ORG 3641 Organisational Communication and Leadership

ORG 3641 Organisational Communication and Leadership

Course code: 
ORG 3641
Department: 
Communication and Culture
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Suzanne van Gils
Course name in Norwegian: 
Kommunikasjon for ledere og organisasjoner
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor of Business Administration - Programme Courses
Semester: 
2022 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
Norwegian/English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

Already in 1938 stated organisational researcher Chester Bernard that "the structure, extent and scope of the organisation is almost entirely determined by communication techniques". Communication is crucial for organisations to work. Today's organisations are living by sharing knowledge, explore it, find new solutions, and develop a common understanding of it. Only then can they decide and take actions in the community. Leadership is then increasingly to motivate, create meaning, adapt and understand their employees. Employees must build good relationships to be oriented, creative, and understand wholes in their work. All this is about communication. Communication creates both organisational and individual performance. Individuals are motivated, dedicated, productive and loyal. Organisations are efficient, innovative, and profitable.

Communication is complex in the sense that it is difficult to control what individuals want to communicate, and what individuals perceive of what is actually communicated. Meanwhile, communication is continuous in the sense that you can never turn it off. Therefore vast resources are used of organisations on communication. The more people who are competent at what they communicate and how they can best understand, the better your organisation will perform.

To improve students' understanding of effective management, the course aims to provide basic insights into how communication works and creates profitable organisations. The course addresses both, communication between human interaction at the micro level (e.g. Conflict, mutual understanding, effective relationships ...) and communication as structural mechanisms at the macro level (eg. Organisational networks, power and communication, communication channels ...). Students will develop their own skills to understand, operate, and manage better in organisations.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

Through literature, lectures, updated examples, quizzes, practical exercises, discussions, work requirements and final exam, students developed their knowledge and skills in the field of communication for leaders and organisations.

Through participation in lectures, group work and other activities based on the required reading, students will display knowledge and understanding of the following topics:

Macro Areas

  • Communication as processes in organisations.
  • How organisational structure and culture conducive to communication.
  • Critical organisational issues that are important to organisational functioning and that depends on communication.
  • The relationship between leadership, strategy and communication.
  • Intercultural Communication

Micro Areas

  • Theories and Models of Leadership
  • Interpersonal communication
  • Communication in the impact and influence
  • Conflict
     
Learning outcomes - Skills

Through participation in practical exercises, planned activities, and counseling students will demonstrate the skills related to knowledge related to the course. Some relevant topics are:

  • Techniques for active listening
  • Plan and convey messages for different recipients
  • Facilitate effective meetings
  • Interdisciplinary communication skills
  • Conflict resolution through creative communication processes
General Competence

Students will develop an understanding of the need to interpret the meaning and their own and others' feelings in the organisation and perception of organisational as well as interpersonal ethics.

Course content

Basics of Communication 

  • Communication and organizations  
  • Organizational Theory and Communication 

Macro Areas: Structures and Processes 

  • Organizational Structure and Communication  
  • Technology and Communication in Organizations
  • Communication for Learning  
  • Cross-cultural communication and diversity  
  • Communication in change processes  

Micro Areas: Approaches and skills 

  • Communication and Leadership  
  • Interpersonal communication  
  • Communication in groups  
  • Conflict
Teaching and learning activities

This course consists of 33 hours of lectures including group work and project assignment in class. In addition there will be discussions in smaller groups.

In the lectures, the focus will be on key concepts and terms. In addition, there will be up to the presentations, discussions, tasks, events. Instructions will be given in connection with the assignment.

E-learning
In course delivery as online courses, lecturer will, in collaboration with the student administration, organize an appropriate course implementation, combining different learning activities and digital elements on the learning platform. Online students are also offered a study guide that will contribute to progression and overview. Total recommended time spent for completing the course also applies here.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Covid-19

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be deviations in teaching and learning activities as well as exams, compared with what is described in this course description.

Teaching

Information about what is taught on campus and other digital forms will be presented with the lecture plan before the start of the course each semester.

Required prerequisite knowledge

ORG 3402 Psychology, Organization and Leadership or equivalent.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
60
Grouping: 
Group/Individual (1 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Comment: 
The assignment will be handed out at the beginning of the semester.
All exam elements must be passed to achieve a final grade in the course.
Exam code: 
ORG36413
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Structured test
Weight: 
40
Grouping: 
Individual
Duration: 
2 Hour(s)
Comment: 
Open-ended questions.
All exam elements must be passed to achieve a final grade in the course.
Exam code: 
ORG36414
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
33 Hour(s)
Lectures, group work and presentations
Prepare for teaching
32 Hour(s)
Submission(s)
65 Hour(s)
Project
Student's own work with learning resources
70 Hour(s)
Homework curriculum reading and Exam Preparation
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.