Project Communications

Catalog 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.