BUCO 533: MANAGING COMMUNICATION IN ORGANIZATIONS



-76200-18097500BUCO 533 MANAGING COMMUNICATION IN ORGANIZATIONS Fall 201415183R: Tues./Thurs., 12:30 – 1:50 p.m., BRI 202 15182R: Tues./Thurs., 2:00 – 3:20 p.m., BRI 202Professor: Daylanne Markwardt, Ph.D.E-mail: markward@marshall.usc.eduOffice: ACC 400CPhone: 213-740-2803 Mailbox: ACC 400Skype: daylanne.markwardtOffice Hours: Thurs., 9:30 a.m. to noon, or by appointmentText Messages: 520-820-6253 (urgent business only) TEXTS AND MATERIALSRequired May, Claire B., and Gordon S. May. Effective Writing: A Handbook for Accountants. 10th ed. New York: Prentice-Hall, 2014.Toogood, Granville N. The New Articulate Executive: How to Look, Act, and Sound Like a Leader. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Purchase of one business case for team project (details to follow). Articles as assigned and posted on Blackboard.RecommendedAlred, Gerald J., Brusaw, Charles T., & Oliu, Walter E. The Business Writer's Handbook. 10th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012. COURSE DESCRIPTIONManaging Communication in Organizations is a web-facilitated course in which you will take classroom learning and apply it as part of a business case-based simulation. This section is designed specifically to meet the needs of accounting graduate students. Three major themes run through this course. The first is Team Communication and how communication can be used to establish teams and ensure their optimal performance. As a web-facilitated course, it will also explore issues related to working in virtual teams. The focus will be on developing your ability to work productively in small teams and to manage projects within an organizational context.The second underlying theme of this course is effective Oral Communication as it is practiced in a business environment, particularly within the accounting profession. This will include preparing and delivering oral presentations, both as an individual and member of a team, and developing a positive leadership image in speaking before small and large groups. It will also include development of interpersonal, negotiation, conflict-resolution, and leadership skills to prepare you to function successfully one-on-one, in teams, and within larger organizational contexts. The third theme of BUCO 533 is effective Written Communication, a skill considered to be as important for entry-level accountants today as their professional knowledge or technical mastery. The course will hone your professional and collaborative writing skills, exposing you to the document formats you will most commonly encounter in accounting. In addition, you will develop your research and critical thinking skills as the basis for strong persuasive writing while exploring the ethical issues involved in the interpretation and reporting of financial data. The short-term goal of this course is to prepare you to be successful in the career recruiting and interviewing processes. Longer term, its goal is to improve your management communication skills to increase your success during the early years of your career, and throughout your life in both personal and professional situations.LEARNING OBJECTIVESThe overall objective of this course is to give you exposure to and practice in a set of managerial, group, and individual communication challenges common in business organizations and team settings today. From these experiences, you will learn more about your personal strengths and about the skills and strategies you need to develop further to reach the level of success you envision for yourself as a team player and leader.The managerial and group communication challenges you will experience and learn about include the following:Team formation and structurePower and influence within teamsConflict and conflict resolution in teamsTeam decision-making and leadershipProposing, planning, and completing a team projectPreparing and delivering effective presentationsHoning your business writing and collaborative writing abilitiesExposing you to document formats common within accountingDeveloping your interpersonal communication skillsStrengthening your interviewing and networking skillsLEARNING OUTCOMESThe specific outcomes for this class will include the following:Successfully completing a project that enhances your understanding of team, management, and organizational communication issuesImproving your communication skills in team situations by demonstrating leadership, collaboration, and conflict-management skillsEnhancing your group decision-making processes and practicesPracticing leadership communication skills, particularly in the areas of verbal and nonverbal communication, using the oral presentation channel of deliveryPracticing effective persuasive communication and the ability to create a credible professional image using the written channel of deliveryWriting effective letters, memos, e-mail messages, and other documents that help to cinch your professional image and cement goodwill with your audienceApproaching business communication as a strategic activity founded upon careful analysis of audience, purpose, and context Evaluating your team and providing continuous feedback to help each member reach his or her communication potential as a leaderTo summarize, these activities will provide you the opportunity to enhance your business and management communication skills, using a range of channels or media. More specifically, you will be presented with the opportunity to enhance your business writing skills, business presentation skills, and team and interpersonal communication skills. The result, as with all endeavors, depends upon your willingness to proactively engage with the materials and take advantage of the opportunities presented to practice the provided management communication techniques. EXPECTATIONS, EVALUATION, AND GRADINGStudent ExpectationsAttendance, critical engagement with assigned readings, active participation, and a positive attitude are required for successful completion of this course. Many sessions involve group activities, and I plan and organize them assuming that all students will be present. Professional expectations extend to this course, which means that you should advise me by e-mail or in person prior to your absence if you are unable to attend any class or exercise. Partial credit for missed classes or activities, such as ELC exercises, is at my discretion and may not be possible depending on the activity and timing. As graduate students and present or future leaders, you are expected to take personal responsibility for your learning. We will not always cover all the assigned materials in class as might be expected in an undergraduate course; therefore, you will be expected to raise questions and address elements of the reading that you find compelling or worthwhile for discussion as a class, that you disagree with, or that you would like to elaborate upon based on your professional experiences. You will be responsible for knowing the information presented in the readings, lectures, and class activities, so you are advised to take advantage of class discussion time to address issues you don’t understand or that you would like to see more fully discussed with peers to add to your insights and understanding.Faculty Expectations I will provide course materials and varied opportunities for learning through discussion times, exercises, and assignments. You can expect to receive timely assessments of your learning as well as prompt feedback on graded assignments and exams. I will also make myself available during my office hours and at other scheduled times for individual consultations or discussion of course materials or assignments. If, at any time, you have questions or are unsure about your progress in the course, please don’t hesitate to come speak with me.Evaluation and GradingYour final course grade will be composed of the following elements: Grading ComponentPoints PercentageTeam Project and Final Presentation (Team)40040%Two Oral Presentations (Individual)15015%Business Writing Portfolio (Individual)15015%Midterm Exams (Individual)15015%ELC Exercises, Discussions, and Classroom Participation (Individual/Team)10010%Business Communication Assessment and Planning Memo (Individual)252.5%Cover Letter and Personal Branding Profile (Individual)252.5%TOTAL1,000100%Major grading components are described briefly below. Assignment instructions will include grading criteria, with detailed grading rubrics to be posted to Blackboard and additional details covered in class.Team ProjectWorking with a team of classmates, you will develop a project based on an accounting case-based simulation and then deliver a final report and presentation of your findings and recommendations. Elements of this project will include:A team charter and project management planA project engagement letter A memo to file A management advisory or tax research letterA final oral presentation A final research report and transmittal letter A peer- and self-evaluationAdditional elements of the assignment are intended to help your team develop an effective group dynamic and aid each member in enhancing his or her team leadership skills. This element will be addressed through group exercises and periodic project status reports to the class.Oral PresentationsIn addition to the final presentation that is part of the team project, you will deliver two graded individual presentations, both covering accounting-related topics. These are designed to develop your speaking skills as well as to enhance your leadership image in contexts similar to those you will encounter in the workplace. Business Writing PortfolioThroughout the semester, you will complete exercises designed to give you practice with the types of writing and document formats that are common within the accounting profession. From these, you will choose five and polish them for submission as part of a graded portfolio that reflects your best work as a business writer. These documents may subsequently be used if you are asked to provide writing samples as part of the recruiting or interview process. Midterm ExamsThe course includes two midterm exams, spaced equally throughout the semester, based on your experiential learning, course readings, lectures, and discussions. Both exams will combine multiple choice and short answer questions with longer written components. ELC Exercises, Discussions, and Classroom ParticipationWithin the safe confines of the Experiential Learning Center, you will participate in exercises designed to give you practice in specific skills: problem solving across an organization, reaching consensus, handling difficult people, and resolving conflict. In addition, classroom activities that require your attendance will contribute to this part of your grade. Participation in class discussions, post-ELC exercise debriefs, and critiques of peer presentations will also be included here.TeamworkIn the interest of fairness, a peer evaluation of each team member’s participation in and contributions to the consulting project will constitute a portion of your final grade.Late PolicyAssignments that are submitted after class time on the assigned due date and time will be assessed a 10 percent per day late penalty.Web-Facilitated Course DeliveryThis is a web-facilitated course, which means that you will be expected to be involved in web-based activities and delivery methods. These include conventional expectations, such as accessing reading materials provided and participation in class discussions through Blackboard, as well as using GoogleDocs as the primary method of collaboration among team members. You should also include your professor as a member of your team in GoogleDocs so that she can evaluate your collaborative writing skills.ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND UNIVERSITY POLICIESAcademic StandardsAcademic integrity is a critical value of the University Community. Integrity violations destroy the fabric of a learning community and the spirit of inquiry that is vital to the effectiveness of the University. This course is subject to the Marshall School of Business Academic Standards and USC Academic Integrity Standards, as detailed in SCampus (). Please refer to and become familiar with these standards. I will work with you to maintain an atmosphere conducive to personal integrity, intellectual honesty, and ethical behavior.Students with DisabilitiesAny student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations may be obtained from DSP. Please deliver the letter to me as early in the term as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 (phone 213-740-0776) and is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.Professor’s Retention of Graded PapersReturned paperwork, unclaimed by a student, may be discarded one month after the end of the class. Paperwork intentionally not returned to students will be retained until May 2014.Key Dates—Fall 2014Below are the key dates for Fall 2014 graduate classes in the Marshall and Leventhal Schools. Please see the course calendar for additional information. Classes BeginAugust 25Labor Day HolidaySeptember 1Last day to add a classSeptember 12Last day to drop without a WSeptember 12Last day to drop with WNovember 14Thanksgiving HolidayNovember 26-29Classes EndDecember 5Emergency Information USC Emergencies 213-740-4321 USC Emergency Info Line 213-740-9233 USC Information 213-740-2311 KUSC Radio 91.5 FM DialSyllabus Additions The course calendar should be considered a part of the syllabus for this course. Please note that the schedule is subject to change based on needs and progress of the class. Any changes will be announced in advance and posted to Blackboard. ................
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