CMGT CMGT 501: Communication Pro-Seminar Tues 2pm (4 units)

3

Spring 2020 (rev 20191106)

not be makeup quizzes. However, the lowest quiz score will be dropped (i.e., missing one class will not hurt your overall quiz grade for the course). Learning Objectives Assessed: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Career Capital Field Research Project (20%)

Inspired by Newport’s (2012) book, So Good They Can’t Ignore You, you will have the opportunity to research career capital in a field of choice. This project will include multiple steps including an introduction, data collection (informational interview), and findings/discussion. The introduction will be a 1.5 – 2 page paper where you introduce the career of interest and develop the research question(s). Next, you will turn in a short description of at least 3 candidates of interest for an informational interview. After conducting an informational interview with a person in an industry and/or organization of interest, you will revise the introduction, write a short method section, and a discussion section. The complete paper will be 4-5 pages.

This is a great opportunity to identify rare and valuable skills that could advance your career goals. In addition, this is a great opportunity to develop your networking skills. The introduction draft will be worth 9%, identification of 3 potential informational interview candidates will be worth 1%, and the complete paper will be worth 10%. Learning Objectives Assessed: 1, 3

Shark Tank Presentations (10%)

Students groups will make a persuasive pitch to an audience of “investors”. The Shark Tank Presentation represents the culmination of three course learning objectives: computing financials, working in teams, and making professional presentations. The assignment is also a contest. The winning group will receive a prize. In terms of grading, assuming that each member engages in full participation in group planning and involvement in the actual presentation, all group members will receive the same grade. Learning Objectives Assessed: 2, 6, 7

Literature Review & Simulation Analysis Paper (20%)

You will write a theoretical paper where you will do the following: • Review the assigned readings related to the activity • Participate in the simulation • Read at least 4 additional peer reviewed articles beyond what was assigned in class on the topic. • Write a 6-7 page reaction paper that reviews the appropriate literature, applies connections between the activity and the readings, evaluates organizational behavior in light of theory, identifies lessons learned, and creates plans of action to improve. Learning Objectives Assessed: 2, 3, 4, 5

Case Project (35%)

The course’s major project will involve the case study of an interesting career in an interesting firm. You will read a book about Karly Fiorina (HP), Louis Gerstner, Jr. (IBM), or Jack Ma (Alibaba). You will identify relevant instances of success and/or failure. Then, you will review the concepts taught in class and from the readings, and apply the relevant concepts to describe and explain events in the case. Moreover, you will discuss the adequacy of theory itself and make recommendations for future theory development. The deliverable will be a 7-10 page paper. Learning Objectives Assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Turning in Written Assignments