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THE COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF JAMAICA

IN ASSOCIATION WITH TURKS AND CAICOS ISALNDS COMMUNITY

COLLEGE

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE

COURSEWORK

SEMESTER I – SEPTEMBER 2023

PROGRAMME: GENERAL

COURSE NAME: ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNICATION

CODE: (COMM3501 / ECE3316 / COM3311)

YEAR GROUP: THREE (3)

EXAMINATION TYPE: COURSEWORK 1 – INDIVIDUAL (Case Analysis)

INSTRUCTIONS: Read the Case Scenario and answer the questions that follow. Please
ensure that your work is written in an essay format. That means, you need to ensure that
each task has its own paragraph(s).

Note: The College Assignment Cover Page must accompany your assignment.

Task:

1. Comment on TWO organizational communication issues evident in the case scenario.

(8 marks)

2. Based on the case scenario, discuss TWO barriers to effective listening noticeable.

(8 marks)

3. Justify TWO solutions for dealing with the barriers to effective listening, should the team
meet again?

(4 marks)

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Total (20 marks)

CASE SCENARIO

Jack Smith is the project manager at Spoolers and Griffin, a pharmaceutical company, which

specializes in dermatology-related products. Recently, the company decided to embark on a new

product for assisting acne prevention and control, which it hopes will be popular among college

students. As part of its marketing strategy, the company decides to create several ‘think-tank’

groups that will come up with creative ways to market the new product. Jack has been tasked to

create these groups, with the estimated projection for group presentations before the board of

directors, within three weeks’ time.

In ensuring that all groups have representations from different sections of the organization, Jack

uses the company’s database to randomly select and group employees. Each group consists of six

persons, with one person appointed as group leader. This person is to represent the group before

the board of directors, with their presentation. One of the groups that is formed, consists of:

Jeffrey, an assistant marketing manager; Natalie, system support officer; Joel, receptionist;

David, software designer; Sue; brands specialist officer; and Ariel, marketing officer. Sue is

placed as the group’s leader. This is the first time this group has had to work together as they all

have very different roles within the organization.

At the group’s first meeting, Sue outlines the goals of each member of the group and establishes

deadlines in meeting these goals. “We need to ensure that we are on the same page, and that…”

Sue stops mid-sentence as David makes a yawning sound. He starts to tap his pen on the table

and swings in his chair. “Excuse me, do you have a problem?” Sue asks, as David rolls his eyes.

“You are boring me and your voice is frankly annoying” David quipped. Natalie chimed in, “If

you spend less time being so vile and listen to people, you would have been more than just a

software designer for the last five years!” “Who said that I am not listening?” David retorted.

“Listening? You were hearing me alright, but not listening” Sue remarked. After this comment,

everyone appeared to be moving in different directions.

Jeffrey made it clear that as an assistant marketing manager, he had more important work to do

rather than wasting time listening to people whom he believes are less experienced than him. “So

why did you agree to be part of this team?” Joel asked. Jeffrey shook his head and laughed. “You

could at least pay attention and stop being so condescending” Joel continued. While the group

tries to discuss the way forward concerning the goals Sue proposed, David sits alone playing

with his phone. At various points during the discussions he gives heavy sighs and shakes his head

vigorously. He also tells the other group members that his only concern relates to the inclusion of

a teenage girl with blond hair being part the advertisement, as men likes blonds. He smirks as he

makes this comment.

Natalie is very enthusiastic that she has been selected to be involved in this project. She tells the

group that she is studying brand designing part-time and has lots of ideas to share. While she

speaks about her ideas, David cuts in, “So basically you are telling us that you have some

diploma or something from designing school?” Natalie claps back, “I did not say anything of the

sort. You seem too busy playing with your phone to be listening to anything we are saying”

David retorted, “Oh, yes, I have been here listening to y’all yapping away…” “You have shown

your lack of manners and proper etiquette when someone is speaking. I do not wish to be part of

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this team if you, sir, are here longer!” Ariel remarked. David gives out a heavy laugh and shakes

his head. “That is why I never listen to my wife; women are the dumbest things!” He took his lap

top off the desk and stormed out the room.

Joel asks the other group members if they are aware of the budget for this project. However,

Natalie speaks over him as she tells the group that she will design an online survey for the

advertisement they are proposing. They will then be able to use these results as a guide to their

planning. By the end of this meeting, little has been achieved. Joel, feeling offended by Natalie’s

quick interjection, stands up and announces that the group will never be able to arrive at a

decision. He then walks out, claiming that he cannot work under these conditions. The other

group members do not know how to react.