SM275 Section A2 – Summer I 2021 – Syllabus PDF

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Its the syllabus that lays out all the requirements that needs to be followed throughout the semester....

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SM275 – Management Communications

BU

Summer 2021

Boston University Questrom School of Business

SM275 – MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATIONS (4 CREDITS) PROFESSOR Matthew Butterfield SYLLABUS VERSION May 19, 2021 Tuesdays & Thursdays: Hariri Building Room: Section Zoom Meeting: Section Zoom Passcode:

1:00 — 4:30 pm EST 222 944 0429 2008 SM275_ZOOM

Please read this syllabus thoroughly prior to the 1st class. I. SM275 ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS • Professor name and email: Matthew Butterfield, [email protected] • Office hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12:00 — 12:30 pm • Office hours Zoom Meeting: 233 026 075 • Office hours Password: SM275_OH • Pre-requisites: SM131, FE101/SM132, and WR120/WR150 • Credit hours: 4 II. COURSE DESCRIPTION, LEARNING GOALS, STRUCTURE and MATERIALS II.1. Course Description & Learning Goals Persuasive written, oral and interpersonal communications are essential skills that are required for success in every business discipline. In this class, students will learn how to communicate clearly and persuasively, and to connect authentically with their audience, in a way that inspires action. Students will learn to take a point of view on current business issues, support it with logic and evidence, and express it effectively in multiple mediums, ranging from written to verbal, and from formal to extemporaneous. This course meets BU Hub requirements for: • Writing, research and inquiry • Oral/signed communication • Research and information literacy Specifically, students will learn how to: • Craft and deliver responsible, considered and well-structured arguments to diverse audiences through a variety of media by: o Evaluating the needs of their audience, and tailoring arguments to those needs o Identifying key elements of critical thinking, including deductive and inductive modes of inference 1 of 16

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o Understanding and applying the principles of deductive and inductive logical reasoning to organize information and lead an audience to action o Reading with understanding and critical judgment, and evaluating the validity of arguments and their sources •

Write simply and clearly, in a professional tone appropriate for a business audience

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Understand and apply the fundamentals of visual communication, including how to represent qualitative and quantitative data

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Master presentation delivery by connecting authentically to the audience, harnessing the power of storytelling, and using body language to positively reinforce the message

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Learn to respond thoughtfully and comfortably to others by enhancing professional skills that are integral to business success, including: being present/listening, thinking on your feet; and building relationships

II.2. Course Structure & Pedagogy This course will integrate best practices in learning how to research, write, and present effectively. Assignments will be based on case studies of companies in situations of current interest. Time in class will be spent practicing written and verbal communication skills, as well as interpersonal effectiveness, since best practices in these areas are most effectively learned through practice rather than lecture. Students will have ample opportunities to present individually, and to give and receive feedback on both written and verbal assignments. We will videotape presentations. The course is organized around 6 key modules, each of which will be supported with written and verbal exercises and assignments. (1) Understanding your audience and yourself. We will explore ways to approach typical (and/or difficult) situations. We will understand your own communication preferences and areas in which you will need to stretch to become more effective communicators. We will consider the impact of cross-cultural communications. (2) Researching and developing a logical argument with convincing evidence. We will learn hypothesis-based research techniques to develop a point of view with compelling evidence to support it. To communicate findings in writing or speaking we will discuss: the need for a hierarchy of ideas; the importance of synthesizing qualitative and quantitative information to express key insights; inductive and deductive frameworks for developing logical storylines; and the “right” amount of evidence and detail for a compelling argument. (3) Writing content-rich emails and memos. We will learn best practices in writing fulltext memos and emails that address substantive business issues. We will learn to organize content using logical argument frameworks, and how to be clear, concise, and professional in writing. (4) Creating “killer charts” and presentations. We will learn best practices in creating visually compelling slides that communicate both qualitative and quantitative information. We will learn to arrange elements on a slide through thoughtful use of space, color, shading, and unifying structure. 2 of 16

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(5) Establishing leadership presence. We will explore ways to become a persuasive leader and communicator drawing on techniques from improvisational acting, sales, and public relations. Specifically we will learn to be present, project power, show warmth, and connect through storytelling. (6) Enhancing professional skills that are integral to business success. We will cover communication skills that help build credibility and trust. These include: building relationships, thinking on your feet, and cultivating a professional tone/style across a range of communication mediums. II.3. Course Materials The only required course material is the Course Packet, which is available through the Harvard Business Publishing website, found at: https://hbsp.harvard.edu/import/819116. • •

“Facebook–Can Ethics Scale in a Digital Age” (A & B) by George A. Riedel & CarinIsabel Knoop “Negotiating for Equal Pay: The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team” (A & B) by Christine L. Exley, John Beshears, Manuela Collis, & Davis Heniford

