The feedback from students showed that students-as-partners approach co-created together with students in this UoS in 2020-2021, proved to increase engagement, had a strong impact on students' motivation and allowed them to create a learning community. No changes were made to the UoS outline in S1-2022, we will keep fine-tuning our students-as-partners teaching and learning philosophy together with the new cohort of students and the Advisory Board from former students who were considered by their classmates as class influencers in the previous Semester.

Usually, the activities for this UoS are scheduled for 13 weeks, however in S1-2022 due to the public holiday in week 8, they had to be rearranged over 12 weeks. In week 8, students will be expected to work individually and in teams to progress their assignments.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.