MHR 325

COURSE SYLLABUS--SPRING 2002
DR. WARREN C. WEBER
E-MAIL: wcweber@csupomona.edu
Phone: (909) 869-2433 Office: 94-270
Class Times:
Section 1--T-Th 3:00 p.m. - 4:50 p.m. (MHR 32501--CRN 12156), Room CLA 5-6

Office Hours:
Tuesday and Thursday: 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. and by appointment.

Click section names to find them quickly, click arrows to return here:
Course Objectives Prerequisites Texts Required
Grading Percentages Form of Evaluation Presentation of Project
Examinations Method of Assigning Letter Grades Bonus Incentive Points
Attendance, Participation, and Make-Up Exams Student Preparation Weekly Assignments
Final Examination Recap of Activities & Requirements Expanded Outline of Course Content

1. COURSE DESCRIPTION

MHR 325 Advanced Communication for Management (4)

Advanced communications applications for managers. Practice in writing situational letters/reports. Conducting meetings and conferences. Interpersonal techniques: listening, interviewing. Advanced use of computers for presentations. Case studies. Employee and media interviews. Multicultural and ethical considerations. Research methods. 4 lecture-problem solving. Prerequisite: MHR 324.

2. COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to:
  1. Use communications tools and technologies for advanced organizational communications tasks, and understand the role of technology in managerial communications;
  2. Apply advanced principles of effective written and oral communication for management. Improve the ability to apply a clear, concise, objective, natural writing style;
  3. Know principles of conducting effective meetings and conferences;
  4. Apply techniques of research and writing of reports;
  5. Utilize advanced visual support to enhance written and oral communications;
  6. Be able to write and present business case studies effectively; and,
  7. Improve interpersonal communications skills such as listening, interviewing, and multicultural awareness.



3. PREREQUISITES
MHR 324 (Communication for Management), English 104, and CIS 101.



4. TEXTS REQUIRED

Penrose, Rasberry, and Myers Advanced Business Communication, 4th Edition. South-Western Publishing Company, 2001.

Other: Three or four 3 1/2 inch Double-Sided, High-Density (HD) disks. Dictionary, Thesaurus (electronic or hard copy). (If you don't have one yet, sign up for an e-mail account in 98-B1-208 of the CLA Building, across from the Campus Information Desk.) You will need an InTRAnet account for access to certain materials and for creating your own WEB pages. The Intranet account is obtained in the Computer Commons CLA 5-13 (The person to see is GeeGee Crews.)




5. GRADING PERCENTAGES

Grades will be assigned on the basis of the following percentages (Tentative):

Attendance, attitude & participation  20
Class & homework assignments, quizzes  20
Term Project, Presentation, Web Pages, and Binder  50
Final Examination  10
Total100




6. FORM OF EVALUATION

Class Assignments and Homework. The cases, problems, and exercises assigned are to be done completely, neatly and on time according to the more complete instructions given in class at the time of the assignments. The classwork and assignments are to be kept in a binder that may be checked periodically and turned in near the end of the quarter. Web pages will be posted and critiqued.


Presentation of Project. The research performed will result in a team report to be presented using PowerPoint and the WorldWideWeb (WWW). All team and individual project materials will be included in a binder to be submitted at the end of the quarter. Presentations are approximately seven to eleven minutes in length for each individual in the team and are be made to measure the ability to communicate and clearly inform the audience about the nature of the problem, background, methods, findings and conclusions of the project. The use of audio-visual aids is MANDATORY (PowerPoint, Web Pages, etc.) during the presentation. Presentation grades will be assigned on the basis of peer and instructor evaluations.


Examinations. The examinations may consist of case study analyses, written communications (letters, memos, etc.), multiple choice, true/false, essay questions, or application exercises that measure the ability to know and apply principles of good communication. Other types of questions may be included. The questions will cover the lectures, class discussions, activities, films/videos, exercises, and textbooks.


