Outline

Overview

In this unit, students learn theories of communication and how they apply within organisations, at an organisational, team and individual level. In the unit, we review the concept of communication through different theoretical and philosophical lenses so that students gain an understanding of how different perspectives provide different insights into communication within organisations. The unit also examines communication processes and how communication occurs between individuals and within groups. There is also a focus on communication challenges such as technology, diversity and globalisation. The unit incorporates practical exercises and case studies to enable students to evaluate their own communication practices and to apply the knowledge and understanding they gain from the unit to their own organisations and careers.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Work and Organisational Studies
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	ECOF6030 or ECOF6040
Assumed knowledge ?	None
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)	Final exam a combination of essay questions based on unit topics and class activities	40%	Formal exam period	3 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Team Project presentation (UPSKILL) Part 1: video presentation followed by facilitating activities	15%	Multiple weeks Due date: 21 Sep 2022 at 23:59 Closing date: 26 Oct 2022	7 min + 15/20 min of related activities
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Individual report Report	30%	Week 07 Due date: 12 Sep 2022 at 23:59 Closing date: 26 Sep 2022	1200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Team project report (UPSKILL) Part 2 of the Team Project: written report	15%	Week 13 Due date: 02 Nov 2022 at 23:59 Closing date: 16 Nov 2022	1200 Words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

Individual report: Students are required to analyse and make recommendations regarding an organisational communication by drawing on, integrating, and applying the learnings from communication theories introduced in the first part of the course.
UPSKILL Team Project, Part 1: Team Presentation 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 target audience, create a video Professional Development Resource UPSKILL and facilitate a class discussion and activities to support their presentation. Choice of topics will be provided early in the semester.
UPSKILL Team Project, Part 2: Team Report In the same groups of 4-6 members, students will build on their Team Presentation experience and feedback to provide a report on the topic of their Project.
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 them 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). 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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to the UoS and Flipped Classroom approach	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Feedback and Listening as a key to success in Organisational Communication	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Socialisation processes	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Communication in groups and teams	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Understanding how communication in organisations is shaped by underlying assumptions and world views	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Key challenges to the Organisational Communication, Part 1	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Key challenges to the Organisational Communication, Part 2	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Decision making and Persuasion	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Nonverbal communication and Emotion	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Conflict management processes	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Leadership processes	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Organisational change	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Content review	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

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

There is no prescribed textbook. All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. analyse communication approaches and processes within organisations using communication theories
LO2. apply theories and models of communication to intra-personal and interpersonal communication practices
LO3. analyse communication processes within groups and identify strategies to improve these processes
LO4. develop interpersonal communication skills to become more effective across different work and career contexts
LO5. apply theory to communication challenges within organisations to identify strategies for improvement.

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

Since this unit was last offered, the order of topics was rearranged to better inform teamwork and enable team forming earlier in the semester

Additional information

Business School Policies

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

WORK6118: Managing Communication in Organisations

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal evening] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect