Dangerous Liaisons in Interpersonal and Organizational Relationships

COMM 3140 Dangerous Liaisons in Interpersonal and Organizational Relationships Fall 2014 Syllabus

Class Meetings: T, Th 9:10 – 10:30 am Location: LNCO 1100 Instructor: Dr. Heather Canary Office: LNCO 2860 Hours: Mondays, 1 – 2:30 pm; Tuesdays, 10:30 am-12 noon; or by appointment Office Phone: (801) 581-7633 Email: [email protected]

Course Description

COMM 3140 is designed as an introduction to interpersonal and organizational communication. It does so by exploring the dark side of communication—the side in which we lie, con, exploit, spin, disrupt, deny, obstruct, misguide, resist, and all that is commonly considered less desirable practice. Along the way, it provides the opportunity to explore a variety of theoretical perspectives and apply them to the everyday problems we each face.

Course Goals

The goals of this course are to: (a) further develop one’s critical learning skills, (b) gain knowledge about interpersonal and organizational theory and performance, (c) develop and test practical applications in everyday problems in interpersonal relationships and organizational practice, and (d) further one’s proficiencies in the critical analysis of communication.

Course Activities

Course activities include a series of foundational classroom activities, the careful engagement of the course texts, the completion of a portfolio of personal achievement, a group-based research paper, and a group presentation of that paper.

Required Texts

Olson, L. N., Baiocchi-Wagner, E. A., Kratzer, J. M. W., & Symonds, S. E. (2012). The dark side of family communication. Malden, MA: Polity.

Lutgen-Sandvik, P., & Sypher, B. D. (2009). Destructive organizational communication: Processes, consequences, & constructive ways of organizing. New York, NY: Routledge.

1 Course Procedures

Overview—A Learning Organization

This course is designed as a “learning organization.” A learning organization is one that uses the power of coordinated action and collective effort to achieve agreed upon objectives. Members are organized into cooperative workgroups that establish: (a) their own local goals appropriate to the objectives of the larger organization, (b) their own administrative structure, and (c) their own work procedures. An Administrative Committee composed of representatives elected from the work groups and the instructor provides the connecting coordination to ensure that the workgroups have the needed administrative and production resources and that the output of the work groups will flow together.

Class Structure

This course makes use of classroom activities, work groups and Canvas. Classroom activities include lectures, discussions, performances, and group presentations. Work groups will develop part of the course content and present it to the other class members. Canvas is used to post all assignments. As a learning organization, we are all teachers and all students. Authority for the success of the class is shared with all class members.

Workgroup Activities

Once constituted, the cooperative workgroups will develop their structure and operating procedures with their first task being to identify a representative to the Administrative Committee. The products of the group will be its research paper and its classroom presentation. Workgroup products will be evaluated on the extent to which the mastery, application, and creative integration of course concepts is evident through claims, evidence, logic, clarity, accessibility, and quality of presentation (both written and oral). Mechanical errors will result in loss of points. See the Assignment Description document on the Course Canvas site for detailed information about the Group Research Paper & Presentation.

The Individual Portfolio

Each student will prepare an individual portfolio documenting individual activities and achievements appropriate to the course goals and personal objectives. The portfolio will include:

(1) A statement of the individual's educational objectives relevant to this class;

(2) evidence of the careful engagement of the content of the course to be composed of reading notes (submitted online regularly according to the Course Schedule), lecture/presentation notes, reflections, and other relevant material;

(3) evidence that demonstrates: (a) the further development of one’s critical learning skills; (b) a gain in knowledge about communication theory; (c) an effort to develop and test practical applications of this theory for everyday problems in interpersonal relationships, media

2 engagement, and organizational practices; and (d) the furtherance of one’s proficiencies in the critical analysis of theory.

(4) evidence of participation as a supervised and evaluated group member in knowledge production activities.

Individual Portfolios will be graded two times—at approximately the mid-term mark and at the end of the semester.

Initial Assignment

Your first assignment will be to print, sign, and return the signed agreement at the end of this syllabus (this is the only action required of all class members). The signed agreement will be submitted in hard copy to the instructor in class. The Initial Assignment is due by September 9th.

Announcements

This course is governed by all of the appropriate university policies available at http://www.admin.utah.edu/ppmanual/8/8-10.html

Academic Integrity

Participants are bound by the student honor code posted on the University web site. The University Academic Integrity policy is available at http://www.regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-400.html

ADA Accommodations

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities. If you need accommodation in this class, reasonable prior notice must be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Bldg, 801-581-5020 (V/TDD), http://disability.utah.edu/. CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.

