ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION RESEARCH TERM PROJECT

 

The major research project in this course requires you to choose a specific topic (organizational communication concept) relevant to an organizational communication process, research that topic using several different sources, and apply course concepts and what you have learned through your secondary research to analyze a “real world organization.”

 

In order to keep the project from becoming too overwhelming (and to eliminate undue stress created by procrastination) the project is divided into several stages:

 

Initial proposal is due September 24

Research preparation work is due October 17

Oral presentations begin December 3.

Final project is due December 6.

 

It is hoped that through this project you will:

 

·         Learn more about a specific organizational communication process of interest to you

·         Learn (or review) rudimentary research skills for academic sources, contemporary and popular sources, interview techniques, and self-evaluation

·         Compare and contrast information gained through various resources

·         Present your findings in a coherent and interesting manner

 

SELECTING AN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION CONCEPT TO RESEARCH

 

PART ONE:  DUE SEPTEMBER 24, 2002

 

The initial proposal, will be due at the start of class on September 24 and will be worth 25 points of the 450 total points for the project.  On that date you will submit (typed and neatly formatted):  A one to two page full-sentence outline of your organizational communication research project.  At a minimum, make sure you do the following:

 

  1. Identify an organizational communication concept that is particularly interesting to you and that you would like to learn more about.  Potential topics include such concepts as change management, diversity, globalization, ethics, communication competence, organizational identification, job satisfaction, communication satisfaction, organizational culture, power, hegemony, recruitment, organizational socialization, conflict, supervisor-subordinate communication, leadership, trust, feedback, peer and co-worker communication, organizational teams, decision-making, communication technology in organizations,

 

  1. Provide a list of key words you have or will use during your library research;

 

  1. Identify your tentative organization (and a potential contact person) that will be used to apply your secondary research findings – you must identify at least two potential organizations (i.e., you should have a good plan and a good backup plan); and

 

  1. Identify a tentative timeline for data collection. You will receive feedback on your initial proposal on or before October 1.

 

 

PART TWO:  DUE OCTOBER 17, 2002

 

The specific preparatory work for the analysis and application, will be due at the start of class October 17 and will be worth 75 points of the 450 total points for the project.  On that date, you should turn in (typed and neatly formatted):

 

  1. The specific organizational concept and specific question(s) that will guide your project

 

  1. A list of all sources you will draw on.   This should include at least four specific academic sources, two popular press or web-based sources, two individuals you will interview (with relevant information on these individuals), and a few sentences describing how you will apply the information (organizational concept) to analyze your organization.

 

  1. Interview protocol(s) (e.g., organized list(s) of questions) that will be used to gather information from those you interview for the assignment.

 

  1. Specific timeline for data collection, draft of results, completion of final research report.

 

SELECTING AN ORGANIZATION

 

Select a profit/service organization for study.  The organization chosen should be “real” and reasonably complex, with several distinct work groups and at least three levels of management.

 

A business firm, social agency, school, hospital, government bureau, etc. are all good possibilities. 

 

Unacceptable choices are organizations like fraternities, sororities, clubs, departments, and any organization what will not give you a complete picture of a true organization.  Check with me if you have any question regarding the suitability of an organization for this assignment.

 

You are to make contact with the organization with the goal of gaining adequate information to discuss the following question areas contained in a term paper.  If the organization representative wants the names of individuals involved kept private—please respect those wishes.  I will be the only person that reads the paper and will keep all information presented confidential.  The goal of this project is to see if you can relate what we have learned in this class to the “real world of organizations.”  It is NOT a consulting job for you or me!

 

 

 

ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS

 

  1. Prepare an organizational chart indicating how the organization is structured. 

 

  1. Provide details about the mission and specific objectives of the organization.

 

  1. Make an analysis, in terms of the “schools” of management and “theoretical approaches” discussed in class regarding how the organization functions (e.g,  be specific in your application of a specific classical theory, humanistic theory, systems theory, or critical theory, etc.).

 

  1. Make an analysis of how communication flows in the organization.  You should incorporate such things as:
    1. Obtain samples of any written or printed instruments of communication.  How are they distributed?  Are they read?  Are they understood?
    2. Identify an official (formal) message received by a person in the organization and make an attempt to trace its flow.  In other words, how did the person “get the word?”
    3. Identify an unofficial (informal) message received by a person in the organization and make an attempt to trace its flow.
    4. Ask the most senior person to whom you can get access how they would inform a subordinate about some policy decision.
    5. Ask a junior person how s/he hears about policy decisions.
    6. Ask a senior person how a junior person may, if at all, communicate with persons above their immediate supervisors.
    7. Ask a junior person how, if at all, they may communicate with persons above their immediate supervisors.

 

  1. Describe, preferably with a real example, how decisions are made in the organization.  Include some discussion of how conflict is resolved.

