Communication, Organizations and Society

Catalog description

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. Examines how organizations communicate with — and are shaped by — the societies in which they operate. Considers communication as a means of building organizational identity, reputation and/or legitimacy among stakeholders such as employees, customers, communities, governments and advocacy groups. Addresses how organizational messaging is used to maintain trust, manage expectations and respond to public concerns or criticism. Course content and discussion may draw on real-world cases involving corporate responsibility, crisis communication, ethics or public controversy for purposes of analysis. RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION. Develops workforce-relevant understanding of how organizations maintain credibility, manage public expectations and communicate across diverse stakeholders, including clients, employees, communities and regulators. Builds practical insight into how communication strategies influence trust, cooperation and decision-making in professional settings. Supports the ability to interpret, evaluate and respond to organizational messaging in ways that inform decision-making in both professional and civic settings. Supports academic advancement in communication studies, organizational leadership and related fields. DEEPENING UNDERSTANDINGS. Considers how organizations can relate to broader publics rather than act as isolated entities. Explores how communication choices can shape public perception, accountability and long-term viability. Considers the role of transparency/honesty, responsibility, empathy and ethical reasoning in navigating public expectations and competing interests. TOPICS AND THEMES. May include study of organizational identity and image; stakeholder communication and engagement; reputation management; ethics and corporate responsibility; crisis response and public accountability; communication across internal and external audiences; globalization and cultural expectations; digital communication and public scrutiny. Course material may involve discussion of reputational disputes, social or environmental issues or critiques of corporate behavior, examined for purposes of understanding organizational communication processes. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.