Effective Communication Assignment Instructions
Overview
There is evidence that demonstrates effective communication can reduce organizational conflict and improve supervisor-subordinate relationships. Effective communication will increase quality, innovation, efficiency, and customer responsiveness.
Instructions
Your completed assignment must include a cover page, abstract, introduction, conclusion, and reference section (which does not count towards the minimum word count). In this assignment, a case will be analyzed for a strategic management solution in communication to resolve a complex situation. For this assignment, assume you are a management consultant and Mark Chen has retained your services. Chen has asked you to recommend a strategic management solution for an on-going communication problem. Therefore, you must create an effective organizational communication plan by applying the management functions of planning, organizing, directing and controlling. Most of your paper should provide an operational (not theoretical) communication solution showing how it would be implemented. Support your recommendation with peer-reviewed literature and integrate the Bible throughout, stating what the Bible or Christian literature says about planning, organizing, directing, and controlling in their respective sections in the paper. Note: Do not restate the case.
Case: A Problem in Communication
“Mark Chen supervises support staff for an online company that sells furniture over the Internet. Chen has always thought that he should expand his staff. When he was about to approach his boss with such a request, the economy slowed, and other areas of the company experienced layoffs. Thus, Chen’s plans for trying to add to his staff are on indefinite hold. Chen has noticed a troubling pattern of communication with his staff. Ordinarily, when he wants one of his staff members to work on a task, he emails the pertinent information to that person. For the last few months his email requests have gone unheeded, and his subordinates comply with his requests only after he visits with them in person and gives them a specific deadline.”
“Each time, they apologize for the delay but say that they are so overloaded with requests that they sometimes stop answering their phones. Unless someone asks for something more than once, they feel a request is not particularly urgent and can be put on hold. Chen thinks this situation is dysfunctional and could lead to serious problems in the near future. He realizes, however, that his subordinates have no way of prioritizing tasks and that is why some very important projects were put on hold until he inquired about them. Knowing that he cannot add to his staff in the short term, Chen has come to you for advice. He wants to develop a system whereby his staff will provide some kind of response to requests within 24 hours, will be able to prioritize tasks, identifying their importance, and will not feel so overloaded that they ignore their boss’s requests and don’t answer their phones.”
Required Headings
Cover page with Topic Title
Abstract
Table of Contents
Introduction
Case Solutions: A Problem in Communication (At least 500 words)
Plan
Organize
Direct
Control
Conclusions
References
Other Requirements
Materials submitted to fulfill requirements in one course may not be submitted in another course. Concerns about the propriety of obtaining outside assistance and acknowledging sources should be addressed to the instructor of the course before the work commences and as necessary as the work proceeds.
The cover page must include this statement: By submitting this assignment, I attest this submission represents my own work, and not that of another student, scholar, or internet source. I understand I am responsible for knowing and correctly utilizing referencing and bibliographical guidelines.
This paper must include at least 3 references from peer-reviewed journal articles that have publication dates no older than 5 years, in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible. Do not use any books other than the Bible and the 2 course textbooks. Do not cite the management text more than once in your paper. Do not conduct interviews.
In-text citations are required to support your thesis statement, paragraph topic sentences points, statements, issues, arguments, concerns, statements of fact and opinion.
The required cover page, abstract, introduction, conclusion, and reference sections are not included in the required assignment word count but are required as part of your paper.
The abstract should be written within a range of 150-250 words. Your abstract should focus on the contents of your paper, but not your specific research information. Your abstract should not duplicate your introduction section but should articulate a clear and comprehensive overview of the paper’s contents with a focus on your research findings and your biblical application.
The introduction should not be longer than ½ page. It presents a detailed description of the problems and issues central to the case. Your introduction must include a thesis statement, with a supporting citation at the end of your introduction section.
Your conclusion section should not be longer than ½ page. It clearly states the answer to the problem which you stated in your introduction.
Sources of information from Wikipedia, dictionaries, and encyclopedia will not be accepted. Turnitin similarity scores should not exceed 20%
Paragraph lengths: Each paragraph should have a topic sentence unless it continues from or provides support to the prior paragraph. A paragraph is defined in this course as being at least 4 sentences in length.
The first and second person may not be used. This assignment must be based on peer reviewed and biblical/Christian literature.
Avoid clichés, slang, jargon, exaggerations, abbreviations, figurative language, and language that is too informal and/or too subjective.
Submit your document for grading with the following file name syntax: Last name, First name.
Remember: This assignment and all assignments in this course have a management, not leadership focus. There is a distinct difference between management and leadership. Discuss management, not leadership. The Contemporary Management text only provides basic topical information. As a research-intensive doctoral course, you will need to research current peer-reviewed literature. There is no assignment in this course that can be completed by relying on the text alone.
Grading Metrics
Consult the accompanying rubric for how your instructor will grade this assignment. All quoted materials must be properly cited in the current APA format.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.References
Jones, G. R.,