Oct 12, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Academic Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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TC 334 - Project Communications

3 lecture hours 0 lab hours 3 credits
Course Description
This course focuses on rhetorical theory and practice associated with all communications involved in project management covering the entire life of a project. Project management methodologies are introduced to provide an understanding of contexts in which project communications occur. Special emphasis is given to communicating with internal and external audiences; communicating “up” and “down” a company’s organizational hierarchy; shaping content across temporalities, platforms, and contexts; addressing tacit/hidden rhetorical challenges; documenting processes; reporting on status/progress to multiple audiences and for multiple purposes; optimizing communications aspects of knowledge management; improving teamwork and morale; and communicating “change.” Tools and techniques for streamlining project communications will be introduced and utilized. Classroom time is divided between lecture and writing workshops. Writing projects are a mix of individual assignments, in-class exercises (including case studies), and a final group research project on a selected project-communications topic.  (prereq: GS 1001  or GS 1010H , GS 1002  or GS 1020H , and GS 1003  or GS 1030H )
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Identify multiple potential audiences for any message and reshape that message to accomplish rhetorical goals
  • Employ key vocabulary associated with project management, change management, knowledge management, and rhetorical theory
  • Create communications appropriate to the various phases of a project’s lifecycle
  • Employ software and professional tools to facilitate collaborative project communications
  • Determine the best medium for communication in any given context
  • Skill in interpersonal communications, including one-on-one conversations and larger group discussions
  • Apply business communication principles in routine transactional communications for successful team building and effective interaction with a diverse array of clients, content providers, and outside contractors
  • Apply ethical behaviors in ambiguous contexts
  • Capture, document, and apply knowledge from current and past projects

Prerequisites by Topic
  • None

Course Topics
  • Rhetorical principles of business communication
  • Project lifecycle, project-management methodologies, and associated communications (key purposes, documents, processes, contexts)
  • Principles of persuasion
  • Reshaping messages for different audiences (multiple levels, hidden functions, and unanticipated future contexts)
  • Strengthening relationships through improved routine communications
  • Communication strategies for effective meetings
  • Ethical dilemmas in project communications
  • Communication strategies for optimizing knowledge management systems
  • High-stakes project communications: delivering bad news, making demands, communicating change, crisis communications
  • Social media for project communications
  • Using collaborative tools and strategies to manage communication projects

Coordinator
Dr. Katherine Wikoff



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