Student Guide BCOM/230 Version 2

Week One Student Guide

In week one, you study team and organizational communications, as well as review the connection between culture and communication. In addition, students examine virtual communication methods, group communication competencies, and team skills, Students discuss dealing with difficult team members and the role of conflict in group communication. This foundation is critical for students understanding of the concepts to be discussed in later weeks. This week, you discuss and define communications. Why might you communicate in teams or groups? Why might you communicate internally in your organization, or externally with vendors and customers or other external stakeholders? When might you communicate informally and formally? How does conflict affect communication? You begin to discuss how conflict affects communication and why you might adapt the form of communication to the recipient.

Organizational Culture and Communication

OBJECTIVE: Use the tools available to University of Phoenix students. Resources: Student website Content

E-Book Collection Center for Writing Excellence located on the Materials section of your student website o o Plagiarism Checker WritePoint Tutorials and Guides

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Sample Paper Writing and Style Guides University of Phoenix Writing and Style Guidelines

Learning Team Toolkit Learning Team Charter Toolkit Essentials University Library located on your student website University Library Interactive Tutorial EBSCOhost database ProQuest database Gale Powersearch database RDS Business Reference Suite EIU database

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OBJECTIVE: Explain the relationship between organizational culture and organizational communication. Resources: Ch. 17 of Organizational Behavior

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Content

Ch. 17: Organizational Culture o

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Institutionalization: A Forerunner of Culture What is Organizational Culture? Culture is a Descriptive Term Do Organizations Have Uniform Cultures? Strong Versus Weak Cultures Culture Versus Formalization What Do Cultures Do? Cultures Functions Culture as a Liability Creating and Sustaining Culture How Employees Learn Culture Creating an Ethical Organizational Culture Creating a Positive Organizational Culture Spirituality and Organizational Culture

OBJECTIVE: Explain how adapting the message to the audience affects business communication. Resources: Ch. 1, 2, 3, & 4 of Business Communication: Making Connections in a Digital World Content

Ch. 1: Communication in the Workplace

The Role of Communication in Business Why Business Depends Upon Communication Main Categories of Business Communication

o Internal-Operational Communication o External-Operational Communication o Personal Communication

Communication Networks of the Organization

o The Formal Network o The Informal Network

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Variation in Communication Activity by Business The Business Communication Process A Model of Business Communication Business Communication as Problem Solving Some Basic Truths About Communication The Importance of Adaptation

Ch. 2: Adaptation and the Selection of Words o

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The Importance of Adaptation Suggestions for Selecting Words Use Familiar Words Use Slang and Popular clichs With Caution Choose Short Words Use Technical Words and Acronyms With Caution Use Concrete Language Use Active Verbs Avoid Overuse of Camouflaged Verbs Select Words for Precise Meanings Suggestions for Nondiscriminatory Writing Use Gender-Neutral Words Avoid Words That Stereotype by Race, Nationality, or Sexual Orientation Avoid Words That Stereotype by Age Avoid Words That Typecast Those With Disabilities

Ch. 3: Construction of Clear Sentences and Paragraphs o

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The Importance of Adaptation Care in Sentence Design Using Short Sentences Limiting Sentence Content Economizing on Words Determining Emphasis in Sentence Design Giving the Sentences Unity Arranging Sentence Elements for Clarity Care in Paragraph Design Giving the Paragraphs Unity

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Keeping Paragraphs Short Making Good Use of Topic Sentences Leaving Out Unnecessary Detail Making Paragraphs Coherent

Ch. 4: Writing for Effect o

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The Importance of Effect Conversational Style Resisting the Tendency to be Formal Cutting Out Rubber Stamps Proof Through Contrasting Examples You-Viewpoint Accent on Positive Language Courtesy Focusing your Message on the Reader Refraining From Preaching Doing More Than is Expected Avoiding Anger Being Sincere The Role of Emphasis Emphasis by Position Space and Emphasis Sentence Structure and Emphasis Mechanical Means of Emphasis Coherence

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Note. The information above is intended to help you complete your assignments. Read chapters in their entirety, as indicated in the syllabus. Additional information from sections not outlined above may be needed for classroom discussions.