COMM213 - Interpersonal Communication

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

COMM102 Introduction to Communication OR COMM103 OR COMM218 Communication in the Workplace OR COMM219 OR COMM221 OR COMM220 OR COMM313

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit aims to develop the analytical and practical skills that underpin effective communication in the contemporary workplace. The unit will explore communication situations such as using persuasion with customers or colleagues; computer-mediated communication in the workplace; negotiating workplace relationships; shaping teams and working with difficult team members; giving and receiving feedback; recruitment; networking and mentoring and communicating technical information. Students will also consider the ethical dimensions of the workplace situations explored in the unit. 

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Synthesise and analyse current literature exploring the theories, processes and characteristics of workplace communication (GA5)

LO2 - Analyse situations that are common in the workplace, such as virtual communication, recruitment, giving and receiving feedback, using persuasion with customers, communicating technical information, and managing workplace relationships, and evaluate the most appropriate ways of communication to use (GA4, GA5, GA7, GA8)

LO3 - Shape communication in speech and writing to workplace purposes, audiences, and contexts including computer-mediated communication (GA4, GA5)

LO4 - Critically reflect on ethical issues in communicating in the workplace (GA1, GA4).

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

Content

Topics will include:

• The processes and theories associated with interpersonal communication
• Forms of verbal and non-verbal communication
• Development and management of interpersonal relationships
• Cultural communication
• Management of conflict and power in relationships
• Communication of the self
• Working in teams
• Interpersonal communication online

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Learning in this unit takes place lectures and tutorials, which are used to provide unit content and develop unit-related skills. Students also learn in a small-group environment in tutorials, where class discussions, skills workshops, small group activities and group presentations take place.

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment tasks for this unit are designed for you to demonstrate your achievement of each learning outcome. Assessment 1 aims to assess students’ ability to apply the concepts learned to a practical situation. They will undertake investigation and critical analysis, make recommendations and reflect on the relevance to their lives. Assessment 2 seeks to develop students’ oral communication skills both as individuals and as team members. Assessment 3 provides a summative evaluation of students’ comprehension of theoretical aspects of the unit. 

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Adler, R, Rodman, G. & du Pre, A. (2014). Understanding human communication. 12th Ed. New York: Oxford University Press

Adler, R, Rosenfeld, B & Proctor, R. (2012). Interplay: the process of interpersonal communication, Oxford, Oxford University Press

Beebe, S. (2012).Interpersonal communication: Relating to others. Boston, Mass. Person,

Berger, C. R. (2014). Interpersonal communication . Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.

De Vito, J. (2013). The interpersonal communication book (13th Ed.), Boston, Mass: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon

Edwards, A., Wahl, C., Myers, S., Edwards, Chad, & Myers, Scott A. (2020). The communication age: Connecting and engaging (3rd ed.).SAGE 

Hall, J. A., & Knapp, M. L. (2013). Nonverbal communication. Boston: De Gruyter Mouton.