Organisational Communication

72253

In this course, you will explore organisational communication models, concepts, and theories and apply them to real-world organisational situations. You will analyse communication processes and systems within organisations, evaluate communication challenges, and develop recommendations for improvement based on contemporary communication theory.

Availability

Our distance learning courses are offered throughout the year to help you fit study around your work and life commitments.
Courses are offered up to 12 times per year depending on demand and availability of academic staff.
Exact start dates are in the course information pages and in our Enrolment dates page:

Enrolment dates

Cost

Course costs can be found on all course pages. The fees may increase annually.
Qualification cost – to give you an idea of how much a qualification may cost in total over the duration of your studies, an approximate cost is provided for many of our qualifications. This is based on the required number of courses to complete the qualification and the average cost of those courses. It does not include annual administration fees, text books and course materials or external exam fees, and is subject to annual course fee increases.

Credits

Courses are assigned credits depending on how much time and effort is needed to complete their learning outcomes. In general, each credit represents approximately 10 hours of study time.

Delivery method

Online – The course materials for online courses are delivered in an online format and all assignments are submitted online.
Mixed – These courses are delivered using a mix of online and paper based course materials. This may include receiving paper course materials, submitting assignments online, or being required to participate in online forums and learning activities.
Print Only - The course will be delivered using paper based courses materials, and assignments may need to be submitted in hard copy rather than online. This will depend on the course.

Whether courses are delivered online, on paper or a mixture of both, there may also be components such as workshops, noho marae, work experience and practicum to participate in. To find out what your course involves check the course information page.

EFTS

EFTS stands for equivalent full-time student. An EFTS is the study time required for each course and is used by the Tertiary Education Commission to decide if a course is part-time or full-time.

One year of full-time study is generally between 0.8 and 1.2 EFTS.

Level

You can tell how hard a course or qualification is by the level it is set at:

Levels 1-4 are about the same as secondary school and basic trades training.
Levels 5-7 are the same as university study.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are courses that must be completed before another course can be studied.
Co-requisites are courses that can be studied at the same time as another course.

If a course has a specific prerequisite or co-requisite course, it will be listed on the course page under the title 'Prerequisites'. If no courses are listed, check the entry and other requirements under the qualification you are studying for. Some courses require you to have studied at a particular level prior to enrolling.

Student loans

Not all qualifications or students are eligible for student loans. You will need to meet criteria such as studying a minimum number of credits over a specific study period. It is up to you to apply for a student loan via StudyLink - Open Polytechnic does not do this for you.

Information about student loans and eligibility

StudyLink website

Teaching weeks

Teaching weeks is the number of weeks that we teach a course. This differs from the enrolment period, which is based on the course start and end dates.

For example, a 20-week enrolment period will have 16 teaching weeks, followed by four weeks to accommodate marking, any extensions and reassessments, or exams.

Workload

The workload estimate given on a course page is calculated like this:

Number of credits x 10, divided by the number of teaching weeks for the course. The hours will be rounded up to nearest whole number.

Please note, this is a guide only. You may need more or less time for study, and you may also need to do more hours during assessment due dates or exams times.

Level
6
Credits
20
Cost

$890 NZ Domestic

$2,104 NZ International
EFTS
0.1667
Delivery type

Online only
Teaching weeks 16 weeks
Workload Approximately 13 hours per week
Prerequisites
- 72140 Business Communication
If you need to discuss prerequisites for this course
contact us

Effective internal and external communication is a feature of every successful organisation. In order to suggest strategies for improving organisational performance or implementing change, it is important to understand the structure of organisations and their communication systems.

Through research and practical application, you will gain valuable skills in understanding how communication influences organisational effectiveness, employee engagement, and organisational change.

When you complete this course, you will be able to:

Identify and apply organisational communication models, concepts, and theories to case studies and organisational contexts.
Analyse communication systems and processes within diverse organisational contexts.
Evaluate organisational communication issues and recommend appropriate strategies for improvement.

Assessment

This course is 100% internally assessed and includes three assessment activities:

Assessment 1 (25%) – Organisational Communication Foundations
Analyse communication systems, communication theories, and ethical communication practices within a selected organisation. You will evaluate communication models, explore communication within diverse organisational teams, and examine ethical considerations that influence workplace communication and decision-making.

Assessment 2 (30%) – Communication Leadership and Digital Communication
Prepare a professional report examining leadership communication and digital communication practices within an organisation. You will analyse organisational structures, leadership approaches, trust-building communication traits, digital communication channels, and emerging communication technologies that support organisational communication.

Assessment 3 (45%) – Communication Strategies for Organisational Success
Prepare a professional report addressing organisational communication challenges related to negotiation and conflict management, customer engagement, and digital transformation. You will evaluate communication issues, apply relevant communication theories and strategies, and recommend practical solutions to support organisational effectiveness and successful change.

Textbooks

No textbooks are needed for this course.

Career relevance

Understanding organisational communication is highly valued in roles involving management, human resources, project coordination, change management, stakeholder engagement, team leadership, and organisational development. The knowledge gained in this course can help you communicate more effectively, identify organisational challenges, and contribute to improved workplace performance.

Why study Organisational Communication?

Strong communication is essential for leadership, teamwork, organisational performance, and successful change management. This course helps you develop the analytical and practical skills needed to evaluate communication within organisations and recommend effective solutions to improve workplace outcomes.

Whether you are currently working in a business environment or looking to move into leadership and management roles, this course provides valuable knowledge that can be applied across a wide range of industries and organisational settings.

Computer and internet requirements

This course is delivered online, so you will access your course material and submit assessments online. Our online courses may include reading, videos, quizzes or activities, and you may need to download content.

For online learning you need:

Access to a laptop or desktop computer
Reliable internet and data plan.

If you are unsure if your current computer or internet access allows you to complete your online learning with us, please contact us before applying to enrol.

Find out more about online learning

How to enrol

Before enrolling in this course you need to:

choose the qualification you will study the course under
check the order that courses in the qualification should be studied in the Qualification Structure table. This is in the Choose courses and apply tab on the qualification page.

Work towards

You can do this course as part of these qualifications:

Certificate of Proficiency

Course Only (Certificate of Proficiency) (OP7304)

Bachelor's Degree

Graduate Certificate

Graduate Certificate in Business (OP7411)

Graduate Diploma

Graduate Diploma in Business (OP7412)

Course availability over the next 12 months

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

2027

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug