University of Maryland, College Park
Department of Communication

COMM 422: COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT

Professor: Andrew D. Wolvin, Ph.D.
Office: Skinner 2111 Phone: 301-405-6521
E-mail:awolvin@umd.edu

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you should:

  1. Understand and apply principles of communication management
  2. Be prepared to function as an effective communication manager

Nature of the Course

This course functions as a capstone course for Communication senior majors to combine their learning in the communication discipline with communication issues in organizations of all types. Communication Management is a course focused on managing the communication function.

The course explores communication policies, plans, channels, and practices.

Texts

Course Packet

Course Policies

Standards: The instructional standards in this course are high, appropriate to a 400-level course. Quality, consistent class participation and individual work are expected.

Classroom Procedures: You are expected to be an active participant in this course. Plan to attend all of the class sessions. Please arrive on time and stay through the entire class. Please turn off your cell phone and refrain from distracting behavior that could interrupt good classroom communication.

Academic Integrity: The University of Maryland has a nationally-recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity for all students. As a student, you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is important that you be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. All work must be original to you. For more information, please see http://www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/whatis.html.

Course Projects

  1. Case study/benchmark project.
  2. Midterm examination (reading and class materials).
  3. Research project: Select an area and research what is known-not known about communication management in the area (e.g. political communication). Take a communication management theory and use your case study to explicate that theoretical perspective. Your research should include a literature review on the communication management theory and on communication in the sector (e.g. the banking industry) represented in your study. Conduct observations and interviews in an actual organization which is representative of the area of study. The paper should include four sections: (a) introduction; (b) literature review establishing the theoretical framework for your analysis; (c) case study of the organization; and (d) implications, ideally some best practices or benchmarks, for communication management. Utilize APA guidelines. Your paper should be of publishable quality. Additionally, prepare a professional (with PowerPoint) oral briefing of your project to present to the class.
  4. Final examination.

Course Schedule

UNIT I: Communication Management Theory

  1. Introduction
  2. Principles of Communication (Gayeski, “The Concept System”)
  3. Theories of Management (Gayeski, “The Concept System”)
  4. Communication and the Information Age Organization (Vogt, “The Nature of Work in 2010: Convergence and the Workplace”; Wolvin, “Listening in the Quality Organization”)
  5. Creating the Communicating Organization: Analysis and Design (Galpin, “Pruning the Grapevine”)
  6. Creating the Communicating Organization: Assessment
  7. Internal Communication: Listening (Wolvin, “Listening in the Quality Organization”)
  8. Internal Communication: Speaking and Writing (Rasberry and Lindsay, “Effective Communication as a Management Process”; Listening cases/benchmarks due )
  9. Internal Communication: Intrapersonal Communication (Rasberry and Lindsay; Speaking and Writing cases/benchmarks due)
  10. Internal Communication: Interpersonal Communication (Rasberry and Lindsay; Intrapersonal cases/benchmarks due)
  11. Internal Communication: Interviewing (Rasberry and Lindsay; Interpersonal cases/benchmarks due)
  12. Group Communication (Interviewing cases/benchmarks due)
  13. Intercultural Communication (Brett, Behfar & Kern, “Managing Multicultural Teams”; Group cases/benchmarks due)
  14. External Communication (Intercultural cases/benchmarks due)
  15. Communication Ethics (External cases/benchmarks due)
  16. The Communication Manager (Blocklyn, “Making Magic: The Disney Approach to People Management”; Quinn, Anderson, and Finkelstein, “Managing Professional Intellect”; Kanter, “Innovation: The Classic Traps”)
  17. Review
  18. Midterm Examination

UNIT II: Communication Management Applications

  1. Project Inventory
  2. Project Plan and Bibliography
  3. Project Preparation
  4. Literature Review Due
  5. Project Briefings (Kanter, “Innovation: The Classic Traps”)
  6. Communication Management
  7. Examination
  8. Project Inventory
  10. Literature Reviews (literature review due)
  11. Project Briefings
  12. Project Briefings
  13. Project Briefings
  14. Project Briefings
  15. Project Briefings
  16. Project Briefings (Paper due)
  17. Final Examination