Management Development Institute Gurgaon

Course Outline
Programme:
PGPM/PGPHR/ IB/BA/ NMP/ Public Policy

Title of the Course : Strategic Communication for Excellence

Course Credit : 3
Core/Elective : Elective
Area : Strategy and General Management
Academic Year :2023-24
Course Faculty : Dr. Vidhu Gaur
Email : vidhu.gaur@mdi.ac.in

I. Introduction/Description of the Course

The course covers the most nuanced aspects and angles of communication, generally
not taken deeper and cautiously. The very purpose of the offered course is to bring
forth the advanced Strategic communication aspects to the generation next. The
course is a sturdy amalgamation of humanities (English Literature and a part of Indian
Philosophy), business and communication strategy. The amalgamation is much
needed in the contemporary times wherein a lot of thrust is given in producing a
‘sensitized individual’ and not a product of economic churn out – for competitive
advantage the above mentioned blend of subjects to develop a more sensitive and
nuanced communication encapsulates many finer concepts of Strategic
communication that get lost in the labyrinth of technicalities and in the impulse of
spontaneous overflow of ‘so called communicating’ to the other party which most of
the times, unfortunately, goes in the abysmal pit of misunderstanding.

Business Schools in current times are more inclusive and a lot of importance is given
on balancing and blending students from varied streams to gain business perspectives.
Presently, Government of India has its complete focus on saving the human fabric
from falling prey to this big “economic churn out machinery” to not allow people to
become ‘cut throat’ and ‘selfish’ reflected in words, actions and behavior, by
launching programmes and making them mandatory like Universal Human Values in
B schools and many initiatives have already been taken at even school level also.

History has proven umpteen number of times that a great leader has been a great
communicator. Examples are plenty and to mention a few: Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi
ji, Churchill, Hitler. The course beacons a strategic stirring up by incorporating
communication perspectives about morality, evil, the good, freedom, liberty, anger,
love, heroism, charity, mercy, power, innovation, equality, politics, judgement,
wealth, poverty, philosophy, God, religion, honor, desperation, intelligence, history,
death to bring many ideas to the reader in a time frame that can be very important and
instrumental to a business. Indian Philosophy delves deeper in such perspectives and
to make it further concrete, Greek Philosophy, Nietzsche’s writings, Pronouncing
 Indian Philosophy to wider extent- Ralph Waldo Emerson, T.S. Eliot to name a few
through the medium of English Literature have exemplified and epitomized mature
understanding leading to mature communication at all levels across human diaspora
(spread).

The concepts and perspectives in the course outline are not limited to a specific
generation, and its principles can be valuable and relevant for people of all ages and
backgrounds. The philosophy provides a framework for developing inner wisdom,
self-control, and resilience, which can help individuals navigate the challenges and
complexities of modern life. The course content provides students with holistic
grooming and perspective to encode and decode communication aspects and nitty-
gritties to make them contextually robust and adept.

II. Course Objectives

 A unique mix of finer aspects of communication explained in famous
writings of prolific writers will be brought out through strategic
deciphering and understanding to make communication more concrete
and full proof.
 Examine developments in VUCA world on interplay of deeper understating
and deciphering the unsaid
 Explore emerging changes for success and stability by communicating
more in depth and meaningfully
 Identifying the gaps and potential thrust areas to research deeper in the
domains of tactically communicating with stoicism, resilience and
accountability
 Encourage verbal and non-verbal empathy and compassion and resilience
 Make the students/participants level 5 ready leadership communicators
 Identifying problems and develop familiarity with causal and preemptive
frameworks

III. Assurance of Learning (Program Level Goals and Program Level Outcomes)

PGPM/LG4: TEAM BUILDING AND COMMUNICATION

The student demonstrates team building and strong communication skills. He/She shall be
able to identify and describe conflicting issues/views of the group, analyze them, leverage
them for effective synergy and achieving the group objectives in management context.
He/She shall be able to communicate effectively using oral/ written/ non-verbal modes in
a management context.

Unsatisfactory (0- Satisfactory (4 - Exceeds

under 4) under 8) Expectations (8 -
10)
LO1. Be able to Inadequately identify, Adequately identify, Identify, describe
identify, describe describe and analyze describe and analyze and analyze very
and analyze group conflicting conflicting comprehensively
members’ views in issues/views of the issues/views of the conflicting and
management group in a group in the similar
context, leverage management context, management context. issues/views of the
differing opinions to resolve ambiguity Present alternate group in the
of the group and conflict viewpoints to manage management
members for team conflicts and context.
effective synergy leverage differing Not only able to
and achieving the opinions of the group. manage team
group objectives. conflicts but also
leverage differing
opinions of most
of the group.