7. METHOD OF ASSIGNING LETTER GRADES

Grades are assigned based on the evaluations of each student's work compared to others in the class and in previous sections of this class. The percentages indicated in 5, above, and the grading system in the 1999-2001 University Catalog are factors. A system of Stanines (Standard Nine-Point Scale) is used to calculate the value of grades. Letter grades (A, B, C, D, or F) are assigned on the basis of the instructor's evaluation of student work compared with the work of other students completing classwork. An I (Incomplete) grade will be given only if sufficient, but not all, work has been completed for good cause. The I(ncomplete) will be changed to a letter grade when all work is completed according to University Policy.


Bonus Incentive Points (BIPs) may be earned to improve poor test grade, make up for unavoidable absences or late assignments, etc., or merely to raise the final grade received. Bonus work consists of additional work similar to those completed for regular classwork. (Examples include: Periodical Reports--Abstract and Analysis with Applications, extra typed letters, additional reports on communication topics, arranging a guest speaker) See instructor for additional details.


8. POLICY ON ATTENDANCE , CLASS PARTICIPATION, AND MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS

Attendance, attitude, and preparation are important. Positive contributions to the class can provide rich, reciprocal learning experiences. The right attitude means: a desire and willingness to study and learn, preparation as directed, and putting forth effort even when it may be inconvenient or difficult. It means: being ready to answer questions when called upon, volunteering answer to questions or asking questions (even when you feel they may seem a little "dumb"), and actively listening to the instructor and other class members.

Carrying too many units, working too many hours, etc., (usually symptoms of poor time management) cannot be given weight in the determination of the final grade. Absences (as well as tardies) will definitely negatively affect grades. Make-up exams are exceptions, and only given on the basis of instructor/student agreement for significant and compelling reasons. The attendance portion of the grade is calculated below, modified by attitude and participation. The total number of absences/tardies, regardless of the reason, determine the grade for this portion of the course. Memorandums to the instructor explaining necessary absences can help mitigate their effect, and BIPs can reduce the impact of absences.

ABSENCES AND GRADES (2 Tardies = 1 Absence)

Number of Absences



9. STUDENT PREPARATION

Students are expected to have all lessons prepared on the dates indicated (papers, presentations, etc.), to come class with the required materials, to take notes, and to read the assignments by the dates due. Assignments turned in late normally receive one grade lower than they would otherwise earn. You must have an active Cal Poly intranet account and periodically purge your account of unnecessary materials to avoid "diskquota exceeded problems" that prohibit you from getting mail or posting materials. If you forget your password, click here for instructions on how to get a new password immediately.

10. ADD-DROP POLICY

Detailed information regarding "Add/Drop Policies and the Assignment of Incomplete Grades" is available in the Student Advising Center, Building 6, Room 218, from your Department Office, and from the University Catalog.


11. WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS--MHR 325 (Tentative. Subject to Amendment and Change)


Link to Learn HTML In A Weekend--Reader-Support Page
(http://www.callihan.com/learn3/index2.htm)

Members of ACM, Inc., for Winter 2003
Week 1
January 7-9. Orientation. Introductions. Class Plan and Organization. Purchase Textbook. Make sure Intranet Account Is working. (Check with Computer Commons, CLA 5-13 or Enterprise Computing Help Desk, 98-B1-208). Mail may be checked from other locations at: http://webmail.csupomona.edu:8000
. E-Mail and Web Browser usage. What is ACM, Incorporated? Homework: LearnHTML--Friday Evening, Getting Oriented.
Week 2
January 14. Group organization within ACM, Incorporated.. Exploring the Web & E-Mail--VAX/VMS Mail, Netscape Message Center, M/S Outlook, AOL Instant Messenger. Setting Preferences. How to join mailing lists. The MHR325 List--Joining and Using. Review of final Group Binder contents. HTML Tag Guide. HTML Exercise. Homework: LearnHTML--Saturday Morning, Learning the Basics.
January 16. Finding and Using HTML Tutorials. Brainstorming Project Ideas.A GDSS List of Ideas. Developing Marks and Logotypes (Word, PowerPoint Drawing, FreeHand, Illustrator, Clip and Word Art, etc.). ***The Electronic Database Assignment.*** First E-Mail Due Today. Homework: LearnHTML--Saturday Afternoon, Dressing Up Your Pages.

