COM1513 Assignment 1 (DETAILED ANSWERS) Semester 1 2026 - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED

COM1513 Assignment 1 (DETAILED ANSWERS) Semester 1 2026 - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED Answers, guidelines, workings and references.. s.. 1.1 Using the SABC case study and the accompanying news articles provided, identify and explain at least three (3) different communicative situations that occurred during the events described. For each of the three (3) situations, do the following: • Name the communicative situation. (3) • Describe the context in which each communicative situation occurred (include details such as the communicators involved, the situation in terms of time and space, and the directionality and degree of interaction of the communication). (12) • Explain the communicative situation’s role or motivation behind the communication at the SABC. (6) 1.2 Using your understanding of the transactional model of communication, explain how communication between different role players at the SABC (e.g. management, employees, In 2020, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), South Africa's public broadcaster, announced plans to restructure and retrench approximately 400 employees. This decision triggered a national outcry, internal protests and public debates about the role, responsibilities and leadership practices of the broadcaster. Many employees opposed the retrenchments, arguing that the decision-making process lacked transparency and adequate consultation. The crisis highlighted deep tensions between SABC leadership and staff and raised concerns about the erosion of the organisation's public service mandate in favour of corporate priorities. Articles to read: 4 unions and the public) during the restructuring crisis reflects this model. In your answer, do the following: • Briefly describe the key features of the transactional model (e.g. sender-receiver roles, feedback, noise, context). (5) • Identify at least two (2) examples from the SABC case study that demonstrate how this model applies. For each example identify the participants and messages that are sent, received and interpreted in the two-way process of transactional communication. (4) [30] AND QUESTION 2 Read the case study again and refer and answer the questions that follow: 2.1 Identify the type of organisation the SABC represents. Briefly explain your answer. (2) 2.2 List and describe any four (4) key stakeholders in such an enterprise/organisation. (8) 2.3 Propose an alternative type of business that you believe would better serve the public interest, deliver results and support economic growth. Explain (10) [20] AND QUESTION 3 Using the SABC case study as a contextual reference, Analyse the key difference between the transmission and transactional models of communication. Evaluate which model would be more effective for Gift of the Givers’ internal communication. Justify your answer. When answering this question, remember that public speeches, protest songs and oral testimony by workers reflect an Afrocentric tradition that values communal expression and oral communication, whereas a leadership style that seeks harmony and avoids direct confrontation could have led to more mediated hierarchical communication, such as quiet negotiations, reflects an Asiacentric tradition. In your answer, do the following: 3.1 Describe the key principles and approaches of each theory. (12) 3.2 Discuss how each theory might interpret or guide communication practices in the SABC restructuring scenario. (6) 3.3 Identify examples of three (3) different organisational communication channels that Gift of the Givers can use. For each example, explain how the chosen channel suits the specific message and stakeholder group. Provide two (2) practical examples from the case study that align with the values or assumptions of each theory. (2) [20] AND QUESTION Identify the type of organisation Gift of the Givers is. Discuss the various advantages and disadvantages of this type of organisation.4 Read the case study and articles provided in question 1 again and then answer the questions that follow. This case study provides an opportunity to apply the critical perspective in organisational communication, focusing on power dynamics, inequality, control, resistance and the role of ideology in shaping organisational practices. 4. In not more than 350 words, discuss how Gift of the Givers can used brand communication to encourage people to donate Using the critical perspective of organisational communication, write an essay in which you do the following: 4.1 Identify and explain how communication reflects power dynamics and resistance in the organisation. (10) 4.2 Analyse the ideological implications of the SABC’s restructuring. (6) 4.3 Gift of the Givers is a non-governmental organisation of African origin on the African Continent that works in different locations. With this in mind, propose a decolonial communication strategy that they can implement to integrate African epistemologies and languages into their organisational communication. Support your arguments with at least four (4) examples from the case study and the readings provided. (4)QUESTION 1 This question is based on the video about Organisational Communication published on YouTube by Professor Matthew Koschmann (2021): ( To access the video: • Press the control (Ctrl) button on your keypad • Use your mouse or touchpad to click on the link • The video should open in your internet browser 1.1. In the video, Prof Koschmann states that seeing organisations as communication is a more sophisticated approach to organisational communication. Do you agree with him or not? Why do you say so? Your answer should be between 100 and 200 words long. Please indicate your word count. [10] QUESTION 2 Read the case study below and answer the question that follows: Botho-Buntu is a luxury African-inspired street fashion line that incorporates African prints in its designs. Although this fashion line offers high-quality products with an African heritage that are good value for money, their fashion brand struggles to compete in the marketplace due to an influx of brand marketing communication messages. Botho-Buntu’s brand manager is considering creating a communication campaign that incorporates all 12 South African languages and/or 12 South African icons in the company’s upcoming fashion campaign. As a communication practitioner, you are requested to suggest whether they should incorporate all 12 South African languages, 12 South African icons or both. 1.2. Explain to the brand management team how they can employ design thinking as a process to create a memorable communication campaign. Use practical examples that link to the case study above to demonstrate your understanding. [10] 4 QUESTION 3 ‘The public sector in South Africa is distinctive based on a number of attributes’, according to your module outline. 3.1. Using the knowledge that you have acquired from study unit 4 and the above statement, discuss these various attributes. [10] QUESTION 4 4.1 Power is one of the five concepts that is considered when employing the critical approach to organisational communication. With this statement in mind: Using the critical approach to organisational communication, explain how power operates within an organisation. In your response, discuss how power can be used to maintain control and how it might be challenged. Provide a South African or African example to support your argument. [10] . 