Additional required readings or videos will be posted to through QuestromTools in the “BU Libraries Course Materials” folder. Book chapters include: • Selections from Business Communication: Developing Leaders for a Networked World, by Peter Cardon o Chapter 4, Communicating Across Cultures • Selections from The Minto Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing, Thinking and Problem Solving, by Barbara Minto o Chapter 5 Deduction and Induction: the Difference • Selections from Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations, by Nancy Duartes o Chapter 6, Arranging Elements o Chapter 7, Using Visual Elements • Selections from The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism by Olivia Fox Cabane o Introduction, p.1-7 o The Charismatic Behaviors, p. 13-26 • Selections from Web Literacy for Student Fact Checkers by Michael A. Caulfield o Chapter 1, Four Moves and a Habit o Chapter 2, Look For Previous Work o Chapter 3, Go Upstream o Chapter 4, Read Laterally

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Online materials include: Selections from Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl o Applying User-Centered Design o Audience Analysis Overview o Font Features 3 of 16

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o o o o o

Summer 2021

Rhetorical Awareness and User-Centered Design Tone in Business Writing Using Citation Machines Responsibly Using Fonts with Purpose Visual Rhetoric: Overview, Text Elements, Color, Use of Images

III. COURSE POLICIES III.1. Attendance Policy Attendance in class is critical. Note that SM275 is not a lecture class. Our classes are small, and learning outcomes are achieved through in-class exercises and discussions that engage all participants, under guidance of a faculty member. The success of this format requires your attendance at every session of the course, preparation for each class, focus in completing inclass exercises, willingness to listen to others, and active contribution of ideas. Simply attending class, however, does not constitute a positive contribution to class and will not result in a high participation score. Given the rapid pace of the summer session, we can excuse one absence during the term (for any reason). If you anticipate that you will need to miss 2 or more sessions, consider taking this course in another term. Students who miss 2 sessions will have their final grade reduced half of a letter grade, e.g., from “B” to “B-“. Students who miss 3 sessions will have their final grade reduced an entire letter grade, e.g., from “B” to “C.” Students who miss 4 or more sessions may fail the course. Assignments are always due at the stated time, regardless of absences. Any student who will miss a class should inform the instructor in advance via e-mail, or, in the case of emergency, as soon as possible afterward. Students bear the responsibility for making up work missed during an absence. Class discussions will follow the norms of a professional business meeting. Arriving for class after the session has begun, causing disruptions, or exiting/entering class unnecessarily will count against your class contributions. III.2. Academic accommodations for students with special needs In keeping with University policy, any student with a disability who needs or thinks they need academic accommodations must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Students can call ODS at 617-353-3658, or visit their website (http://www.bu.edu/disability/) to arrange a confidential appointment with a Disability Services staff member. Accommodation letters must be delivered to your instructor in a timely fashion (not later than two weeks before any major examination). Please note that accommodations will not be delivered absent an official letter of accommodation. III.3. Academic Integrity Policy Students are expected to abide by the Questrom School’s Academic Conduct Code (https://www.bu.edu/academics/policies/academic-conduct-code/). Please note that all graded assignments, both written and verbal, are strictly individual efforts. While we collaborate on work in class, graded assignments outside of class are to be completed 4 of 16

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entirely independently. Please seek assistance directly from your instructor or from an SM275 Teaching Assistant if you would like to discuss your assignment outside of class. III.4 Professional Conduct Policy and/or other course-related policies Texting, emailing, or web surfing are strictly prohibited during class. You are expected to arrive on time and stay for the duration of class, leaving only during scheduled breaks. III.5. Sexual Misconduct/Title IX Policy The Questrom School of Business is committed to fostering a safe learning environment for all members of the its community and preventing sexual misconduct. All forms of sexual misconduct, including rape, acquaintance rape, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking, and sexual harassment are violations of Boston University’s policies, whether they happen on campus or off campus. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sexbased discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. This law makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender is a Civil Rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, etc. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources at http://www.bu.edu/safety/sexual-misconduct/. III.6. Questrom Community Statement of Norms In addition to the expectations outlined in the COVID-19 Health Commitments & Expectations for Boston University Students, we expect all members of our Questrom community to adhere to the following classroom norms: • • •

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Use the designated paths and doors to enter and exit the classrooms and move around the Hariri building. Use the wipes provided in classrooms to clean desktops and other spaces before and after use. Wear an appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) face covering when in the Hariri building, including in the Hariri classrooms and offices. Students not wearing a face covering will be asked to leave and are expected to comply with the request. Be willing to display your “green screen” compliance app upon request (e.g., in class or for a meeting). Eat only in the designated locations in the Rafik B. Hariri Building. Eating is NOT permitted in the classrooms. Eating in only permitted in Starbuck/Breadwinners and in student lounges. Only drinking with a straw is permitted in classrooms. Update your LfA location and class status (in-person or 100% remote) on the StudentLink as changes occur throughout the semester. Attend class remotely if your behavior outside of the classroom might put others in the community at risk.

