Bell, Arthur H. and Dayle M. Smith. Management Communication. 2nd ed. New York: Wiley & Sons, 2006.

After completing this course, you should be able to        
* describe the communication processes of organizations and the role of managerial writing within organizations
* describe models of organizational communication
* explain changes in the communication process over the past few years, focusing on the high-technology, global management environment
* identify basic communication skills in listening, public
speaking, writing, and networking
* recognize communication barriers within and between
organizations and apply the prevention that effective writing provides
* understand the relationship between management /leadership and
communication
* discuss the ethical issues in management communication
* explain organization changes and their effects on communication         
* identify the various formats for writing within an organization
* apply the various formats for writing within an organization
* conduct a task and audience analysis and suggest strategies for results-oriented writing
* employ techniques for planning information and managing writing tasks
* review traditional ways to organize writing and explore
alternatives brought about by technology
* identify challenges associated with integrating information from others and devise strategies for evaluating and managing such information
* develop a plan for improving their own writing skills and the writing skills of others within the organization as an ongoing integral part of managerial responsibility
* discuss the rhetorical considerations of business writing

Writing for Managers focuses on the special communication needs of managers on the job. It is a course designed for people who are, or who anticipate becoming, managers. The course focuses on the skills and techniques needed by managers in modern working environments, paying special attention to technological changes in the methods we may use to communicate. Particular emphasis is placed on writing for managerial decision-making in a technological, diverse, and global business environment.

To bridge the gap between theory and practice, Writing for Managers focuses on the close connection between communication and the traditional functions of management, balanced by discussion of effective written communication strategies for everyday situations. In the course, you will recognize effective and efficient communication models familiar to most managers. At the same time, the course presents writing as part of a communication process that continually evolves and changes as organizations evolve and change. For that reason, we present topics designed to help you understand more about the communication process within organizations and its expression in writing tasks.

Grades will be determined as follows:

          Assignment                               Weight

          Paper 1: Communication                   10%
          Analysis

          Paper 2: Reader-centered                 10%
          Writing

          Paper 3: Listening Narrative             10%

          Paper 4: Planning Proposal,              15%
          Prospectus, and Information
          Plan for your final project

          Paper 5 Draft of Final                   10%
          Project for review by
          instructor

          Paper 5 Final:                           20%
          Problem-solving Project

          Weekly Questions                         10%

          Participation                            15%

          TOTAL                                   100%

         Grading Scale

         A = 90-100
         B = 80-89
         C = 70-79
         D = 60-69
         F = 0-59

Paper 1: Communication Analysis (10%)--Due Meeting 4

Using one of the communication models presented in chapter 3, the rhetorical model or the transactional model, analyze a communication situation in which you participated recently. Essay form; 3 pages, single-spaced, with an extra space between paragraphs.

Paper 2: Reader-centered Writing (10%)--Meeting 6

Imagine that you are a manager who is responsible for implementing a new policy in your department about reader-centered writing. Write a memo to your employees describing this new policy and what reader-centered writing is. Explain why your organization is moving toward this as writing standards for all written products in the
department and those that are sent to customers. Give examples, using specific company or customer products, to illustrate your description. Memo form; 3 pages, single-spaced, with an extra space between paragraphs.

Paper 3: Listening Narrative (10%)--Due Meeting 8

Before you have a meeting with someone this week, decide that you will employ the active listening techniques and theory from your readings. Write a detailed narrative describing, first, how you were planning to listen, second, what actually transpired in the meeting regarding your listening, and third, what you would do to improve your listening skills. Essay form; 3 pages, single-spaced, with an extra space between paragraphs.

Paper 4: Planning Proposal, Prospectus, and Information Plan for your final project (15%)--Due Meeting 11

For this paper, you should have a final project topic approved by your instructor. Your final project topic should be on some managerial communication problem you have identified in your work environment.

We are beginning to address the final project at this point. Paper 4 will help you plan your final project. By using a narrative form, you can draw these three pieces smoothly together into one "report". This assignment requires three parts:

           1. Identify the problem you have defined in your work environment;use an informal proposal form for this part.
           2. Using the research prospectus format, write a research prospectus and include an annotated bibliography for your topic;
           3. Using the Information Plan format in Unit 4 of the Course Guide, write an information plan for your proposed final project.

Paper 5 Draft of Final Project for review by instructor (10%)--Due Meeting 14

For the draft, you should have roughly 75% of your final paper completed. Plan to have the introduction, definition and description of the problem you are analyzing, your tentative resolutions, and much of your bibliography. Should have a clear sense of the overall organization of your final project at this point.

Paper 5 Final: Problem-solving Project (20%)--Due Meeting 16

For your final project, choose to address some problem that you have defined in your work environment relating to managerial communication. Define it, analyze it, describe it, and suggest some resolutions for it. Don't forget to get approval from your instructor for your topic. Since this is a research project, you should plan to use primary sources (interviews and conversations) as well as secondary research (articles, books, or company documents).

Weekly Questions (10%)--Weekly

These are weekly questions designed to check your understanding of the reading material. Turn these in at the end of each week.

Weekly Topics (15%)--Ongoing

Weekly topics help us to discuss as a class some of the concepts we are studying. The intention here is that each of us communicates about the topic presented. That is, students should talk to one another, and the instructor using the topic. Since our conversations are essential to this understanding and experience, each conference topic must be completed during the week it is due.  Any late topics cannot be accepted for credit.

You should be aware of UMUC's policies regarding academic integrity and academic dishonesty, which are stated in the undergraduate catalog and the Student Policy Manual. For a fuller treatment of this subject, see the Guide to Writing and Research (1998), also published by UMUC. These policies are of special interests to writers because they describe the act of plagiarism as an act of academic dishonesty that frequently occurs in writing.

To avoid plagiarism, you should understand it thoroughly and take steps to guard against it as you conduct your research and write your assignments. In general, you should:

Acknowledge the sources of all evidence, from rumors to formal documents. Also acknowledge all outside help, whether from a person; an electronic source, such as a Web site, an email communication, or a listserve; and any other source.

Consider everything in print or electronic format as protected by copyright.

Document all written, filmed, videotaped, audiotaped, and
electronic sources of information.

Use the documentation style appropriate for your discipline. If you are not certain which style guide that is, ask your instructor.

Academic dishonesty includes submitting assignments in one class that were written for another class. For more information on this subject, refer to the Guide to Writing and Research (1998).

Meeting 1     Introduction & Chapter 1

Meeting 2     Chapter 2

Meeting 3     Chapters 3 & 4

Meeting 4     Chapter 18

              Paper #1 Due

Meeting 5     Chapter 19  

Meeting 6     Chapter 5

              Paper #2 Due

Meeting 7     Chapter 6

Meeting 8     Chapter 7

              Paper #3 Due

Meeting 9     Chapter 8 

Meeting 10    Chapter 9

Meeting 11    Chapters 10-11 

              Paper #4 Due

Meeting 12    Chapter 17

Meeting 13    Chapter 16

Meeting 14    Rough Draft of Final Report Due

Meeting 15   

Meeting 16    Final Report Due