COMM 561
Fall 2014
COMM 561
WKU Web Course
MULTINATIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Dr. Kumi Ishii
FAC 186
270-745-5203
kumi.ishii@wku.edu
Office Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays:
12:30 to 3 p.m.
Course Description:
This course is designed to learn effective communication in an increasing number of
multinational organizations (MNOs) in a global society today. We will look into various
communication-related issues in MNOs by applying important communication theories,
concepts, and research findings.
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
 be familiar with current communication-related issues in MNOs
 be familiar with important theories, concepts, and research findings relating to MNO
communication
 be able to apply theories, concepts, and research findings to evaluate complex phenomena
and solve the issues in MNOs from a communication perspective.
 enhance respect for diversity of peoples, ideas, and cultures within organizational contexts.*
 understand how knowledge about organizational communication can be put to work to
address relevant concerns in the community and society*
 cultivate awareness of opportunities of responsible citizens living and working in a global
society.*
* These course objectives integrate student learning outcomes outlined in WKU’s Quality Enhancement Plan. See
http://www.wku.edu/qep/QEPprimer.pdf for more details.
Required Resources:
 Frequent Access to Blackboard (BB). COMM561: Multinational Organizational
Communication
 Required Textbook:
Schmidt, W. V., Conaway, R. N., Easton, S. S., & Wardrope, W. J. (2007). Communicating
globally: Intercultural communication and intercultural business. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage. ISBN: 978-1412913171.

Additional readings are posted on Blackboard.
If you are not familiar with APA style, please obtain:
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. [APA]
ISBN: 978-1433805615
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COMM 561
Fall 2014
Course Requirements
The course grade will be determined by the student’s performance in the following assignments:
Article Summary Papers (5% each)
Theory Application Paper
Virtual Meeting
MNO Project
Interview Paper
Research Paper
Class Activities
Total
20%
15%
10%
15%
25%
15%
100%
A=
B=
C=
D=
F=
90% and above
80 – 89%
70 – 79%
60 – 69%
59% and below
Article Summary Papers: The purpose of these short papers is to learn about important
research about communication in MNOs. Please see the detailed instructions posted on
Blackboard.
Theory Application Paper: The purpose of this paper is to gain knowledge about critical
theories and develop application skills. Please see the detailed instructions posted on
Blackboard.
Virtual Meeting: The purpose of this assignment is to provide a hands-on experience of a
virtual meeting in an MNO context. The detailed instructions will be posted on Blackboard.
MNO Project: The purpose of this project is to learn about the issues in an actual MNO and
provide suggestions for the MNO based on research. This project consists of two parts.
Part 1 - Interview Paper: The purpose of this assignment is to learn about the communicationrelated issues in an actual MNO. Students will conduct an interview with a professional and
write a paper highlighting both benefits and challenges. Please see the detailed instructions
posted on Blackboard.
Part II - Research Paper: The purpose of this assignment is to enhance students’ academic
knowledge through research about the issues identified in the interview project. In addition,
applying the research findings, students will provide recommendations for the MNO. Please see
the detailed instructions posted on Blackboard.
Class Activities: The purpose of these activities is to enhance students’ understanding of a
particular topic of the week by demonstrating their knowledge and exchanging views with their
classmates. Please see the detailed instructions posted on Blackboard.
About Assignments:
th
 All assignments must conform to APA style (6 edition) and be submitted through
Blackboard.
 Late Work – All deadlines have been set in Central Standard Time (CST). Late work may be
evaluated with penalty. Please note, however, the submission site will be automatically
closed after the deadline. If you still wish to turn in your late work:
1. Obtain permission from the instructor by email before you turn in your late work.
2. Once it is approved, you will be advised on how to turn in your assignment.
*Any late submissions without permission will not be accepted for credit.
To avoid late work, do not wait until the last minute to turn in your assignment.
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COMM 561
Fall 2014
Technical Assistance
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, call WKU’s IT Help Desk (270-745
-7000) immediately. They are the professional group of people who can solve the technical
problems.
Academic Integrity
WKU and the Department of Communication are committed to the highest standards of ethical
conduct and academic excellence. Issues of academic misconduct include: copying the work of
other students, plagiarizing other sources by incorrectly citing sources, presenting someone’s
information as your own without crediting the source, incorrectly citing primary sources from a
secondary source, submitting assignments previously submitted for another course(s).
Please note the Department takes academic offenses seriously. Professors may routinely ask
students to submit their written work to a plagiarism detection database. Any student found
guilty of academic dishonesty will receive one of the following consequences at the discretion of
the faculty member: written warning, reduced grade on the assignment, failing grade on the
assignment, reduction in course grade, failing grade in the course, and/or referral to the
University Disciplinary Committee.
Students with Disabilities
In compliance with university policy, students with disabilities who require academic and/or
auxiliary accommodations for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services
in Downing University Center, A-200. The phone number is 270-745-5004.
Academic Assistance
As a WKU student, you have access to free online services via the Student Resource Portal.
The services include Online Writing Center and Online Tutoring. If you are not confident with
writing skills, do not hesitate to contact them.
Important Notes
 Students are responsible for all information, announcements, and changes addressed on
Blackboard.
 The instructor reserves the right to alter the syllabus during the semester, if necessary.
 If you have questions and/or concerns about any assignments, please do not hesitate to
contact the instructor, who can be best reached by email during the course. An on-campus
meeting and/or video conferencing will be also available by appointment. Please make an
arrangement by email.
 An email received by 5 p.m. on weekdays will be responded on the same day. An email
received after 5 p.m. will be typically responded in the following morning. Please include the
course # (COMM 561) in the subject line of your email.
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