Adhering to these norms will allow us to continue to enjoy a residential learning experience III.7. Course recording policy 5 of 16

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All class sessions will be recorded for the benefit of registered students who are unable to attend live sessions (either in person or remotely) due to illness or other special circumstances. Recorded sessions will be made available to registered students ONLY via their password-protected QuestromTools account. Students may not share such sessions with anyone not registered in the course and may certainly not repost them in a public platform. Students have the right to opt-out of being part of the class recording. Please contact your instructor or teaching assistant to discuss options for attending the course in such cases. More information on this topic is available at https://digital.bu.edu/lfa-classroom-recordings/. IV. COURSE EVALUATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS IV.1. Course Evaluation The following evidence will be used to determine grades: 15% Persuasive memo using inductive argument 15% Short presentation using inductive argument 15% QuestromTalk verbal presentation (without slides) 15% Persuasive memo using deductive argument 15% Attendance and full participation in class discussions and exercises 5% Five posts in an online discussion forum 20% Final presentation using deductive argument ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------100% Total Assignments are only accepted up to 24 hours past the due date and any assignments submitted after the due date will be penalized a full grade (e.g.: from “B” to “C”). Missing assignments will receive a grade of zero. Absences are not a reason to turn in assignments late. Questions on a graded assignment must be directed to your instructor within 2 weeks of receiving your grade for that assignment. IV.2. Assignment Descriptions and Expectations IV.2.1. Graded course deliverables include 2 writing-only, full-text assignments and 3 presentations with verbal delivery. The short inductive presentation will be graded on inductive logic, PowerPoint writing style, and verbal delivery. The QuestromTalk will be graded exclusively on verbal delivery, both in content and style. The Final Presentation is graded on deductive logic, PowerPoint writing style, and verbal delivery. You will be videotaped during each presentation and receive feedback on your verbal delivery. In each assignment, you will communicate from the perspective of a business leader trying to persuade others in the context of a challenging, real-life situation. Although assignments have differing delivery mediums, each of these communications must adhere to best practices in leadership communications, such as: • Leading with your point of view (i.e.: the main idea) • Synthesizing and logically ordering key points • Supporting your point of view with specific data and evidence • Anticipating and addressing potential objections 6 of 16

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• Using a tone and style that connects with the audience (whether verbal or in writing) All graded assignments are to be strictly individual efforts. You may not discuss or collaborate on assignments with other students outside of class. Please see your instructor or a TA if you have questions or would like to discuss a draft of your work. You are expected to use outside sources to support your point of view in each assignment and to cite them appropriately. In giving citations, please use the format of the Chicago Manual of Style, which can be found in the SM275 Writing Style Guide. Presentations must be given on the scheduled days and times. Presentations will be rescheduled only in the event that a doctor’s note is provided to your instructor in a timely fashion. The Final Presentation will take place during Finals Week. For Spring Semester 2021, Finals Week runs from May 4 through May 8. An announcement will be made when the Final Exam schedule is released that will note the precise day and time for our section’s Final Presentations. Please be on the lookout for this announcement, and contact your instructor if you foresee any direct exam conflicts. IV.2.2. Participation in an online discussion forum is required several times over the course of the session. The objective of the online forum is to further develop and hone your professional writing style with the assistance of peer feedback. To receive full credit for participating in the online forum, the post must meet stated criteria and be posted on time. A late posting is only accepted up to 24 hours late and will be penalized a full letter grade. Missing posts will receive a grade of zero. IV.2.3. The three presentation assignments have been designed to engage with the dominant presentation forms currently in use. When engaging with these assignments, therefore, you will need to consider best practices for both in-person and remote presentation scenarios, and will need to execute these presentations with these scenarios in mind. These best practices will be covered in class. If during the Spring 2021 semester you are attending classes using the LfA model, the expectation is that you will participate in the short inductive and Final presentations via Zoom, and the QuestromTalk presentation in-person, in the classroom. If during the Spring 2021 semester you are attending classes fully remote, the expectation is that you will participate in all three presentations via Zoom. Whether remote or in-person, you will need to consider and apply best practices for the presentation form being used. IV.3. Grading of Class Participation Your class participation grade will be based on your effort to fully and constructively engage in exercises and move class discussions forward. It means saying things you believe make sense, even though others may not agree. It also means being open to the ideas of others, being able to listen to and understand what they are saying, building upon their ideas, and changing your thinking in the face of better reasoning and analysis. The class participation grade is also dependent on following class rules.

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IV.3.1. In-person & remote class participation: For every class, unless otherwise stated, put your cell phones away. Your video feed must be turned on. You are expected to be on time and to stay for the entire session, leaving only during scheduled breaks. Arriving to class after the session has begun, causing disruptions, or exiting/entering class except during scheduled breaks will count against your participation score. During days when you participate remotely, you should attend class in an appropriate setting, with a dedicated internet (do not use your local coffee shop’s wifi), you should wear appropriate dress, and your laptop/device should be set at a table or a desk, so that video will be captured...