1.1 Using the SABC case study and the accompanying news articles provided, identify and explain at least three (3) different communicative situations that occurred during the events described. For each of the three (3) situations, do the following: • Name the communicative situation. (3) • Describe the context in which each communicative situation occurred (include details such as the communicators involved, the situation in terms of time and space, and the directionality and degree of interaction of the communication). (12) • Explain the communicative situation’s role or motivation behind the communication at the SABC. (6) 1.2 Using your understanding of the transactional model of communication, explain how communication between different role players at the SABC (e.g. management, employees, In 2020, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), South Africa's public broadcaster, announced plans to restructure and retrench approximately 400 employees. This decision triggered a national outcry, internal protests and public debates about the role, responsibilities and leadership practices of the broadcaster. Many employees opposed the retrenchments, arguing that the decision-making process lacked transparency and adequate consultation. The crisis highlighted deep tensions between SABC leadership and staff and raised concerns about the erosion of the organisation's public service mandate in favour of corporate priorities. Articles to read: 4 unions and the public) during the restructuring crisis reflects this model. In your answer, do the following: • Briefly describe the key features of the transactional model (e.g. sender-receiver roles, feedback, noise, context). (5) • Identify at least two (2) examples from the SABC case study that demonstrate how this model applies. For each example identify the participants and messages that are sent, received and interpreted in the two-way process of transactional communication. (4) [30] AND QUESTION 2 Read the case study again and refer and answer the questions that follow: 2.1 Identify the type of organisation the SABC represents. Briefly explain your answer. (2) 2.2 List and describe any four (4) key stakeholders in such an enterprise/organisation. (8) 2.3 Propose an alternative type of business that you believe would better serve the public interest, deliver results and support economic growth. Explain (10) [20] AND QUESTION 3 Using the SABC case study as a contextual reference, Analyse the key difference between the transmission and transactional models of communication. Evaluate which model would be more effective for Gift of the Givers’ internal communication. Justify your answer. When answering this question, remember that public speeches, protest songs and oral testimony by workers reflect an Afrocentric tradition that values communal expression and oral communication, whereas a leadership style that seeks harmony and avoids direct confrontation could have led to more mediated hierarchical communication, such as quiet negotiations, reflects an Asiacentric tradition. In your answer, do the following: 3.1 Describe the key principles and approaches of each theory. (12) 3.2 Discuss how each theory might interpret or guide communication practices in the SABC restructuring scenario. (6) 3.3 Identify examples of three (3) different organisational communication channels that Gift of the Givers can use. For each example, explain how the chosen channel suits the specific message and stakeholder group. Provide two (2) practical examples from the case study that align with the values or assumptions of each theory. (2) [20] AND QUESTION Identify the type of organisation Gift of the Givers is. Discuss the various advantages and disadvantages of this type of organisation.4 Read the case study and articles provided in question 1 again and then answer the questions that follow. This case study provides an opportunity to apply the critical perspective in organisational communication, focusing on power dynamics, inequality, control, resistance and the role of ideology in shaping organisational practices. 4. In not more than 350 words, discuss how Gift of the Givers can used brand communication to encourage people to donate Using the critical perspective of organisational communication, write an essay in which you do the following: 4.1 Identify and explain how communication reflects power dynamics and resistance in the organisation. (10) 4.2 Analyse the ideological implications of the SABC’s restructuring. (6) 4.3 Gift of the Givers is a non-governmental organisation of African origin on the African Continent that works in different locations. With this in mind, propose a decolonial communication strategy that they can implement to integrate African epistemologies and languages into their organisational communication. Support your arguments with at least four (4) examples from the case study and the readings provided. (4)QUESTION 1 This question is based on the video about Organisational Communication published on YouTube by Professor Matthew Koschmann (2021): ( To access the video: • Press the control (Ctrl) button on your keypad • Use your mouse or touchpad to click on the link • The video should open in your internet browser 1.1. In the video, Prof Koschmann states that seeing organisations as communication is a more sophisticated approach to organisational communication. Do you agree with him or not? Why do you say so? Your answer should be between 100 and 200 words long. Please indicate your word count. [10] QUESTION 2 Read the case study below and answer the question that follows: Botho-Buntu is a luxury African-inspired street fashion line that incorporates African prints in its designs. Although this fashion line offers high-quality products with an African heritage that are good value for money, their fashion brand struggles to compete in the marketplace due to an influx of brand marketing communication messages. Botho-Buntu’s brand manager is considering creating a communication campaign that incorporates all 12 South African languages and/or 12 South African icons in the company’s upcoming fashion campaign. As a communication practitioner, you are requested to suggest whether they should incorporate all 12 South African languages, 12 South African icons or both. 1.2. Explain to the brand management team how they can employ design thinking as a process to create a memorable communication campaign. Use practical examples that link to the case study above to demonstrate your understanding. [10] 4 QUESTION 3 ‘The public sector in South Africa is distinctive based on a number of attributes’, according to your module outline. 3.1. Using the knowledge that you have acquired from study unit 4 and the above statement, discuss these various attributes. [10] QUESTION 4 4.1 Power is one of the five concepts that is considered when employing the critical approach to organisational communication. With this statement in mind: Using the critical approach to organisational communication, explain how power operates within an organisation. In your response, discuss how power can be used to maintain control and how it might be challenged. Provide a South African or African example to support your argument. [10]