South Dakota State University
Organizational Communication
SpCm 410/510
Spring 2013
3 Credit Hours
Instructor: Dr. Katherine Bissonette
Email: Katherine.Bissonett@sdstate.edu
Course Description: Explores communication processes in organizational contexts, theories
of leadership, decision making and conflict, the application of principles that facilitate
communication in organizations, and other selected topics.
Rationale: This course is based on the assumption that communication is a central feature of
both public and private-sector organizations—communication simultaneously shapes and is
shaped by organizations. This course is not designed to teach you a specific set of speaking
and writing skills, rather it is expected that your involvement in the class will sharpen your
ability to analyze your own and others’ communication within the context of the organization.
Thus, having become wiser participants in organizational communication processes, it is
assumed that the necessary skills will follow.
Course Goals: Through your reading, assignments and course room you will understand how
organizational communication directly impacts members and focuses on articulating and
reinforcing organizational values and aligning individual goals with organizational goals.
Communication establishes an appropriate organizational culture and climate. You will
appreciate how communication in organizations aims to change people’s opinions, attitudes,
and behaviors.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the semester, the student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of organizational communication concepts and theories
2. Analyze organizational communication problems using relevant concepts and theories
3. Describe one’s own organizational communication behavior and reflect on its
consequences for you and the organizations in which you work
Instructional Methods: As an on-line course, there are no lectures per se. Course material,
activities, and assignments are grouped into six Learning Modules. Each module will have
start and stop dates, reading assignments, course materials, and class projects and papers.
Two course assignments will be done individually, while one assignment will involve group
work.
Required Text:
Organizational Communication, by R. Wayne Pace & Don F. Faules. 3rd Edition
ADA Statement : Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the
impact of a disability should contact Nancy Hartenoff-Crooks, Coordinator of Disability
Services (605-688-4504 or Fax, 605-688-4987) to privately discuss your specific needs. The
Office of Disability Services is located in room 065, the Student Union.
Attendance policy: All students must log into the course room on the first day of class.
Attendance is taken through course room posting and responses to fellow learners.
Absences/late assignments must be coordinated a week in advance with the instructor.
Assignments:
Exams
Two exams are scheduled in this class. These exams include some multiple choice questions,
but mainly essay questions. Each exam is worth 100 points.
(Assignments – continued)
Survey & Objectivist/Subjectivist Paper. You will complete a survey in Module One as well
as a short paper (2 pages) on the objectivist and subjectivist ways of thinking. These items are
worth 35 points.
Personal Experience Papers. You will write two short personal experience papers. The
purpose of the exercises is to provide you with an opportunity to articulate—through written
examples—how material you are reading applies to your work experiences. Paper 1 is worth
25 points. Paper 2 is worth 50 points.
Case Study – Group Project. Each team will be asked to analyze an organization situation,
based on a case study provided by the instructor. Briefly, the teams will analyze the
organizational and communication problems depicted in the case. This assignment is worth
100 points.
Adopt a Company. You will select a company to “adopt” this semester. You will then
interview and write a paper on someone in a leadership position of the company regarding
various aspects of organizational communication. You will be provided a list of questions to
ask. This assignment is worth 100 points.
Discussion Boards. Each Module will have a Discussion Board Topic. You are required to
post your response of at least 300 words no later than fifth day of the module section.
Additionally, you must respond to at least two other learners by the end of the module. Each
module (except module 0) is worth 15 points for a total of 90 points.
Point Distribution
Grades will be distributed based on the following breakdown: 600 points possible.
540-600—A
480-539—B
420-479—C
360-419—D
Below 360—F
All grades will be posted within one week of the end of a module.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism and cheating are addressed by the CST Department, the College of
Arts and Sciences and South Dakota State University policies.
Freedom in learning. Students are responsible for learning the content of any course
of study in which they are enrolled. Under Board of Regents and University policy,
student academic performance shall be evaluated solely on an academic basis and
students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any
course of study. Students who believe that an academic evaluation is unrelated to
academic standards but is related instead to judgment of their personal opinion or
conduct should first contact the instructor of the course. If the student remains
unsatisfied, the student may contact the department head and/or dean of the college
which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.
Description of Modules:
Number
Description of Activities
Reading
Module 0
Course Overview
On-line activities
Assignment: Scavenger Hunt
None
Module 1
Why Organization Communication?
Chap 1, 2
Basic Concepts
The Complex Message
Assignment: Complete Survey
Assignment: Paper, compare and contrast the Subjectivist and Objectivist
Views
Discussion Board
Module 2
Organizational Theories
Chap 3, 4, 5
Assignment: Personal Experience Paper I
Discussion Board
Module 3
Motivation and OrgComm
Chap 6, 7, 8
Climate and OrgComm
Information Flow
Assignment: Case Study Assigned (Group Assignment)
Discussion Board
Mid Term Exam
Spring Break
Module 4
The Microsecond Manager
Chap 9, 10
The Power Struggle
Assignment: Personal Experience Paper II
Discussion Board
Module 5
Leaders and Followers
Chap 11, 12
Assignment: Case Study Due (Group Assignment)
Discussion Board
Easter Recess
Module 6
Final Exam
Stress
Chap 13
Managing Change
Chap 14-15
Get a Job!
Chap 16
Assignment: Adopt a Company Report
Discussion Board
Start-End date