Unit Reference: D/507/1581 – Communications in Organisations

Unit Aims

The unit aims to develop the learner’s awareness of organisational, personal, team and external communications. Communication practices, systems, styles and tools are explored and how they support individual and group’s commitment to organisations and their objectives.

Interpersonal communication with an emphasis on analysing the learner’s own personal style to empower and improve personal communication skills is central to the unit. For this purpose, learners should obtain feedback on their input at meetings, presentations, interviews and in discussions with peers and tutors.

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcomes

When awarded credit for this unit, a learner will:

Assessment Criteria

Assessment of this learning outcome will require a learner to demonstrate that they can:

1. Analyse communications in organisations.

1.1 Understand the importance of effective communications in organisations.

1.2 Identify and explain communication practices and systems that allow organisation policy and procedures to be understood and followed; and how ideas, new initiatives and developments can be shared.

1.3 Evaluate how workforce commitment to organisational change can be achieved using different communication practices.

1.4 Analyse communication barriers and weaknesses and remedies to such problems.

2. Understand and develop personal interpersonal communications.

2.1 Explain interpersonal communications and communication styles.

2.2 Show awareness of personal interpersonal communication skills and provide evidence of your skills including presentation style, meetings management and networking.

2.3 Apply approaches to improve personal communication style.

3. Evaluate the management of internal and external workplace communications.

3.1 Identify and explain how management can support teams and other groups, departments or sections within and outside an organisation to communicate effectively.

3.2 Investigate organisational practices that support internal and external workplace communications.

3.3 Evaluate communication tools, approaches and practices that support effective internal and external communications.

3.4 Plan improvements in workplace communications and implement the plan.

Teaching and Learning Strategy

The emphasis for this unit must ensure that learners have opportunities not only to develop understanding and suggest improvements but also to practice and gain feedback on their own personal communications skills. Therefore, the unit should include feedback from meetings, presentations, interviews, discussions and peer as well as tutors.

Further emphasis on active learning is required and consequently the extent of pure input sessions should be kept to a minimum.