Listen . Speak . Engage

San José State University
Communication Studies

COMM 164F - 01: COMMUNICATION & GLOBAL ORGANIZATIONS
with Service-Learning (SL) Component. Area: Foundations; 4 Units

Spring 2010

Section 01: TR 10:30-11:45 AM; HGH 219; LEC #: 27591

Faculty Web Page and MYSJSU Messaging

Copies of the course materials such as the syllabus, major assignment handouts, etc. may be found on my faculty web page accessible through: www.sjsu.edu/faculty/fvarona. You are responsible for regularly checking with the messaging system through MySJSU (or other communication system as indicated by the instructor).

Course Description

Communication processes and functions in organizational life. Networks, culture, power, leadership, and ethics. Practical application of organizational communication theories and concepts. (4 Units). Prerequisite: Completion of GE oral communication.

Succeeding in a Four-Unit Course

At SJSU, students are expected to spend two hours outside of class for every one hour of class time. Because this is a four unit class, you can expect to spend a minimum of eight hours per week in addition to time spent in class and on scheduled tutorials or activities. Special projects or assignments may require additional work for the course. Careful time management will help you keep up with readings and assignments and enable you to be successful in all of your courses.

You should strive for five qualities in your writing:  (1) your writing should be COMPELLING (i.e., it should articulate a claim, make a point, be purposeful), (2) your writing should be COMPLETE (i.e., it should address all aspects of the assignment, it should be sufficiently developed), (3) your writing should be COHERENT (i.e., your argument should logically progress from one paragraph to the next), (4) your writing should be CONCISE (i.e., it should be richly developed, but not meandering or repetitive), and (5) your writing should be CORRECT (i.e., it should be free of grammatical, typographical and source citation errors, as well as fallacious reasoning).  I will look to these five criteria as I read and respond to your written work in this course.

FOUNDATIONS, Inquiry, Practice

Each course in the Department of Communication Studies primarily focuses on one of three areas: Foundations (theoretical underpinnings of the discipline), Inquiry (research in the discipline), or Practice (application of communication theories and concepts to real world contexts). COMM 164F is a Foundations course. Although the course addresses research (inquiry), and practice (application), the primary purpose of COMM 144F is to study theories and concepts associated with communication and organizations.

Foundations Area Objectives

This course satisfies the FOUNDATIONS area of Communication Studies learning objectives. All FOUNDATIONS courses, including COMM 144F, share these learning objectives:

• Theories of Communication: Demonstrate understanding of the major theories that have shaped the communication field.
• Ethics: Demonstrate understanding of ethical responsibilities in communicating with others in interpersonal, organizational, small group, intercultural, mediated, and public settings.

Course Goals

Within the FOUNDATIONS area, COMM 164F is unique in that it introduces you to organizational communication theories and concepts associated with the communication discipline. Organizational communication refers to the communication processes and functions in organizational life. The ability to effectively communication in organizations is important and necessary to the success of organizations. In this course you’ll explore a wide variety of organizational communication theories and concepts, evaluating their utility and effectiveness in examining the communication behaviors employees and superiors regularly encounter. Class discussions, readings, activities, and assignments are designed to facilitate application of theories to communication situations.

Service-learning component

The general goal of the SERVICE-LEARNING component of this course is to integrate theory and practice through application and reflection. The specific goals are first, provide community service; and second, learn critical thinking, problem solving, and perspective transformation on the topics discussed in the course. All the assignments of this course are intended to serve these goals.
Students should complete at least 15 hours of Service-Learning in nonprofit organizations in the community.

Course Learning Objectives

After successfully completing this course, you will:

• Discuss and critique fundamental theories and concepts related to communication and global organizations. (Theories of Communication)
• Delineate the essential assumptions underlying communication and global organizations theories relevant to the communication discipline. (Theories of Communication)
• Integrate theory and practice through application (action) and reflection by doing Service Learning in global/nonprofit organizations in the community. (Social Responsibility)
• Identify, locate and apply resources for addressing communication and global organizations issues. (Communication Competence)
• Appreciate the diversity of perspectives and communication styles employees bring to global organizational contexts. (Ethics)

Course Learning Outcomes (LO)

After successfully completing this course, you will:

LO1.     Demonstrate an understanding of the unique characteristics, constraints, and possibilities of communication in global
organizations.
LO2.     Recognize recent challenges to business and professional communication found in new communication technologies, the global organization, and increasing workplace diversity.
LO3.     Identify cultural issues relevant to communication in global organizations.
LO4.     Identify, define, and apply concepts and theories associated with communication and global organizations.
LO5.     Demonstrate communication competency in global organizational contexts: interpersonal, small group, and public settings.

