COMMS 214 : Communication and Inclusive Leadership

Arts

2025 Semester One (1253) (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

Diversity and inclusion have become complex challenges faced by leaders of contemporary organisations. Not only are there ethical imperatives for organisations to become more diverse, but there are also legislative, reputational and financial pressures. Further, aiming for employee diversity is no longer enough – organisations must also institute the necessary structures and processes for diverse employees to feel included. At the same time, DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives face internal barriers to implementation from employees and stakeholders, while drawing political criticisms from both the left and right.
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 selected organisational case studies, the course adopts a critical approach to analysing the limitations of current DEI initiatives, equipping students with the tools to understand how these could be improved. Through individual assignments and group work, students will learn the theoretical and practical skills needed to be a truly inclusive leader.

Course Requirements

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

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Communication

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and explain the key features of inclusive leadership practice and the importance of communication (Capability 3 and 4)
  2. Critically analyse the limitations of selected DEI initiatives through case studies (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Understand and explain external political critiques and internal barriers to inclusive leadership in organisations (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Design effective communication interventions to promote inclusive leadership and work culture (Capability 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  5. Develop and demonstrate traits, skills, and competencies to be an inclusive leader (Capability 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Coursework 100% Group & Individual Coursework

Next Offered

Semester 1 2025

Teaching & Learning Methods

2 hour lecture and 1 hour tutorial per week

Exam Mode

  • There is no final exam for this course

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.

Course in third year of offering. Student feedback from first two years incorporated in assessment and delivery.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

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 your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, 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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 23/10/2024 02:15 p.m.