COMM 333-Organizational Communication

Dr. Lee McGaan  

  Office:  WH 308  (ph. 309-457-2155);  email:  lee@monmouthcollege.edu
  Home:  418 North Sunny Lane (ph. 309-734-5431, cell 309-333-5447)

Fall 2016 Office Hours:   MWF:  9:30 - 10am, 11am - Noon & 1 -2pm;  TTh:  2-3pm & by apt.  |  copyright (c) by Lee McGaan, 2006-2016

last updated 9/19/2016
 UNIT I -- ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY
Tues. 8/23 Intro to O.C. - Organizational is Communication: The Social Dialectic.  OC. Preface & ch. 1  Foundational Concepts 

Thurs.

8/25

The "Traditional" / Mechanistic Model -- Background.   OC. ch. 2   Characteristics   Max Weber and Frederick Taylor

Tues.

8/30

Communication in Mechanistic Organizations.  Communication in Classical Organizations  |  McGaan's Conclusions on Problems with Classical Organizations
Thurs.

9/1

 Structural Problems - The Machine "Slows"  |  Barriers for Vertical Communication - Distortions  |  Discussion Questions by Team
The Human Relations Model as Reform.  OC. ch. 3  |  Hawthorne Studies / Chester Bernard/ Maslow

Tues.

9/6

 Outcomes of the Human Relations Movement.  |  Characteristics of the Human Relations Model and Keys to Good HR
Achievements of the HR Movement   |   Herzberg and McGregor

Thurs.

9/8

Human Resources - HR Revisited.  OC. p. 51-56   |   Limitations of the HR Models   |  From Human Relations to Human Resources
Tues. 9/13 Organizations as Cultures.  OC. ch. 4  Defining Organizational Culture   |  Effective COMM Practices - teams summary

Thurs.

9/15

  Variation in Culture:  "In Search of Excellence"  - Video.   |    CHARACTERISTICS OF "EXCELLENCE" IN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

Tues.

9/20

Characteristics of "Excellent" Cultures. |  Models and Bases of Organizational Culture.   Bases of Organizational Culture;     Another view

Thurs.

9/22

 Analyzing Cultures We Know.   Why Use the Cultural View?

Tues.

9/27

Outcomes:  Summing up Organizational Culture.  Organizational Culture: Variations and Outcomes    |    Analyzing a Case |  Exam Review.

Thurs.

9/29

     1st Exam --  Open book / open notes-- meet in COMM Lab - WH320 (or bring your laptop to use on the wireless network

UNIT II -- ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESSES  

Tues.

10/4

 Entering an Organization.  OC. ch. 7  Socialization - Entering a New Organization / Culture
Product Pitch Prep Day  |  Peer evaluation form - pdf;  Word version
Thurs.

10/6

 Image and Organizational Success.  An Effective Personal Image on the Job

Tues.

 10/11 Image Continued; The Myth of Meritocracy   |   Personal Communication and Career Strategy

10/12 - 16 

                    FALL BREAK
Tues. 10/18 Decision-Making and the Rational Model. OC. ch. 8  |   Standard Agenda  |  Information Biases

Thurs.

10/20

 Symptoms of Groupthink     |     Key Processes and Problems in Decision-making 
Tues. 10/25 Motivation in Traditional Organizations - Norms, Rules, Rewards & Punishment
Thurs. 10/27  Interaction as Performance Control - Feedback, Goal Setting and Culture.  OC, ch. 11

Tues.

11/1

 Power    |    Bases of Power - How Power Is Created.

Thurs.

11/3

 Elements of Power Systems.

Tues.

11/8

Conflict.  OC. ch. 9     

Thurs.

11/10

Identifying Conflict.  Types & Styles  |  Definitions    |    Managing Conflict  

Tues.

11/15

2nd Exam -- meet in COMM Lab - WH320 (or bring your laptop to use on the wireless network)
Thurs. 11/17  Diversity in the Workplace.   OC. ch. 12  + pp. 111-118 |  Women and Men at Work
 UNIT III -- CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

Tues. 

11/22

Review Plans for Training Demonstrations 
11/21 - 27                  THANKSGIVING BREAK
Tues. 11/29

Peers and Co-workers;  Groups and Teams.  OC. ch. 11

Thurs.

12/1

External and Crisis Communication.   |   Training Reflection

Tues.

12/6

 Effective Messages    |    Oral Final Exam Prompts    |    Peer evaluation form - pdf;  Word version

FINAL EXAM - 3pm, Monday, December 12 - WH316 & COMM Lab