TCM 3110 - 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 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: COM 2001 (quarter system prereq: GS 1002 or GS 1020H or GS 1002E)
Note: None
This course meets the following Raider Core CLO Requirement: None

Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Identify multiple potential audiences for any message and shape messages to accomplish rhetorical goals across platforms and temporal boundaries
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
Achieve strategic project goals through interpersonal communication and 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

College-level writing and communication skills, including visual communication, report structure, and document design

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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TCM 3110 - Project Communications