COMMS 214 : Communication and Inclusive Leadership

Arts

2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores principles and practices of inclusive leadership and communication in the context of diverse organisations. The course investigates key causes and consequences of inequalities and barriers to inclusion within organisations, including overt and covert biases and forms of discrimination based on gender, ethnicity and disabilities. It also explores leadership strategies and best practices for building and sustaining inclusive organisations.

Course Overview

Leadership is considered a solution to many crises, including a crisis in leadership. One of the top leadership challenges faced by governments and business leaders globally is the issue of diversity and inclusion. The financial and reputational impact on businesses that do not proactively act on such equity issues is substantial and is compounding. The aim of this course is to understand the central role of communication in enabling inclusive leadership and learn about effective communication strategies to build equitable organisations and firms.
Through case studies published by global and national business consultancies and business organisations, and close reading of research published by communication and business studies scholars, students will learn how to spot barriers and identify opportunities to cultivate an equitable and inclusive workplace. Through individual assignments and group work, students will learn theoretical and practical skills needed in a leader of the 21st-century business.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 60 points at Stage I in BA or BC courses

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Communication

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and explain barriers to inclusive leadership in organisations (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  2. Develop and demonstrate a deeper understanding of the role of inclusive leadership in helping resolve the gender- and diversity-gap in leadership (Capability 2, 4, 5 and 6)
  3. Develop and demonstrate traits, skills, and competencies to be an inclusive leader (Capability 1, 3, 5 and 6)
  4. Design effective communication interventions to promote inclusive leadership and work culture (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Case Studies 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 30% Individual Coursework
Portfolio 40% Group & Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected and may sometimes be required at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete and/or receive credit for components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other interactive learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.

The course may include some live online events including group discussions.

This course is not available for delivery to students studying remotely outside NZ in 2023.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This is a new course offered for the first time in 2023.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 19/10/2022 09:27 a.m.