LO2. Be able to Inadequately Adequately identifies Identifies and

identify and identifies and and communicates describes
communicate communicates issues issues in a management
issues/views at an in a management management context, issues/views with
individual or group context, and/ or and correctly high level of
level through incorrectly interprets interprets clarity and depth
oral/written/non- written/spoken/non- written/spoken/non- that can help in
verbal modes in a verbal communication verbal communication decision making.
management and thereby displays and thereby displays Also, correctly
context. ambiguity in adequate clarity in identifies and
understanding and understanding and interprets almost
communicating. communicating. all communication
and cues in a
managerial
context.

PGHR/LG5: Understanding People Practices & Processes for Leveraging Human

Potential.

The student demonstrates a deep understanding of people practices & processes for
leveraging human potential in a business context. The student shall be able to identify and
describe issues related to people practices & processes, and benchmark best practices, and
relate them with the overall organizational performance.

Unsatisfactory (0- Satisfactory (4 - Exceeds

under 4) under 8) Expectations (8 -
10)
LO4: Be able to Inadequate Be able to identify Be able to identify
understand understanding of few leadership most leadership
leadership skills for leadership skills for skills for skills for
 managing self and managing self and managing self and managing self and
others others. others. others and present
insightful
analyses.

Post Graduate Program in Executive Management

Program Learning Goals and Objectives

LG2: Global Management Perspective

LO2. Be able to analyze impact of global management issues (as opposed to the domestic
environment) and their impact on management decisions

IV. Pedagogical Methods

Learning is a collaborative activity. Apart from simulations and quizzes,

students in this class, are expected to take part in classroom discussion and
other experiential activities. Only a quarter to one third of the class will be
conducted in lecture format.

Discussion of cases that have gained media and public attention will be
conducted in class. students are expected to be news consumers throughout the
duration of the course. Some assignments may require students to use news or
other content to lead class discussions. Robust debate and sharing opinions are
encouraged, but please respect and try to understand others’ viewpoints.

V. Evaluation Criteria

Sr. No. Name of Component Approximate % Weightage

Number Assigned
1 Quizzes 2 10%
2 Group Project 3 20%
3 Mid-Term Examination 20%
4 End-Term Examination 30%
5 Class Engagement/participation 20%
Total Weightage Assigned 100%

VI.

VII. Pedagogical Methods

The pedagogy is designed to engage students by assigning relevant and influential research
work readings, case studies and term papers.

VIII. Compulsory Text Book

Tennessee Williams and Indian Ethos by Dr. Vidhu Gaur
IX. Content and Session Plan
Session Session Theme
No.
Understanding Strategic
Communication
A. Overview of the course
1 B. Importance of strategic
communication in business
C. Objectives of the course
Depiction of Strategic Communication
in Literature: How to establish
2-3-4 credibility?
 Through ‘Hamlet’ by
Shakespeare understanding
concept of ‘Data Dump’
 The human struggle with
indecision: how to be conclusive
in verbal and non-verbal
communication by
understanding the philosophy of
‘to do’ or ‘not to do’
Additional Reading/Cases
Total's Carbon Capture and Storage
Project at LACQ (A): Risk Opportunity
in Public Engagement
By: Devin McDaniels; Frances
Bowen
Total's Carbon Capture and Storage
Project at LACQ (B): Gaining Public
Acceptance of New Technology
By: Devin McDaniels; Frances
Bowen
Readings from:
Everyone Communicates, Few Connect:
What the Most Effective People Do
Differently
by John C. Maxwell
 Instances and excerpts from:
Readings on the Character of Hamlet:
compiled from over three hundred
sources.
by Claude C H Williamson
 Hamlet by Shakespeare
Case: IBM in the 21st Century: The
Coming of the Globally Integrated
Enterprise
By: Rosabeth Moss Kanter
 Conversational Goals:
5  Competitive Conversations
 Cooperative Conversations
Challenges and Tactics for
excellence and advantage of
winning:
Readings from:
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking
When Stakes Are High by Kerry
Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan,
and Al Switzler

