Organizational Communication

Imagine you are the ? University’s Graduate Support Services Coordinator. Your responsibilities entail developing innovative programs, materials, and events that will enhance the academic growth and overall experience of graduate students. Recently, the Provost requested your focus on a targeted subset of ?’s graduate student population – international students (across academic programs, e.g., MBA/MSL/MHA). These students attend ? in seated and/or online courses. The Provost indicated specific interest in two key goals: (1) increase enrollment of international students; and (2) increase student retention. You realize numerous financial challenges exist including: (1) project budget – startup costs to program sustainability; (2) perceived lack of the projects’ direct (tangible) financial profit for the University; and (3) financial risk (e.g., project development and/or implementation) and an insignificant response and/or support from online graduate students. You are perplexed and overwhelmed at the magnitude of the project. The Provost wants to review your initial project proposal in two weeks. Based on your experience and expertise as an MBA graduate student:

a.How will you start the project development process?

b.    What formative research would you conduct? Why?

c.    How will you quantify and define measures of success?

d.    How will you assess the cost – benefit analysis of potential programmatic ideas?

e.    How will you assess validity of the three noted financial concerns?

f.        What is your communication purpose for the initial project proposal (e.g., inform, persuade, inform and persuade)? Explain.