Organizational Assessment (365-0-1)

Instructors

Michelle Shumate

Meeting Info

Frances Searle Building 1483: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

How do top-tier consultants and leaders gather data to spur change in stagnant organizations, increase communication effectiveness, and drive strategic growth? In this highly applied, pre-professional course, students will learn to conduct 360-degree organizational assessments. Building on Introduction to Strategic Communication (COMM_ST 261), this class is designed for students pursuing careers in consulting, business management, public administration, nonprofit management, and public relations.
The course operates in three intensive modules:

Understanding the Environment: Environmental scans and strategic positioning.

Understanding the Customer: Surveys, focus groups, and sentiment analysis.

Understanding the Staff: Cultural audits, qualitative interviews, and virtual town halls.

Instead of traditional exams, students complete consulting-style deliverables. Students will design research proposals for historical case studies, use modern AI tools to analyze mock datasets, and then develop executive-level recommendations that support constructive, innovative, and mission-driven organizational practices.

Class Attributes

Attendance at 1st class mandatory
No Freshmen

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Preregistration is reserved to COMM_ST majors that have completed COMM_ST 261-0. Students who have completed the prerequisite will be able to enroll during regular registration.