Attendance Policy

More than three absences is considered excessive. Ten points are deducted on the fourth absence. Twenty points are deducted for each subsequent absence. Participation points are calculated at the end of the semester and can raise or lower the final individual portfolio grade by a maximum of 50 points.

Content Accommodation Policy

No content accommodations are available for this course.

3 Member Evaluations

Group member evaluations are taken twice during the semester. These evaluations are confidential—but not anonymous, administered on-line through the Canvas site, and are the basis of the individual contribution coefficient.

Grading

This is a points-based course. Other than signing the consent document, there are no requirements that must be completed. However, points lost are points lost forever.

Each individual’s grade will be determined by the percentage of total points earned out of a possible 770 points. Total possible points include:  20 points for the Initial Assignment  200 points for the first half (mid-term) Individual Portfolio  200 points for the second half Individual Portfolio  50 points for addressing instructor comments on first half Portfolio  50 points for attendance  150 points for the Group Research Paper  100 points for the Group Research Presentation

Points assigned are based on timely and complete submissions. Late assignments will be reduced by 10% for every 24 hours late. Incomplete assignments will have points deducted appropriately.

The Group Research Paper and Group Research Presentation grades for each individual member are calculated by multiplying the group score times the individual’s contribution coefficient. The group score is the value (0-150 and 0-100) given to the group’s overall performance by the instructor. The individual’s contribution coefficient is the proportion (.00-1.00) assigned by the instructor based on the average member evaluation score given to the individual by his or her co- group members in two member evaluations. For example, if the group’s Research Paper scores a 150 and an individual was considered by his or her co-members to have contributed at 80 percent of everyone else, the group contribution score (given no mitigating circumstances) would be (.80 x 150) or 120 points.

4 Course Schedule

Date Topic/Activity Reading/Materials

8/26-8/28 Introduction to Course Canvas; Olson Prologue; Sandvik Introduction (Reading Notes #1)

9/2-9/4 Conceptualizing the Dark Side of Family Communication Olson Ch. 1 (Reading Notes #2)

9/9 Initial Assignment Due In Class

9/9-9/11 Individual Influences on Darkness Olson Ch. 2 Workgroup Introductions (Reading Notes #3)

9/16-9/18 Darkness in Family Dyads Olson Ch. 3 (Reading Notes #4)

9/23-9/25 Family System Darkness Olson Ch. 4 (Reading Notes #5)

9/30 Family Contexts Olson Ch. 5

10/2 Workgroup Meetings (Reading Notes #6) No In-Class Session

10/7-10/9 Summary of Dark Side of Families Unit Olson Ch. 6 (Reading Notes #7)

10/14-10/16 Fall Break – No Class!!

10/21 Mid-Term Portfolio Due 11:59 pm Canvas

10/21-10/23 Dark Side of Teams Sandvik Ch. 13 (Reading Notes #8)

10/23 Group Member Evaluation #1 Due

10/28-10/30 Workplace Bullying Sandvik Ch. 2 (Reading Notes #9)

11/4-11/6 Workplace Incivility & Sandvik Ch. 3 Organizational Trust (Reading Notes #10)

5 Date Topic/Activity Reading/Materials

11/11-11/13 Civility in Multicultural Sandvik Ch. 6 Organizations (Reading Notes #11)

11/18 Ostracism, Cliques, & Outcasts Sandvik Ch. 7 (Reading Notes #12)

11/20 Workgroup Meetings No In-Class Session

11/25 Destructive Potential of ECTs Sandvik Ch. 11 in Organizations (Reading Notes #13)

11/27 Thanksgiving Holiday – No Class

12/2-12/4 Creating Resilience & Unit Summary Sandvik Ch. 14 (Reading Notes #14)

12/9 Group Research Papers Due 11:59 pm

12/9-12/11 Group Presentations

12/11 Group Member Evaluation #2 Due

12/15 Final Portfolios Due 11:59 pm

6 Agreement

I have read the foregoing syllabus, understand its terms, and agree to participate in COMM 3140 as a member of a workgroup. I recognize and accept that I and my fellow course members share the authority and responsibility for this course. I am committed to exercising that authority and discharging that responsibility at an appropriate level of performance. I understand that all grading will be conducted by the instructor. I understand that a significant portion of my grade will be based on my group’s performance, that I will be evaluated (but not graded) by my fellow group members, and that public presentation is part of the course. I also understand that if the terms of this syllabus change, those changes will be posted on the web site in agreement with the Administrative Committee

Signed______Date______

Please print your name: ______