MANA 2302-003 - Communications in Organizations
Spring 2010: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11:00 - 11:50
Location: COBA 251
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Harris
Office Number: COBA 224
E-Mail:
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 – 12:00 or by appointment
Course Description:
This course focuses on the development of interpersonal business communication skills in the following areas: group communication, written communication (collaborative writing and business letters, memorandums and reports), oral communication (business presentation, meetings and interviews), and listening. The following topics are also addressed: verbal and nonverbal communication, dyadic and organizational communications, communication roles and relationships, small-group communication, communication networks, and the diagnosis and improvement of organizational communications. MANA 2302 will satisfy the cultural and social studies requirement in the College of Business Administration.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, student should be able to:
1. Understand the Participatory, reflective and engaging teaching pedagogy for personal application of organizational behavior with it's interdisciplinary influences and behaviors required in changing times.
2. Define, discuss, and recognize important terminology, facts, concepts, principles, analytic techniques, and theories taught in this managerial communication course.
4. Develop reasonable solutions to managerial communication problems using appropriate facts, concepts, principles, analytic techniques, and theories from this managerial communication course.
Textbook:
Gomez-Mejia, L. R., Balkin, D. B., & Cardy, R. L. 2008. Management (3rd edition). McGraw-Hill.
Course Requirements:
Class Participation and Attendance: Your participation and attendance in this class is highly encouraged. Your participation will be evaluated based the value your participation adds to the class. Therefore, participation is not only evaluated on how much you participate, but also on the quality of your participation. It is expected that you will read each chapter from the textbook before the class meeting which it is assigned. This should help you to provide valuable contributions to the class. There will also be a variety of in-class assignments through out the semester. These will be turned in to evaluate not only your attendance, but also your participation.
After you have missed two in-class assignments or times the instructor took attendance, two points will be deducted from you attendance and participation grade for each additional in-class assignment or attendance opportunity missed. Your class participation and attendance score will also be based on the quality of your participation as described above.
In-class assignments cannot be made up.
Exams: Four exams will be given during the semester. See the calendar below for exact dates. The exams will consist of multiple choice and essay questions. Each exam is worth 40 points. Your lowest score on the exams will be dropped, therefore three exams will count towards your final course grade.
Make up exams will not be given.
Chapter Review Presentations: In groups of no more than 5 people, students will provide a review of a chapter covered in class. Each group will be assigned one chapter to review. The review should be 10 – 15 minutes in length and include visual aids. A copy of the visual aid must be turned into the instructor. See the calendar for dates of the reviews. On the second day of class, students will form groups for these presentations. If you are not present in class on that day, you will be responsible for finding a group to join. The instructor will not find a groups for students to join. If a group has more than 5 people, 5 points will automatically be deducted from your presentation grade.
Students will also complete a peer evaluation of each of their group members. These evaluations will be turned into the instructor and will be considered when grades are given for the presentation.
Late presentations will not be accepted.
Memo: Each student will write a business memo on a pressing business issue. The memo should be no more than one page in length and should follow the business memo format discussed in class. The memo should be typed, with 12 point font, single spaced with double spaces between paragraphs. The memo should describe the pressing business issue, how it affects business organizations, and what business can do about the pressing business issue. Due dates are listed on the calendar below.
Late memos will not be accepted.
Cover Letter and Resume: Each student will prepare a cover letter for a job they would like to apply. Additionally, students will prepare a resume that would be used when applying for a job. Due dates are listed on the calendar below.
Late cover letters and resumes will not be accepted.
Role-Play In-Class Assignments: Students will take part in a variety of business oriented role- plays of situations that students may encounter in their careers in the business world. Each role play is worth 5 points. Students may miss one role-play assignment and it will not affect their score on the role-play assignments. For each role play assignment missed beyond one, 5 points will be deducted for each role-play missed from the role-play assignment score.
In-class role-play assignments cannot be made up.
Role-Play Presentations: In groups of no ore than 5 people, students will perform a role-play in front of the class. Each group will be assigned one role play to demonstrate for the class. In most role plays assigned it will not be possible for all group members to act out the role play in front of the class. Each group member should be involved in preparing the role play, even though they may not be acting out the role play.
Role play groups will be formed in class on April 7th. If you are not present in class on that day, you will be responsible for finding a group to join. The instructor will not find a group for students to join. If a group has more than 5 people, 5 points will automatically be deducted from your presentation grade.
Students will also complete a peer evaluation of each of their group members. These evaluations will be turned into the instructor and will be considered when grades are given for the presentation.
Late presentations will not be accepted.
Evaluations of Role-Play Presentations: Students will evaluate each role-play presentation. Up to two role-play evaluations may be missed. For each role play evaluation missed beyond two, one point will be deducted from the evaluation of role-play presentation score.
Late evaluations will not be accepted.
Make-Up Policy
Make-ups are not allowed.