 

  1. Describe the organization’s physical environment and evaluate its effect upon the process of communication.  You may need to focus on one group in one work place.  Remember, I have never seen the work place so please include photographs that will aid me in visualizing the workplace.

 

  1. Apply your secondary research findings about the organizational communication concept to your organization. What do we learn about the concept by applying it to the organization?  What do we learn about the organization by applying the organizational communication concept?

 

  1. Write an overall critique of the organization’s communication system (e.g., identify major communication strengths of the organization as well as shortcomings).

 

  1. Propose a specific program or course of action that you believe could potentially improve communication in the organization (e.g., what can be done to improve information flow?  Why hasn’t it been done yet?).

 

  1. Explain how you obtained your information.  List your informants and the dates of formal interviews with them.  List the documents and publications that provided data about the organization.  You will need to include these as an appendix to your paper.  Include other research sources that you use, including our textbook, in your list of references.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART THREE:  DUE DECEMBER 6, 2002 BEFORE 12:00 Noon

 

The final written research project, is due on Friday, December 6 BEFORE 12:00 noon (NO EXCEPTIONS) and is worth 250 points of the 450 total points for the project.  On that date, you should turn in (typed and neatly formatted) an 9-12 page paper (not including title page, abstract, references, and appendices) that discusses what you have learned in researching your organizational communication concept, answering your proposed question(s) and applies the knowledge to an analysis of your organization.

 

You should answer the questions in enough detail that I can understand.  For some that will require more pages than others (15-25 pages).  DO NOT EXCEED 25 TOTAL PAGES.

All papers must be typed, double-spaced, 12-point font with one-inch margins using APA style (5th Edition).  Papers will be evaluated on

(1)    meeting the criteria established above,

(2)    the quality of research,

(3)    the application and analysis of the secondary research, textbook, course readings, class meetings, and other course material, and

(4)    the quality of the presentation of the material (understandable, clear, adequate information, neatness of work, grammar, writing style, and mechanics). 

All papers are graded for both content and form, which includes, but is not limited to, spelling, grammar, organization, clarity and sentence structure.

 

PART FOUR:  DUE DECEMBER 3, 2002

 

Part four, a 7 minute oral presentation, will be due beginning Tuesday, December 3 and is worth 100 points of the 450 total points for the project.  Evaluative criteria for the oral presentation and speaker order will be provided on or before October 22, 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION RESEARCH TERM PROJECT

 


Deliverables

 

The project will be “delivered” in four parts. 

 

Part one, an initial proposal, will be due at the start of class on September 24 and will be worth 25 points of the 450 total points for the project.  On that date you will submit (typed and neatly formatted):  A one to two page full-sentence outline of your organizational communication research project.  At a minimum, make sure you do the following:  (1) identify your organizational communication concept; (2) provide a list of key words you have or will use during your library research; (3) identify your tentative organization that will be used to apply your secondary research findings – you must identify at least two potential organizations (i.e., you should have a good plan and a good backup plan); and (4) identify your timeline for data collection. You will receive feedback on your initial proposal on or before October 1.

 

Part two, the specific preparatory work for the analysis and application, will be due at the start of class October 17 and will be worth 75 points of the 450 total points for the project.  On that date, you should turn in (typed and neatly formatted):

 

·         The specific question that will guide your project

·         A list of all sources you will draw on.   This should include at least four specific academic sources, two popular press or web-based sources, two individuals you will interview (with relevant information on these individuals), and a few sentences describing how you will apply the information to analyze your organization.

·         Interview protocol(s) (e.g., organized list(s) of questions) that will be used to gather information from those you interview for the assignment.

 

You will receive feedback on your preparatory work for the project by October 22.  This will allow you sufficient time to adjust questions and sources, as necessary, and complete the final portion of the project in a timely manner.  If you would like to conduct your interviews earlier, turn in your project earlier so I can provide you with the necessary feedback.  Conducting interviews before receiving feedback on the research question or interview format would not be a wise choice.

 

Part three, the final written research project, is due on Friday, December 6 BEFORE 12:00 noon and is worth 250 points of the 450 total points for the project.  On that date, you should turn in (typed and neatly formatted) an 9-12 page paper that discusses what you have learned in answering your proposed question and applies the knowledge to an analysis of your organization.

           

It is wise to back up your work.  Please keep a back-up copy of this research project as you work on it and after you finish as well.

 

All papers must be typed, double-spaced, 12-point font with one-inch margins using APA style (5th Edition).  Papers will be evaluated on the application, analysis, quality of research, discussion, writing style, and mechanics.  All papers are graded for both content and form, which includes, but is not limited to, spelling, grammar, organization, clarity and sentence structure.

Part four, a 7 minute oral presentation, will be due beginning Tuesday, December 3 and is worth 100 points of the 450 total points for the project.  Evaluative criteria and speaker order will be provided on or before October 22, 2002.