Required Texts/Readings

Textbooks:

(1) Schmidt, W.V.; Conaway, R.N.; Easton, S.S.; Wardrope, W.J. (2007). Communicating Globally: Intercultural Communication and International Business. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. ISBN: 978-1-4129-1317

(2) Kirszner, Laurie G.  & Mandell, Stephen R. (2009).  The Pocket Wadsworth Handbook, 2009 MLA Update Edition, 4th Edition ISBN-10: 1439081816 |  ISBN-13: 9781439081815  |  416 Pages 

Classroom Protocol

Regular attendance is important because: a) students participation in the discussion of the issues provides the multicultural perspective that is expected from a course of this nature; b) participation in-class exercises helps students to develop the necessary skills for more effective communication in small Teams and teamwork projects in the organizational context; and c) some information is provided in class which is not in the text.
NO ABSENCES WILL BE EXCUSED ON TEST DAYS. Absences on these days will be examined on a case-by-case basis.
To help foster a productive learning environment, let's all work to do the following: a) Interact respectfully with others; b) Embrace diverse perspectives and viewpoints; c) Arrive to class on time; d) Use laptop only to take notes; e) Set mobile phones to vibrate or silent; f)and wait until class has ended to get ready to leave.
Please feel free to come into my office to discuss assignments and other class related issues. If my office hours are not convenient, we can arrange another time to meet. So many problems can be solved or avoided entirely by a little communication! Remember to call and leave a message at 924-5392 or email me at: fvarona@sjsu.edu if you need to contact me during the day or at night.

Dropping and Adding

Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, etc. Information on add/drops are available at http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/soc-fall/rec-298.html. Information about late drop is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/sac/advising/latedrops/policy/ . Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes.
Detailed information about each assignment is available on the class Blackboard site [lURL TBA].

Assignments and Grading Policy

Assignments:

1. Sharing your Org. Comm. Experience (10 points)

2. Organizational Communication Diagnosis Research Paper (15 points)
The purpose of this assignment is to develop awareness of successful communication practices, communication weaknesses, and needs that organizations are facing here and now. This assignment is part of the service-learning component of this class. Service-Learning is a form of experiential education that believes that learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection. In so doing you will have the opportunity of learning from the community while providing a service to it. If you have not started your Service-Learning experience, you can select for the purpose of this paper any present or past organization. (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5)
(Specific instructions for this assignment are available on this link: Organizational Communication Diagnosis Research Paper ).

3. Interpretive and Action Paper (15 points)
The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with the opportunity to link practice and theory. To do so, you have to research how theory can help you first, to have a better understanding (perspective) of one of the issues (communication strength, communication problem, or communication need) discussed in your Diagnosis Paper; and second, design an action plan to promote institutional change. Moreover, this assignment will help you become familiar with the professional journals in the field of Organizational Communication and with the current research purposes, methods, and findings. (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5).
(Specific instructions for this assignment are available on this link: Interpretive and Action Paper)

4. Service-Learning Team Project: Org. Comm. Intervention (20 points)
The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with the opportunity of integrating service and learning through reflection and action. Therefore, you goal as a team is first to offer a meaningful service to a community organization; and second, to learn how to conduct organizational communication interventions. The process entails the following tasks: gathering, analyzing, interpreting data, and developing an action plan to improve organizational communication. (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5)
(Specific instructions for this assignment are available on this link: Service-Learning Team Research Project: Org. Comm. Intervention)

5. Mid-Term Exam (20 points)
Format for the test will be presented in class; it will include true/false, multiple choice, and short answer questions. Tests will assess not only your basic understanding of communication concepts and theories, but also your ability to integrate and apply those concepts and theories. (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5).
(STUDY GUIDE is available on this link: Mid-Term Exam (Download STUDY GUIDE)

