1. Course Description: Analysis of interrelationship among individuals, groups, and the organization. Examination of the following concepts: leadership, motivation, communication, group dynamics, decision making, and interpersonal relations. Inclusion of case studies and other projects.

2. Course Objective:

The objective of the course is to develop in the students a strategic approach to management and communication within an organization, with a particular emphasis on a biblically consistent approach to such a strategy. This objective encompasses an implicit theology on management, management techniques and strategy along with both personal and organizational communication. These basic strategic principles apply to (1) discreet communications and actions such as memos and presentations, (2) serial communications and strategies such as campaigns and crisis responses and (3) broader, non-discrete organizational elements that have a discursive or communicative force such as organizational culture, structure and identity. The online version of the course materials also provides an overview of the assumptions underlying this objective.

3. Method of Instruction: The class activities will involve the following learning methods: readings from lecture notes and other sources, oral and written analyses of certain readings, class discussions, lectures, oral and written presentations, exercises and examinations.

4. Schedule:

The work for this course will involve the following items, each of which are listed on the attached schedule:

• Topics for Lecture and Discussion

We will discuss these topics on the day assigned along with additional topics that may arise out of the assigned reading or activities. These topics are to some extent tentative and may change due to meet the students’ needs and interests.

• Assignments

These are homework assignments that the students will need to complete before coming to class on the day assigned. We will discuss the students’ findings in class. Some of these activities will have a brief written component. Some may involve samples of the student’s own business writing that we will discuss and critique in class.

The purpose of these assignments is to connect theory and practice by applying the theories discussed in class to real-world examples with which the student is familiar.

• Book Reports

Each student will be required to read at least one outside book for this class and prepare a 1-2 page written report to be given to the entire class along with a brief oral report. In most cases, the instructor will provide the book for the student (see book list). The student may substitute a text other than those suggested by the instructor with the instructor’s prior approval.

The student should approach these reports as he would a report on the job, that is, giving essential information and analysis for others who do not have the time to read the material. However, these reports should be more than merely informative; they should evaluate and critique the book relative to the topics we will discuss in class. A successful book report will give a brief overview of the book’s material, but will primarily focus on analysis. It should demonstrate that the student understands the author’s arguments and is able to evaluate them.

The purpose of this assignment is (1) to provide a communicative exercise for the student, in this case, an informative presentation or briefing and (2) to connect the theories discussed in class to broader concepts in management and business.

• Readings

In addition to the textbook, students will have additional outside readings that will generally be provided by the instructor. The student should have these items read before class on the day they are assigned. There readings will provide essential topics for the class discussions.

The purpose of these readings is (1) to reinforce instructional topics not covered by the text, (2) to connect the topics and principles of the course to other disciplines in management, (3) to reinforce the pervasive role of strategic communication in human behavior and (4) to develop the students’ critical reading skills.

• Midterm and Final Exams

The midterm and final exams will be largely short-answer and essay and will stress the student’s understanding application of the material and topics discussed in class.

The purpose of these exams is to further reinforce the basic principles discussed in class and to give further exercise in connecting theory to practice.

• Brief Sales Presentation

Each student should prepare a brief (3 minute) sales presentation designed to persuade the class to purchase a product or adopt a practice. This assignment is intended to give the student practice in an oral presentation. Topics must be approved by the instructor.

The purpose of this assignment is (1) to serve as a laboratory exercise for basic strategic communication principles and (2) to provide the student with another communicative exercise, in this case, a persuasive presentation.

• Research Project

The research project for this class will take the form of a formal academic paper involving research and demonstrating the student's ability to present good arguments. Each student will negotiate the topic with the instructor after the second week of class.  

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate that the student has mastered basic research skills, can construct persuasive arguments and can address key concepts in the discipline.

1. Course Description: Analysis of interrelationship among individuals, groups, and the organization. Examination of the following concepts: leadership, motivation, communication, group dynamics, decision making, and interpersonal relations. Inclusion of case studies and other projects.

2. Course Objective:

The objective of the course is to develop in the students a strategic approach to management and communication within an organization, with a particular emphasis on a biblically consistent approach to such a strategy. This objective encompasses an implicit theology on management, management techniques and strategy along with both personal and organizational communication. These basic strategic principles apply to (1) discreet communications and actions such as memos and presentations, (2) serial communications and strategies such as campaigns and crisis responses and (3) broader, non-discrete organizational elements that have a discursive or communicative force such as organizational culture, structure and identity. The online version of the course materials also provides an overview of the assumptions underlying this objective.

3. Method of Instruction: The class activities will involve the following learning methods: readings from lecture notes and other sources, oral and written analyses of certain readings, class discussions, lectures, oral and written presentations, exercises and examinations.

4. Schedule:

The work for this course will involve the following items, each of which are listed on the attached schedule:

• Topics for Lecture and Discussion

We will discuss these topics on the day assigned along with additional topics that may arise out of the assigned reading or activities. These topics are to some extent tentative and may change due to meet the students’ needs and interests.

• Assignments

These are homework assignments that the students will need to complete before coming to class on the day assigned. We will discuss the students’ findings in class. Some of these activities will have a brief written component. Some may involve samples of the student’s own business writing that we will discuss and critique in class.

The purpose of these assignments is to connect theory and practice by applying the theories discussed in class to real-world examples with which the student is familiar.

• Book Reports

Each student will be required to read at least one outside book for this class and prepare a 1-2 page written report to be given to the entire class along with a brief oral report. In most cases, the instructor will provide the book for the student (see book list). The student may substitute a text other than those suggested by the instructor with the instructor’s prior approval.

The student should approach these reports as he would a report on the job, that is, giving essential information and analysis for others who do not have the time to read the material. However, these reports should be more than merely informative; they should evaluate and critique the book relative to the topics we will discuss in class. A successful book report will give a brief overview of the book’s material, but will primarily focus on analysis. It should demonstrate that the student understands the author’s arguments and is able to evaluate them.

The purpose of this assignment is (1) to provide a communicative exercise for the student, in this case, an informative presentation or briefing and (2) to connect the theories discussed in class to broader concepts in management and business.

• Readings

In addition to the textbook, students will have additional outside readings that will generally be provided by the instructor. The student should have these items read before class on the day they are assigned. There readings will provide essential topics for the class discussions.

The purpose of these readings is (1) to reinforce instructional topics not covered by the text, (2) to connect the topics and principles of the course to other disciplines in management, (3) to reinforce the pervasive role of strategic communication in human behavior and (4) to develop the students’ critical reading skills.

• Midterm and Final Exams

The midterm and final exams will be largely short-answer and essay and will stress the student’s understanding application of the material and topics discussed in class.

The purpose of these exams is to further reinforce the basic principles discussed in class and to give further exercise in connecting theory to practice.

• Brief Sales Presentation

Each student should prepare a brief (3 minute) sales presentation designed to persuade the class to purchase a product or adopt a practice. This assignment is intended to give the student practice in an oral presentation. Topics must be approved by the instructor.

The purpose of this assignment is (1) to serve as a laboratory exercise for basic strategic communication principles and (2) to provide the student with another communicative exercise, in this case, a persuasive presentation.

• Research Project

The research project for this class will take the form of a formal academic paper involving research and demonstrating the student's ability to present good arguments. Each student will negotiate the topic with the instructor after the second week of class.  

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate that the student has mastered basic research skills, can construct persuasive arguments and can address key concepts in the discipline.