Seminar in Organizational Communication
5170-001 (3CU)
Spring 2017
Instructor:
Class Time:
Office:
Office Hours:
E-mail:
Chigozirim Ifedapo Utah, PhD.
T 7-9.30 pm
2037 Coleman Hall
M 1-4; W 1-3; by Appointment
[email protected]
Course Description
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the sub-discipline of organizational
communication as well as some of its key concerns. The course will be organized by topic
and special emphasis will be given to discussing how analyzing these topics from an
organizational communication perspective informs our understanding of complex issues in
the 21st century.
Course Learning Objectives
 Students will understand the foundations and current direction of organizational
communication research
 Students will be exposed to key topical concerns in the organizational
communication discipline
 Students will reflect on their own membership in organizations, and how they can
contribute to their organizations
Course Materials
 Assigned readings will be posted on D2L
 An additional reading will also be selected by the weekly discussion leads
Course Outline
Week 1 (Jan 10): Introduction to the course
Week 2 (Jan 17): Introduction to organizational communication
 What is organizational communication? Video available on D2L
 Editorial Introduction (Putnam & Krone)
Week 3 (Jan 24): Introduction to organizational communication (Assign discussion leads)
 Organizational communication: Balancing creativity and constraint, Ch. 1 & 2
Week 4 (Jan 21): Influential perspectives
 Post-Positivism: Common ground from the post-positivist perspective (Miller)
 Constructionism: Social constructionism (Allen)
Week 5 (Feb 7, 9): Influential perspectives
 Critical: Critical theory (Deetz)
 Postmodern: Postmodernism (Taylor)
Week 6 (Feb 14, 16): Organizational culture
 Homeboys and hoods: Gang communication and cultural space (Conquergood)
 Organizational culture as performance (Pacanowsky & Trujillo)
Week 7 (Feb 21, 23): Identity and difference
 Sexuality, masculinity, and taint management among firefighters and correctional
officers (Tracy & Scott)
 Thinking differently about organizational communication (Cheney)
Week 8 (Feb 28, Mar 2): Life concerns
 “The policy exists but you can’t use it” (Kirby & Krone)
 Revealing a master narrative (Smith & Dougherty)
Week 9 (Mar 7, 9): Emotion in organizations
 College student athletes’ communicative negotiation of emotion labor (Romo)
 Knock Knock? Who’s there? Making sense of organizational entrance through humor
(Heiss & Carmack)
Week 10 (Mar 14, 16): SPRING BREAK
Week 11 (Mar 21, 23): Gender
 Creating and responding to the gen(d)realized Other (Lucas & Steimel)
 Emotion work revealed by job loss discourse (Buzzanell & Turner)
Week 12 (Mar 28, 30): Leadership
 Constructions of leadership at the Intersection of Discourse, Power, and Culture
(Hall)
 Shared leadership in a community theatre group (Kramer)
Week 13 (Apr 4, 6): Spirituality
 From emotions to spirituality (McGuire)
 Embracing spiritual followership (Frye, Kisselburgh & Butts)
Week 14 (Apr 11, 13): Power, Resistance, and Control
 Being yourself in the electronic sweatshop (Fleming & Sturdy)
 The political function of narrative in organizations (Mumby)
Week 15 (Apr 18, 20): Dark side
 Nightmares, demons, and slaves (Tracy, Lutgen-Sandvik & Alberts)
 Gendered constructions of power during discourse about sexual harassment
(Dougherty)
Week 16 (Apr 25, 27): Future steps
 Practical application in organizational communication (Tracy)
Week 17 (May 1-5): FINALS WEEK
Assignments
Participation (13 @ 10 points=130): For every class period, you must
prepare a discussion question and a brief contribution (i.e. key insight, video,
current event, activity, etc.) to share with the class that connects to the readings.
You will also be graded on the quality of your contribution.
Discussion Lead (70): Individually or collaboratively, you will prepare a
discussion session based on one of the key topic areas and related readings. You will
also select an additional article for the class to study.
Final Group Paper and Presentation (150): Identify a current issue you have
observed in an organization. Analyze this issue from an “organizational
communication perspective”, drawing on key literature, and make an argument for
what can be done to move towards change. Presentations on your paper will also be
given.
TOTAL: 350
SCALE
A (100-90%)
B (89-80%)
C (79-70%)
D (69-60%)
F (59-0%)
Course Policies
As a Master’s student, I expect you to take responsibility of your learning and come to class
engaged and motivated.
Prep Time. Read deeply, not just to understand the reading itself but to push your own
intellectual boundaries. You will be largely responsible for discussion in class, so
you must be prepared.
Attendance. Attendance is mandatory. Please give me notice and documentation if you are
representing the university in an official capacity, or other issues such as illness,
death, etc. occur. 3 tardies will be counted as an absence.
Cell Phones, Technology. For phone calls and texts, politely excuse yourself and take your call
in the hallway.
Contribution. You will be called on during discussion. Come to class ready to add something
intellectually. Show respect for people with differing viewpoints.
Deadlines. All assignments should be submitted on-time. If it is late, it is half credit. The inclass assessment can only be made up if proper documentation is provided.
24 HR. Rule. If you need to discuss a grade, take 24 hours to reflect on the grade you have
been assigned. Afterwards, set an appointment to talk to me in person about your
grade. I will not discuss assignments at the end of semester or weeks after the grade
has been assigned.
Written Work. The work you turn in should reflect your professionalism. All written
assignments must be typed and proofread for errors. Handwritten work will not be
accepted unless otherwise noted.
Trust and Respect. Please trust that I will never intentionally seek to harm anyone in the
class. Let us be mindful of how our actions contribute to the classroom climate. A
kind word, a simple hello, an attempt to understand another's point of view goes a
long way. On the other hand, disdainful comments and expressions, side chatter and
texting openly during discussion and presentations or outright disrespect have a
negative effect. Choose to contribute positively.
Academic Integrity. Students are expected to maintain principles of academic integrity and
conduct as defined in EIU’s Code of Conduct:
(http://www.eiu.edu/judicial/studentconductcode.php). Violations will be
reported to the Office of Student Standards.
Students with Disabilities. If you are a student with a documented disability in need of
accommodations to fully participate in this class, please contact the Office of Student
Disability Services (OSDS). All accommodations must be approved through OSDS.
Please stop by Ninth Street Hall, Room 2006, or call 217-581-6583 to make an
appointment.
Student Success Center. Students who are having difficulty achieving their academic goals
are encouraged to contact the Student Success Center (www.eiu.edu/~success) for
assistance with time management, test taking, note taking, avoiding procrastination,
setting goals, and other skills to support academic achievement. The Student
Success Center provides individualized consultations. To make an appointment, call
217-581-6696, or go to 9th Street Hall, Room 1302.
Booth Library. Located in the center of campus, Booth Library is the best place to do
research, find expert help, or study in a calm, distraction-free environment. In
addition to the many print resources, Booth provides access to high quality e-books,
journals and scholarship not freely available on the Web. Stop by the Reference
Desk or go to http://library.eiu.edu to explore library resources. Get expert help
with your research by contacting the Booth Library reference librarians. Visit, call
581-6072, or go to http://booth.eiu.edu/ask to connect with a librarian.