6. Final Exam (20 points)
Format for the test will be presented in class; it will include true/false,  multiple choice, and short answer questions. Tests will assess not only your basic understanding of communication concepts and theories, but also your ability to integrate and apply those concepts and theories. (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5).
(STUDY GUIDE is available on this link: Final Exam (Download STUDY GUIDE)

The assignments in this class are designed to achieve course goals. Textbook readings, class lectures, case study analyses, in-class activities, research papers, and oral presentations will not only provide you with information about major concepts but will also allow you the opportunity to experience the concepts. Therefore, your attendance and participation in class are of utmost importance. You are supposed to read in advance the Textbook Chapter that is indicated for the given dates. The reading of these assignments is very important to participate in class discussion. Be prepared to answer any question about them.
All assignments and exams must be completed on the date assigned. If you turn in a paper late you will penalized for that assignment, unless an alternate due date has PREVIOUSLY been approved.

Grading Scale

Attendance per se shall not be used as a criterion for grading according to Academic Policy F-69-24. )

University Policies

Academic integrity

Students should know that the University’s Academic Integrity Policy is availabe at http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/download/judicial_affairs/Academic_Integrity_Policy_S07-2.pdf. Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University and the University’s integrity policy, require you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The website for Student Conduct and Ethical Development is available at http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs/index.html.
Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on exams or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person’s ideas without giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade and sanctions by the University. For this class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless otherwise specified. If you would like to include in your assignment any material you have submitted, or plan to submit for another class, please note that SJSU’s Academic Policy F06-1 requires approval of instructors.

Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the DRC (Disability Resource Center) to establish a record of their disability.

Student Technology Resources

Computer labs for student use are available in the Academic Success Center located on the first floor of Clark Hall and on the 2nd floor of the Student Union. Additional computer labs may be available in your department/college. Computers are also available in the Martin Luther King Library.
A wide variety of audio-visual equipment is available for student checkout from Media Services located in IRC 112. These items include digital and VHS camcorders, VHS and Beta video players, 16 mm, slide, overhead, DVD, CD, and audiotape players, sound systems, wireless microphones, projection screens and monitors.

Learning Assistance Resource Center

The Learning Assistance Resource Center (LARC) is located in Room 600 in the Student Services Center. It is designed to assist students in the development of their full academic potential and to motivate them to become self-directed learners. The center provides support services, such as skills assessment, individual or group tutorials, subject advising, learning assistance, summer academic preparation and basic skills development. The LARC website is located at http:/www.sjsu.edu/larc/.

COMM Lab

The COMM Lab is located in Clark Hall 240. Tutors for the lab are recruited from well-qualified communication studies graduate and upper division students. The Lab provides resources for enrichment and assistance for those enrolled in all Communication Studies classes.  Lab hours vary by semester and are posted on the COMM Lab wiki. available at commlab.pbwiki.com. Support for the Lab is provided by enrollments in COMM 80.

Learning Assistance Resource Center

The Learning Assistance Resource Center (LARC) is located in Room 600 in the Student Services Center. It is designed to assist students in the development of their full academic potential and to motivate them to become self-directed learners. The center provides support services, such as skills assessment, individual or group tutorials, subject advising, learning assistance, summer academic preparation and basic skills development. The LARC website is located at http:/www.sjsu.edu/larc/.

SJSU Writing Center

The SJSU Writing Center is located in Room 126 in Clark Hall.  It is staffed by professional instructors and upper-division or graduate-level writing specialists from each of the seven SJSU colleges. Our writing specialists have met a rigorous GPA requirement, and they are well trained to assist all students at all levels within all disciplines to become better writers. The Writing Center website is located at http://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/about/staff//.

Peer Mentor Center

The Peer Mentor Center is located on the 1st floor of Clark Hall in the Academic Success Center. The Peer Mentor Center is staffed with Peer Mentors who excel in helping students manage university life, tackling problems that range from academic challenges to interpersonal struggles. On the road to graduation, Peer Mentors are navigators, offering “roadside assistance” to peers who feel a bit lost or simply need help mapping out the locations of campus resources. Peer Mentor services are free and available on a drop –in basis, no reservation required. Website of Peer Mentor Center is located at http://www.sjsu.edu/muse/peermentor/ .

Course Number / Title, Semester, Course Schedule

List the agenda for the semester including when and where the final exam will be held. Indicate the schedule is subject to change with fair notice and how the notice will be made available.
Table 1 Course Schedule