COURSE NUMBER: EWMBA291T-11

COURSE TITLE: Managerial Communications

UNITS OF CREDIT: 1 unit

INSTRUCTOR: Rick Isaacson

E-MAIL ADDRESS: frederick_isaacson@haas.berkeley.edu

CLASS WEB PAGE LOCATION: bSpace

MEETING DAY(S)/TIME: Sunday, 4/18 & 4/25, 10AM-6PM

PREREQUISITE(S): EWMBA core curriculum

CLASS FORMAT: Group work, speeches and presentations.

REQUIRED READINGS: O’Hair, Rubenstein, and Stewart.  A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking, Second Edition.  New York:  Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009.
Framing Artful Speech Article by Rick Isaacson—general background useful for all speeches.
Handouts furnished by the instructor.
Relevant sections of the Pocket Guide to Public Speaking.
Also view selected speeches on www.ted.com.

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: Grades are based on presentations (80%), and the quality of participation (20%). 

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:
Public speaking skills are among the most important skills a manager possesses.  Managers who speak effectively assume leadership roles in their organizations.  This course is a workshop designed to systematically expand your presentational speaking competencies to meet the challenges required of leadership communication in an organization.

Through prepared and impromptu speeches and a variety of skill-building exercises you will:

• Develop improved listening skills
• Widen your repertoire as a dynamic speaker
• Learn techniques of effective impromptu speaking
• Practice methods for effectively handling question and answer sessions
• Become acquainted with complementary principles and theories of persuasive  oral communication.
• Learn techniques of effective group communication

Students must be prepared to speak in front of others, provide constructive feedback, and work effectively in groups.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
Rick Isaacson is Professor of Communication Studies at San Francisco State, where he has taught courses in managerial communication, advanced public speaking, rhetoric, group process, conflict resolution, argumentation and debate, and media communication since 1982.  Dr. Isaacson also serves as his department’s Internship and Service-Learning Director.  He has widely published in communication journals, and has authored three texts on presentational speaking.  He has also served as a consultant for a variety of Bay Area organizations, including Cisco Systems, Oracle, AT&T, and numerous nonprofit groups.  Dr. Isaacson also developed and managed a retail/wholesale natural foods and health products business from 1976-1990.