CPT-35306 Communication and Organisations

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

CTP-12306 Introduction to Strategic Communication or CPT-23804 Introduction to Communication and Innovation Studies.

Contents:

In this course, we explore how organisations cope with changes in their environment, in terms of both external and internal communication. Externally, organisations have to know what is going on, they must present themselves, relate to others and they must negotiate. Internally, organisations need to accept change as a basic mechanism for staying ' in tune'.
We can call these activities forms of 'communication management'. But this is a pretentious concept. It suggests the possibility of control and overview, but communication managers have to deal with major uncertainties. They can only partly overlook their internal and external environment, and they can only partly argue whether and to what extent their actions will have the desired effects. The question is what communication can contribute to an adequate orientation of an organisation on an environment that continuously changes.
In this course we present and discuss currently relevant themes in this context, supported by various theoretical perspectives and a range of case materials. Why and how do organisations relate to their environments? What do interactions imply for an organisation's image and reputation? What does relating to the environment mean for an organisation's identity - members' own ideas about what the organisation stands for? How do organisations handle questions of social responsibility, and why? How can they communicate when there's a crisis and their reputation is harmed? We study how organizations can act strategically in these matters, but also explore some fundamental questions. Can change be managed? How does organisational communication affect stakeholders? And how does globalization change organisations and organisational communication?

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- form an image of the place and function of communication in and around organisations;
- identify types of communication management of organisations and to analyse these from the perspective of communication science;
- identify practical dilemmas with regard to communication that organisations are faced with, from the perspective of communication science;
- distinguish, describe and compare a number of relevant theories about communication (management) in organisations;
- apply these theories in analysis of organizational communication practices.

Activities:

- lectures;
- group and class discussions;
- group case study.

Examination:

Written examination (60%) and 1 group case study (40%).
Each component needs a minimum mark of 5.5 to pass.

Literature:

A reader will be made available on MyPortal.