Week 3
January 21. Read Chapter 1. Searching the Web. Using search engines for background research data and Additional Project Ideas. Using Steve's Internet Library and HTML Tutorials. Use of File Transfer Protocol (ftp) tools for downloading and uploding files. Using WS_FTP. Posting Your Web Pages to the Intranet. (LearnHTML: Appendix G) Creating a web page using Netscape Composer. Homework: LearnHTML, Working with Tables.
January 23. Read Chapter 2.How drawing, illustration, paint, image manipulation, and page layout programs work. Refer to the Cal Poly Graphic Communications Services Website and its link to the Cal Poly Graphic Standards Manual. Also see: Design Management Institute, Corporate Design Foundation and other web sites for ideas on the development of Identity, Logos, Letterheads, etc. Homework: LearnHTML, Working with Frames.

Week 4
January 28. Read Chapter 3.Research Techniques. Writing Style--Formal Reports. The Paramedic Method. Writing Abstracts. The Format Guide. Using Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print Portable Document Format (PDF) Files. The Logo Factory--Professional Logo Development. Review of Individual and Team Web Pages to Date.Term Report Topic Due. Homework: LearnHTML, Working with Forms.
January 30. Read Chapter 4. Designing Graphs, Charts and Web Sites. Object Linking and Embedding (OLE). Additional practice in creating WEB pages. Additional HTML exercises. Homework--Review this site: Web Style Guide: Basic Design for Creating Web Sites (Lynch & Horton)-- http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual/Homework: LearnHTML, Working with Graphics.

Week 5
February 4. Read Chapter 5. WWW--HTML and Home Page Design and Development. Alternative sources of Web Page code and ideas. Using Color on Web Pages. Bring your home page ideas. Term Project Complete Proposal Outline and Mindmap Due.
February 6. Read Chapter 6. Designing Visible Visuals. Preparing Storyboards. Newsletter design. Review of Individual and Team Web Pages. Additional classwork on web pages, trademark and logotype development.Thoughts on Transactional Analysis (Read this page on the web prior to class.)Videotape--Transactional Analysis. Mid-Term Examination of Web Page Progress.

Week 6
February 11. Read Chapter 7. Advanced PowerPoint Techniques. In-class exercise. Presentation Techniques. Be Prepared to Speak--View videotape. Videotaping/CamCart. Initial Electronic Database Printouts Due.
February 13. Read Chapter 8. Second E-Mail Due Today. .

Week 7
February 18.Read Chapter 9. Review: The Language of the Report--Formal Language. The Format of the Report. Format Guide for the Research Report. Using PhotoShop on Scanned Pictures. Bring Pictures to Scan.Final Electronic Database Assignment Due.
February 20. Media Interviews. Videotape--Art of Exposing Yourself in Public Videotaping (CamCart). Read Chapter 13. Additional work on individual and group web pages.

Week 8
February 25. Read Chapters 10-11. Additional work on graphics for website and finalizing web oages. Using the Multimedia Lab. (See Business Project Grading Analysis)
February 27. Job Interviews. Videotaping with CamCorder. Read Chapter 12. Using PhotoShop and Manipulating Scanned Pictures. Bring Scanned Pictures. Finalize Work on Presentations and Binders.

Week 9
March 4. Read Chapters 13-14. Continue Individual and Group Work on Presentations, Web Pages, and Binders. Distribution and Discussion of Final Evaluation Forms; Take-Home Final Examination.
March 6. Read Chapter 15. Review of Individual Web Pages. (Graded.)

