In this course, we introduce theoretical frameworks of communication which can be applied to people in organisations. Also we establish the importance of communication at all levels and within all areas of organisations. "Why don't you people communicate?" is far too often the exasperated outburst from customer to supplier, from supplier to customer, from subordinate to manager, from manager to subordinate and from colleague to fellow colleague. If the most common saying for failure is one of "I was never told", perhaps the next most common saying would be "But I was never asked!".

The problem with organisations is that they consist of more than one person. Without them there would be perfect linkage between operations; the sort of ideas given by theorists such as Fayol would be faultlessly carried out via principles such as unity of command and direction. Agreed goals could be worked towards unerringly.

There would be a sharing of perfect knowledge on product and technical information. Customers would provide unambiguous specifications; suppliers would provide goods and services which exactly fulfilled these requirements. The results of actions undertaken would be effortlessly carried back and further action taken as appropriate. There would be clarity of understanding of thoughts, feelings and emotions.

However, often this doesn't happen by the very nature of ourselves as human beings, the tasks which are to be accomplished in the work situation, and in our increasingly complex living environments.

We can, therefore, look at communication as being an enabling factor which allows us to perform the work of the organisation. We can look at effects on and barriers to this process. Clearly it is extremely important for us to understand how these might arise, if we are to take a determined look at improving organisational effectiveness and efficiency. We also consider how organisational structure impacts upon the flow of information required for co-ordination, decision-making and awareness.

But, does communication go further than this? Is it good enough to just remove barriers? Such corrections may be seen as somewhat limited in scope; certainly barrier removal is an essential requirement but at the same time, communication can be used to positive effect in the organisation. Thus, for instance, we consider its use as an intrinsic element of the organisation's identity when we consider the communication of culture.

The term communication covers a vast field of study. There are many books you can consult on specific skills such as report writing, presentations and interviews and body language. Our aim here is to cover basic concepts which offer insights into the world of communication at work. We include communications theories and models, barriers to communication, formal and informal communication and communicating culture.

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• explain what organisational communication means and its importance as a function of management.
• identify types and examples of verbal and non-verbal communication. 
• demonstrate an understanding of the basic features of some models of communication.
• analyse barriers to communication and recognise them in case study situations.
• explain how communication occurs within formal organisation structures.
• explain the role of communication in decision-making and its relation to centralised and decentralised systems.
• discuss the advantages of both formal and informal communication networks in the organisation.
• demonstrate an understanding of the communication of the organisation's culture.

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: Communication Theories and Models

Definitions

Purposes of organisational communication

Time spent by managers in communicating

Communication and leadership

Verbal and non-verbal communication

Five models of communication

Perspectives of communication

Section 2: Barriers to Communication

Barriers to communication

Message ambiguity

Language

Distortion

Physical noise and distance

Emotions - fear, anxiety, mistrust, anger

Perceptions

First impressions and frozen evaluations

Stereotyping

Polarisation

Evaluate too early and not listen

Section 3: Formal and Informal Communication

Formal and informal communication

Vertical communication

Network patterns

Horizontal (lateral) communication

The grapevine

Section 4: Communicating Culture

Communication of culture

Selection of candidates

Reputation

Job adverts

Brochures, job descriptions, person specifications

Interviews and the selection process

Induction training

Humility-inducing experiences and in-the-trenches training

Rewards and control systems

Reinforcing folklore and consistent role models

Summary

Tutor-marked Question Paper

On completion of your course, you will receive two qualifications:

Qualification 1: Organisational Communication (Byte Size) Certificate

Organisational Communication (Byte Size) Certificate issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Cert after your name.

Qualification 2: Level 1 Organisational Communication (Byte Size) Award

This Course leads to an NCFE Level 1 Award Certificate for successful learners. That means that it is independantly accredited at a level of learning equivalent to level 1 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (in which case GCSE's are at levels 1 and 2 and A Levels are at level 3). In accrediting the programme at level 1, NCFE attests that its learning outcomes are at an equivalent level to a level 1 national qualification.

This award has been designed by Stonebridge Associated Colleges to meet specific learners' or employers' requirements. Accreditation by NCFE is a guarantee of quality. It means that this learning programme has been scrutinised and approved by an independent panel of experienced educational professionals and is quality audited biannually by NCFE.

In order to offer our students the most convenient and flexible distance learning courses, Stonebridge Associated College offers you the option to study for your course via two methods:

• 1. Via the traditional paper-based method.
• 2. Through the online method via ElearnUK.

When you study through ElearnUK you can quickly access your course material online and submit all of your question papers to your tutor online, using your unique student account. You have access to all of your course material immediately, and when you submit question papers, your tutor sends you an email containing your results and feedback.

At the end of the course you will receive an award issued by Stonebridge Associated College, and also gain full awarding body accreditation for the course.

With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor.

You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 20 hrs.

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

What's Included

• All study materials
• Study Guide
• Full Tutor and Admin support
• The course fee includes the awarding body registration and certification fee (valued at up to £30.00).

What is NCFE

NCFE is the UK's longest established awarding body, recognised as a highly professional and responsive organisation, committed to maintaining excellent customer service and a friendly approach.

NCFE is recognised as an awarding body by the qualification regulators ('regulators') for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The regulators are the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England, the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) in Wales and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland.

Accreditation by NCFE is a guarantee of quality. It means that a learning programme has been scrutinised and approved by an independent panel of experienced educational professionals and is quality audited biannually by NCFE. Learners successfully completing NCFE accredited programmes receive an externally accredited and nationally recognised NCFE certificate.

For more information on this award, click here

Below you will find a list of courses that previous students have taken to complement their course. We hope that this list will give you some idea of the types of progression courses we offer, or alternative course options that may be of interest to you.

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