Business Insights for Communicators

Communications leaders must speak the language of business to effectively craft strategies, execute deliverables, and measure outcomes that create tangible value and advance their organizations’ objectives. Whether in an industry, public sector, or non-profit role, these leaders gain an edge through supplementing strong technical literacy with the ability to assess operational priorities and execute deliverables accordingly. In this class, students will sharpen their understanding of balance sheets and budgets; demystify key aspects of Information Technology infrastructure (intranets, cloud and on-premises computing, databases, security, etc.); delve into various organizational and divisional/departmental models, functions, and political positions; address the benefits and challenges of globalization and cross-cultural communication; and touch on an assortment of other relevant topics, including managing upward and workflow prioritization. Along the way, students will hone their strategic planning competencies and perspectives by putting all elements learned in this course together. Materials and assessments are geared toward application in relevant contexts.