Week 10
March 11. Read Chapter 16-17. Present Term Project Findings. Group 3. Group 1. Term Project Due.
March 13. Third E-Mail Due.. Present Term Project Findings. Group 2. Group 4. Deadline for All Work & BIPS. Binder Due.


FINAL EXAM.
Section 1. Tuesday, March 18, 2003. 1:40 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. Room CLA 5-6. Review and Evaluation of Unit Binders and Web Pages.

All Work, including bonus incentive points, must be turned in not later than the end of the March 11class period to be counted toward the grade for this quarter.



RECAP OF CLASS ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS
  • Have good attendance and actively participate in class exercises and discussions.
  • Complete the assignments and master the required materials as evidenced by:

    • Improving knowledge and ability in the use of computer software--(e. g., web pages (HTML), presentation, word processing, drawing, desktop publishing, and group/collaborative writing applications.) Applications of such software will be selected from:
      • Creating documents using group-writing processes.
      • Learning and applying advanced uses of e-mail and Internet/Intranet.
      • Engaging in internet and library research on a management communication topic, preparing a report to post to web pages, and presenting the findings. Topics may be selected from (but not limited to) those such as the following:
        • Conducting Meetings and Conferences
        • Gender Communications-Writing and Interpersonal Concerns
        • Interviews--Performance Evaluation or Selection
        • Multicultural and/or Ethical Communication Considerations
        • Humans and Communication Technology
        • Communication and Conflict Resolution
        • Communication Styles for Effective Negotiation
        • Communicating Company Crises
        • Helping an actual company or unit within a company solve a specific communication problem.

    • Successfully preparing individual and group outside class assignments, to be placed in the Binder (also see summary below), including:
      • Term Project, Presentation, and Binder
        • Form your own "company" that will examine a significant problem in management communications (see list above for suggestions). The aim is to prepare materials that potential clients might use to get information which can be used to solve a significant management communication problem within their companies.
        • Create a unit identity, including: logo, letterhead, calling card, newsletter, flyer, and mission statement. Visit various websites on logo creation and design to learn more.
        • Do research from a variety of sources (with emphasis on the internet) to find answers to the problem.
        • Do research on a management communication topic. (Specifics to be given in class). A proposal is required. The formal vs. the informal writing style is to be used. Any abstract used should follow the guidelines for preparing the abstract.
        • Provide evidence (printouts) of a variety of computer and internet database research sources on the management communication topic. (See Database Assignment.)
        • Web Pages. The materials collected and created will be put into a web site with company and individual pages. See the flowchart slide showing minimum required pages. See the main items required on team and individual home pages.
        • Conduct a management presentation on the topic including audio-visuals (color slide show, overheads, handouts, web pages or other appropriate media). This presentation is given to ACM, Inc. (the class), prior to being shown to the "client" The class acts as a proxy for the client. If there is an actual company for whom the work is being done, they may be invited to the class presentation.
          • Include an experiential activity so the audience can apply the knowledge presented.
          • Include a problem-solving discussion of the lesson.
          • Complete the feedback process evaluating the lesson, including completion of the evaluation form.
          • Submit to the instructor appropriate question(s) for the final examination.
        • Prepare and submit the binder as outlined below (use dividers for each section). For more details, see the Binder Evaluation Form for more specifics.

    • The Binder, described above, must include dividers for each main section and contain the following summary of materials (final will not necessarily be in this order):
      • Letter of Transmittal.
      • Printed reports of research completed.
      • Presentation materials (Storyboards, Powerpoint files, handouts) on the management communication topic.
      • Logo and associated unit identity documents.
      • Resume
      • Assignments of individuals--identified with names of the person completing the assignments.
      • Work completed for Bonus Incentives Points (BIPs) identified by individual.
      • WEB page (HTML) printouts.
      • Floppy disks with files of above documents (HTML, Powerpoint, etc).
      • Evidence of database research (printouts).



    Expanded Outline of Course Content. If you would like more detailed specifics about this course, please contact the instructor.