Course Title: Manage organisational communication strategies

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

Course Code: BUSM6396C

Course Title: Manage organisational communication strategies

School: 650T Vocational Business Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6140 - Advanced Diploma of Business (Public Relations)

Course Contact: Julia Makin

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5175

Course Contact Email: Julia.makin@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Claire Gourlay

Claire.gourlay@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 25

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This course covers competency in developing, implementing, reviewing and evaluating communication strategies and promoting effective communication techniques in the workplace.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

PUACOM004B Manage organisational communication strategies

Element:

1. Develop communication strategies

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Strategies for effective internal and external dissemination of information are developed to meet the organisation's requirements.

1.2 Special communication needs  are considered in developing strategies to avoid discrimination  in the workplace.

1.3 Communication strategies  are analysed, evaluated and revised where necessary to make sure they are effective.

Element:

2. Establish and maintain communication pathways

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Pathways of communication are established to meet requirements of organisation and workforce.

2.2 Pathways are maintained and reviewed to ensure personnel are informed of relevant information.

Element:

3. Promote the use of communication strategies

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Information is provided to all areas of the organisation to facilitate implementation of the strategy.

3.2 Effective communication techniques are articulated and modelled to the workforce.

3.3 Personnel are given guidance about adapting communication strategies to suit a range of contexts.


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

This course is structured to provide students with the optimum learning experience. Students will participate in a combination of group and individual learning activities. These activities will be provided through a combination of face to face teacher/student deliveries plus classroom work time. Additional learning activities will also be provided to students to complete outside of timetabled time.


Teaching Schedule

This subject is clustered (co delivered and co assessed) with  Develop and Implement Crisis management plans MKTG7828C

Week

Topics

Assessment

1

Course Induction

  • Course delivery and assessment details
  • Grading
  • Plagiarism
  • Appeals, Extensions, Feedback
  • Privacy
  • Submission requirements, Re submission policy
  • Student responsibilities
  • Introduction to course

 

2

What is a crisis – Types of Crisis/ impact

 

3

Crisis Management – Stakeholder communication strategies and pathways and barriers to communication. Discrimination Laws and communication

 

4

Crisis management plan development –  issue monitoring

 

5

Crisis Management – Best practice crisis communication 

 

6

Crisis Management – Templates, Leadership and risk management

 

7

Crisis Management –Organisational policies and procedures that impact communication. Legal, OHS, privacy and ethical considerations

Assessment 1 due Sunday

8

Key elements of a crisis management plan – Goals and objectives of the plan, Crisis team, resource centre

 

9

Communication strategies, dealing with conflict, negotiation and coaching skills

 

Mid Semester break 9-15th April

10

Crisis briefing and CTM

 Assessment 2 - In class assessment

11

Managing the media – press conference and networks

 

12

Dealing with the media - press conference

Assessment 2 written report due  Sunday

13

Crisis Communication - press conference

Assessment 2 role play

14

Crisis Communication - press conference

Assessment 2 role play

15

Evaluation and review Crisis Management plans

Assessment 3 due Sunday

16

Assessment feedback and resubmits advice

 

17

Resubmit and consultations

 

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

All resources will be available in Canvas.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment may incorporate a variety of methods including technical requirements documentation, homework, assignments, group and/or individual projects, in class exercises, written and practical assessments, problem solving exercises, presentations, direct observation of actual and simulated work practice, presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files, review of products produced through work-based or course activities.

Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met. Students will be provided with feedback throughout the course to check their progress.


Assessment Tasks

This subject is  clustered (co delivered and co assessed) with  Develop and Implement Crisis management plans MKTG7828C

You are required to complete 3 assessment tasks.

You must successfully complete all 3 tasks to be deemed competent in this course. Each assessment contributes equal value towards your final grade

Full details of all assessments and assessment cover sheets will be available on the CANVAS

 

Assessment Task 1 – Case Study - Research and Analysis 
Date handed out: Week 2
Date and time due: Week 7 Sunday 12pm Midnight

Group or Individual: Individual

Purpose:

To demonstrate your ability to review and evaluate a real-life crisis communication response. To show that you understand the need to adapt crisis communication for different audiences and media formats

Requirements:
This assessment requires you to research and write an analytical report on a recent crisis

Scope:Format: Written report - Word count 1200-1500
This is a research assessment so it is expected that you will use a number of different sources for the information in this report. 
Submitted on CANVAS

 

Assessment Task 2 –Develop and Implementation of a  Crisis Management Plan

Date handed out: Week 6
Date and time due:

  1. Crisis briefing and Crisis team meeting Week 10
  2. Written Assessment due Week 12 Sunday midnight
  3. Press conference role play in class Week 13 and 14

Purpose

To demonstrate the ability to develop and implement a crisis management plan for an organisation. The plan will include a number of different communications strategies, adapting the communication to suit different stakeholder groups.

Requirements: 

Using the case study provided, you are to create a crisis management plan, organise and conduct a press conference. Students will be in groups of 3 for this assessment. NO changes to group sizes are possible without approval of the teacher.

  • Note : All students must be a nominated member of the crisis team. (either CEO, Lawyer, Media/communications)

This task has three parts.

  • Crisis team meeting Week 10 (individually assessed via observation)
    • Students will set up a control room for the crisis and start working on their crisis response.
  • Written Assessment due Week 12 Sunday midnight
    • Students will create a crisis management plan document
  • Press conference role play in class Week 13 and 14 (ALL students will have a role in both weeks)

 

Assessment 3 Reflection and evaluation report

Due: Sunday Week 15

Purpose

Students are to reflect on the press conference they participated in in week 13/14. They are required to write a reflection on their communication skills, strategies used, as well as their crisis response.  

Requirement

This is an individual assessment

This task is expected to be approx. 1000 words. (Please review word counts on questions)

This task should discuss specific communication strategies used and evaluated against best practice from both a crisis response and communication perspective. General responses not backed by communication strategies will not be satisfactory

 


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix that maps all the assessment is available on CANVAS.   Submission Requirements   You should:

  • Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date.  
  • Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
  • When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use the Assessment task document that includes a declaration and statement of authorship.
  • Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. 

Other Information

You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance-based assessment is completed by the due dates. 

 

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.

 More Information:  https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work

 

Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for Special Consideration.  Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.

 More Information: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration

 

 Resubmissions:

 If you are found to be unsuccessful in a Course Assessment Task (or you do not submit/attend) you will be allowed one re-submission.  Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the re-submission.  

 If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

 

Successful re-submissions will contribute a CA (Competency Achieved) result to your overall assessment for the course.

Adjustments to Assessment  

In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website: 

 https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/adjustments-to-assessment

 You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying.

 You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing. 

 Final results will be in the following format:

CA Competency Achieved

NYC Not Yet Competent

DNS Did Not Submit for assessment

 

Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview