Leader: Dr Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo

Offered

Caulfield First semester 2008 (Day)
Gippsland First semester 2008 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

The unit examines the development of communication and information organisations and technologies, the social forces driving their expansion, their social and economic impact, and the role of technological systems and practices in social development. The nature of organizational communication and the role of technology in communication are discussed as well as their implications for communication arts, economies, and society.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate:

1. Knowledge, skills and attributes necessary for the participation in and management of complex organizational and technology-driven processes;

2. Increased understanding of and competency at dealing with the convergence between organizational and social-technological knowledge sets;

3. Increased understanding of the large-scale and long-term social, political, institutional and economic context in which organizational communications systems and communication technologies systems occur;

4. Increased knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary for independent research; enhanced capacity to formulate and research technology and organizational communication issues, to analyse and evaluate arguments, develop a case study, and understand critical approaches to technology and organization-focussed communications;

5. Enhanced intellectual independence, and greater self-reliance and critical distance in intellectual and professional activity especially related to organizational and technology dilemmas and issues;

6. Significantly greater understanding of the nature, role and limits of communication technologies in the workplace and the key forms of organizational communication.

Assessment

Assignment 1 Case Study (4000 words): 40%
Assignment 2 Research Essay (5000 words): 60%

Contact hours

Two hours (1 x 2 hour seminar)per week.

Off Campus Attendance Requirements

Students will be expected to participate for a minimum of one hour per fortnight in on-line discussion.

Prohibitions

COM5201