Media Use in Organizational Contexts - Period 5+6

In this course, students will investigate how people in organizations use different modes of (online) communication to communicate internally, or externally with stakeholder groups (for example, customers). Making use of ethnographic research methods, students will explore how (online) media are being used within organizations (to communicate with colleagues) and towards stakeholders. Questions concerning positive and negative consequences of (online) media use will be addressed. The common denominator is that students will study these phenomena in actual organizations, by approaching actual participants involved, and by making use of ethnographic research methods such as observations and interviews.

Because research topics will vary, research literature may vary as well. Students will be encouraged to find relevant literature themselves. General theoretical background will be provided in a variety of approaches, but will contain introductions in computer-mediated communication theories and ethnographic field work.

Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.