1. Goal: The primary goal of a

cooperative conversation is to Case: CIBC Mellon: Managing a Cross-
build relationships and
achieve mutual Border Joint Venture
understanding. The primary
By: Paul W. Beamish, Michael Sartor
goal of a competitive
conversation is to win,
persuade, or prove a point.
2. Attitude: In a cooperative
conversation, the participants
listen actively, empathize with
each other, and focus on
finding common ground. In a
competitive conversation, the
participants may be more
confrontational, defensive, or
assertive.
cooperative conversations promote
positive and healthy relationships,
whereas competitive conversations
can create tension and conflict. It's
important to understand the
differences between these two
communication styles and choose
the appropriate approach based on
the situation and the goals of the
conversation.

6-7 Advice on Advising Psychodrama through:

 How would you describe your Hamlet" by William Shakespeare,
advising style "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen,
and "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper
 How do you approach less Lee.
formal advising?
  What do you look for in an
advisor? Case: Advising the Family Firm:
8-9 Tactical communication:
Through ‘Super Bowl Storytelling’
that takes different forms,
 from the dramatic storylines of
the participating teams,
 to the high-stakes nature of the
game itself,
 to the elaborate half-time shows
and celebrity endorsements.
 Understanding Art of Story
Telling
10-11- Loaded Communication leading to Readings:
12 Tactical communication Lapse due to: The complete book title of "Doctor
 Ambition and overreaching
 Caught up in conspiracy of
words due to conflict between
reason and desire: Ideal of the
"Renaissance Man
Opening Pandora's Box (A)
By: Vanessa M. Strike, Dennis Ma
Advising the Family Firm: Opening
Pandora's Box (B)
By: Vanessa M. Strike, Dennis Ma
Readings from:
POWER OF STORYTELLING: The
Art of Influential Communication
by Ty Bennett
Case:
Super Bowl Storytelling
By: Shelle Santana, Jill Avery
Faustus" is "The Tragical History of
the Life and Death of Doctor
Faustus." It is a play written by
English playwright Christopher
Marlowe
Case: Come As You Are: The Role of
Internal Financial Reporting after a
Change of Leadership
By: Shane Dikolli, Jaila Ingram-Johnson
 13-14 To sound like a Leader:
 think About what you say
 how and when you say it?
Understanding the gap between
Strategy and Execution
15-16 Stoicism leads to Strategic
communication
 Clarity of thought and
expression: Stoicism emphasizes
the importance of clear and
concise thinking and expression
by striving to be clear and direct
in all interactions, avoiding
ambiguity and ensuring that your
message is understood
17-18 Multimodal communication: Strategic
Communication in Metaverse
 Utilizing various modes of
communication in virtual
environments, including text,
voice, video, and images to
effectively convey messages
19-20 Recap and Presentations
X. List of Suggested Readings- Reference books
Reading:
“Iliad” and “Odyssey” (Greek
Philosophy reference)
5 Ways to Project Confidence in Front
of an Audience
By: Carmine Gallo
What Inclusive Leaders Sound Like
By: Noah Zandan, Lisa Shalett
Case: Just Trying to Help (HBR Case
Study)
By: Julia Kirby
Readings:
Principles of Stoicism by Epictetus,
Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius
Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore
Case: Headspace vs. Calm: A Mindful
Competition
By: Ayelet Israeli; Anne Wilson
Readings:
A Multi-Modal Approach to Creative
Art Therapy: Performative
Communication
by Arthur Robbins
case: Virtual Teams at Ivey
By: Derrick Neufeld; Jake Santora
1. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph
Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler

2. Simply Said: Communicating Better at Work and Beyond by Jay Sullivan

3. Words That Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear by Dr. Frank Luntz

4. The Fine Art of Small Talk: How To Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking
Skills — and Leave a Positive Impression! By Debra Fine

5. Communication Skills Training: A Practical Guide to Improving Your Social Intelligence,

Presentation, Persuasion and Public Speaking by Ian Tuhovsky

6. Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone by Mark Goulston by
Ian Tuhovsky

7. Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time by
Susan Scott

8. Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance by Erica
Dhawan
9. Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds by Carmine Gallo

10. Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication by Oren Jay Sofer

11. We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter by Celeste Headlee

12. Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton,
and Sheila Heen

13. HBR Guide to Better Business Writing by The Harvard Business Review

14. Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm
Gladwell

15. The Art of Communicating by Thich Nhat Hanh

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