Overview
This course is designed for people who want to tap into the power of strategic communication to better achieve individual and organizational goals. It focuses on both the style and substance of strategic communication. The focus on style explores how one’s ways of communicating influence effectiveness, while the focus on substance builds one’s ability to communicate in ways that facilitate desired outcomes.
While many courses in strategic communication take a technical approach—emphasizing the mechanics of writing business documents or delivering oral presentations—this course does not. It teaches professionals the analytical steps to take before they communicate. An analytical process to communication helps organizations to achieve their objectives, whatever they may be.
Objectives
After completing this course, learners will be able to
- discuss the complexities of strategic communication as a core management function.
- describe the characteristics of their own communication style, including strengths and trouble spots, and explain how their communication style influences their effectiveness on the job.
- apply the four analytic processes included in the SAMM model of strategic communication: situation analysis, audience analysis, message analysis, and media analysis.
- make strategic decisions that comprise effective business communication.
Evaluation
Students will be evaluated based on their participation in weekly online discussions (40%) and two assignments (2 x 30%). To pass the course, students must achieve 60% or more on the discussion component and 60% or more as a combined average on the other credit activities.