Undergraduate - UnitAZA3432 - Managing communication in multicultural organisations

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Offered	South Africa Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Rose-Marie Bezuidenhout

Synopsis

The main objective of this unit is to study and acquire theory and practice of communication in multicultural organisations. The unit begins with an introduction to broad principles of organisational communication and considers diverse perspectives and approaches to organisations and communication. Students will be introduced to organisational communication processes, components, influences and interventions. Topics of cultural and gender diversity, interpersonal skills, organisational change and development, globalisation and ethical conduct will be addressed.

Outcomes

Students who complete this unit will be able to:

Identify and assess diverse theories of organisational communication.

Identify and evaluate management approaches and their effects on organisational communication.

Comprehend and evaluate the implications of specific processes, constructs and elements of organisational communication in terms of:

Roles and functions
Organisation structure
Organisation culture

Identify and apply interpersonal communication skills needed in an organization.
Appreciate and be sensitized to gender and cultural diversity in an organisational context.
Describe organisational and individual change.
Explain organisational development

Apply communication intervention techniques.

Practice ethical behaviour in organisational and cultural contexts.
To identify elements and causes of dysfunctional organisational communication

Apply methods of conflict resolution.

Identify and evaluate the impact and effects of globalisation on organisational communication.

Assessment

Minor essay (1000 words): 15%
Major essay (1500 words): 30%
Examination 2 hours (2000 words): 40%
Group presentations and tutorial participation (formative assessment): 15%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Rose-Marie Bezuidenhout

Workload requirements

2 one-hour lectures and 2 one-hour tutorials per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Communications

Prohibitions

ATS2432, ATS3432, AZA2432