Overview
DHA 802 Summer 2026 Final Paper Assignment Due Date: June 28, 2026, at 23:59 Hours (EST) Length Requirement: Minimum 10 pages References: Minimum 10 references Assignment Overview You will write a minimum 10-page organizational communication analysis of an existing publicly traded company assigned to you by the Professor. - Check Moodle for your specific company assignment. - Using any company other than the one assigned to you will result in a score of ZERO for the assignment. No exceptions will be made. Role Perspective Imagine yourself as a member of the company’s top management team or as part of an external team of strategic consultants. Conduct an in-depth study of the firm and apply the concepts, analytical tools, and frameworks from this course to: - Analyze its internal and external communication environments - Identify the firm’s communication strategies, strengths, weaknesses, and challenges - Develop a set of actionable recommendations to maximize the firm’s long-term communication effectiveness, organizational performance, and competitiveness. Organization of the Final Paper Your paper must follow this exact structure: I. Introduction II. Literature Review III. Organizational Communication Analysis of Your Organization IV. Conclusion V. References Page Count Rules - The 10-page minimum applies only to the main content (Introduction through Conclusion). - Only one page of References will be counted toward the 10-page requirement (even if you have more than one reference page). - The following do NOT count toward the 10 pages: - Title Page - Table of Contents - Appendix / Tables / Figures / Graphs (All graphs, charts, and large tables must be placed in the Appendix) Formatting Requirements - 12-point font (Times New Roman or Arial recommended) - Double line spacing - Standard 1-inch margins - Proper headings and sub-headings for clear organization - All sources must be cited appropriately (APA or MLA format recommended) Suggested Content Guidance for Each Section - Introduction: Provide background on the company, its industry, the purpose of the paper, and a brief overview of the structure. - Literature Review: Discuss key organizational communication concepts, theories, and frameworks relevant to your analysis (e.g., organizational culture and climate, communication networks and channels, leadership communication, crisis communication, stakeholder engagement and public relations, upward/downward/horizontal communication flows, etc.). Cite at least 10 credible academic or professional sources. - Organizational Communication Analysis of Your Organization: This is the core of the paper. Apply course tools to examine the company’s internal communication practices (e.g., channels, barriers, climate, culture), external communication strategies (e.g., stakeholder relations, investor communication, crisis response, branding), current communication effectiveness, impact on employee engagement and organizational performance, competitive position through communication, and key communication issues. Include clear analysis and insights. This should be based on your opinion and do not use citations in this section. - Conclusion: Summarize key findings and provide well-justified communication recommendations for improving the firm’s long-term performance and competitiveness. References: Minimum 10 references (only one page counts toward the page total). Important Notes - Use relevant tables, figures, and charts to support your analysis — place them in the Appendix (do not embed large visuals in the main body if they inflate page count unfairly). - Ensure your analysis is objective, data-driven, and tied directly to organizational communication concepts taught in the course. - Plagiarism will result in a grade of zero and may lead to additional academic penalties. - AI use will result in a grade of zero and may lead to additional academic penalties.