Grading Policy
Three Exams 120 Points
Role Play In-Class Assignments 40 Points
Class Participation and Attendance 20 Points
Chapter Review Presentation 20 Points
Role-Play Presentation 20 Points
Memo 10 Points
Resume and Cover Letter 10 Points
Evaluations of Role-Play Presentations 10 Points
Total 250 Points
250 – 225 Points = A (100% - 90%)
225 - 200 Points = B (89% - 80%)
199 – 175 Points = C (79% - 70%)
174 - 150 Points = D (69% - 60%)
Below 120 Points = F (Below 60%)
WebCT
WebCT will be used in this class. The web address is webct.uta.edu There are log-in instructions listed on the WebCT Website. On WebCT you will be able to download the PowerPoint presentations for each topic that is covered in class. Course grades will also be posted on WebCT.
Calendar:
The contents of this calendar may be changed depending upon class size and other circumstances.
Date / Topic / DueJanuary 20 / Class Introduction
January 22 / Chapter 1 / Form Chapter Review Groups
January 25 / Chapter 2
January 27 / Chapter 2
January 29 / Chapter 3
February 1 / Chapter 3
February 3 / Exam Review / Chapter Groups 1, 2, & 3 Present
February 5 / Exam 1 (Chapters 1, 2, & 3)
February 8 / Chapter 4
February 10 / Chapter 5
February 12 / Chapter 5
February 15 / Chapter 6
February 17 / Exam Review
February 19 / Exam 2 (Chapters 4, 5, & 6) / Chapter Groups 4, 5, & 6 Present
February 22 / Chapter 8
February 24 / Chapter 8
February 26 / Chapter 9
March 1 / Chapter 9
March 3 / Chapter 10
March 5 / Chapter 10
March 8 / Exam Review / Chapter Groups 8, 9, & 10 Present
March 10 / Exam 3 (Chapters 8, 9, & 10)
March 12 / TBD
March 15 / Spring Break
March 17 / Spring Break
March 19 / Spring Break
March 22 / Chapter 11
March 24 / Chapter 11 / Rough Draft of Memo
March 26 / Chapter 12 / Final Memo
March 29 / Chapter 15
March 31 / Chapter 15 / Rough Draft of Resume and
Cover Letter
April 2 / Exam Review / Chapter Groups 11, 12, & 15 Present
Final Resume and
Cover Letter
April 5 / Exam 4 (Chapters 11, 12, & 15)
April 7 / Listening / Form Role Play Groups
April 9 / Goal Setting
April 12 / Feedback
April 14 / Delegation
April 16 / Politicking
April 19 / Coaching
April 21 / Resolving Conflicts
April 23 / Negotiating
April 26 / Interviewing
April 28 / Presentations / Role Play Groups 1, 2, & 3 Present
April 30 / Presentations / Role Play Groups 4 & 5 Present
May 3 / Presentations / Role Play Groups 6 & 7 Present
May 5 / Presentations / Role Play Groups 8 & 9 Present
May 7 / TBD
Drop Policy:
It is the student's responsibility to complete the course or withdraw from the course in accordance with University Regulations. Students will not be dropped by the instructor for non-attendance. Students are strongly encouraged to verify their grade status before dropping a course after the first withdrawal date. A student who drops a course after the first withdrawal date may receive an "F" in the course if the student is failing at the time the course is dropped. Please refer to the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs and the Schedule of Classes for specific university policies and dates.
Americans With Disabilities Act:
The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.
As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility primarily rests with informing faculty of their need for accommodation and in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels. Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can be found at www.uta.edu/disability. Also, you may visit the Office for Students with Disabilities in room 102 of University Hall or call them at (817) 272-3364.
Academic Integrity:
It is the philosophy of The University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University.
"Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts." (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Series 50101, Section 2.2)
Student Support Services Available:
The University of Texas at Arlington supports a variety of student success programs to help you connect with the University and achieve academic success. These programs include learning assistance, developmental education, advising and mentoring, admission and transition, and federally funded programs. Students requiring assistance academically, personally, or socially should contact the Office of Student Success Programs at 817-272-6107 for more information and appropriate referrals.
Final Review Week:
A period of five class days prior to the first day of final examinations in the long sessions shall be designated as Final Review Week. The purpose of this week is to allow students sufficient time to prepare for final examinations. During this week, there shall be no scheduled activities such as required field trips or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research problems or exercises of similar scope that have a completion date during or following this week unless specified in the class syllabi. During Final Review Week, an instructor shall not give any examinations constituting 10% or more of the final grade, except makeup tests and laboratory examinations. In addition, no instructor shall give any portion of the final examination during Final Review Week. Classes are held as scheduled during this week and lectures and presentations may be given.
Librarian to Contact: Ruthie Brock
E-Culture Policy:
The University of Texas at Arlington has adopted the University email address as an official means of communication with students. Through the use of email, UT-Arlington is able to provide students with relevant and timely information, designed to facilitate student success. In particular, important information concerning registration, financial aid, payment of bills, and graduation may be sent to students through email.
All students are assigned an email account and information about activating and using it is available at www.uta.edu/email. New students (first semester at UTA) are able to activate their email account 24 hours after registering for courses. There is no additional charge to students for using this account, and it remains active as long as a student is enrolled at UT-Arlington. Students are responsible for checking their email regularly.
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