Hall of Fame

The "Hall of Fame" documents the best practices of students in the organizational communication program. The purpose of this page is two-fold. 1) To demonstrate how others have successfully and innovatively applied communication principles. 2) To provide recognition for those who have excelled. Enjoy!

Kristy Klopstein, Amy Mauk, Jennifer Turner, Molly Weber and Susan Zehren critiqued an actual decision making meeting. They did a wonderful job of systematically the group communication process. (Click here to see their paper.)
Adam Halfmann, Kelly Hannnu, Alicia Alvord, Nichole Zick, & Chad Stanek resolved a real time and difficult case. They were asked to manage the PR for a company that inadvertently produced contaminated dog food. The way they decided to manage the credibility issue was superior to the actual PR campaign launched by the company. (Click here to see their paper.)

Kristi Trampf, Michelle Missall, Mat Cole, and David Mauel resolved a very difficult case that dealt with communicating to employees about a new HSA health care plan. Their research was first rate and they made fantastic use of the "change iceberg" model. (Click here to see their paper.)
Sometimes you can make the Hall of Fame for a humorous and insightful class comment. Amber did just that by illustrating the "Cognitive Balancing" theory. Here was the dialogue:

Amber:   I like beer and I don't like being fat.
Prof. C: So what?
Amber: Unfortunately there is a connection between the two.
Prof C:   So what?
Amber:   I'm in an unbalanced state.
Prof. C: So in order to bring yourself into a state of balance, you need to do what?
Amber:   I need to be OK with being fat! (big smile)
Prof. C: Well.... that is certainly one alternative.

Mike Halbach, Peter Hofmeister, Justin Tiedemann, Kim Christel, Brett Jilot, and Nick Goddard pictured below in their "non-presentation attire" resolved a simulated crisis for the Milwaukee Brewers that involved some highly charged sexual allegations. (Click to see their crisis plan and report.)
Craig Roloff conducted a performance interview and drafted a report based on his experience that is first rate. The analysis is unusually insightful and extraordinarily well presented. (Click here to see the paper.)
Jennifer Busch, Amanda Hand, Sarah Pankratz, Leslie Schroeder, & Molly Soberg resolved a tricky case about how to deal with a possible edict by the federal government to put nutritional labels on wine. The group was particularly successful in creating congruencies between their problem analysis, strategy and tactics. (Click here to see their paper.)
A group of students conducted research on warning labels and presented it at the Undergraduate Research Conference at UWGB. (Click here to see their paper.)
Andy Long (Fall 03) was asked to assess the effectiveness of his "fishbowl group". His paper cleverly integrated a wonderful metaphor and insightful analysis. His methods were systematic and very persuasive. (Click here to see the paper.)
Mike Halbach (Fall 03) put together a wonderfully thorough appraisal interview guide/analysis for the Theories of the Interview class. (Click here to see his project.)
One group demonstrated their understanding of the Myers-Briggs Profile in this novel way. During a skit involving a meeting between the consultants and CEO, some members of the group held up unobtrusive signs during the discussion indicating how the consultants were appealing to the CEO’s Myers-Briggs typology.

One student acted as a "spokesperson" for a company during a mock news conference. Despite intense questioning from the "press", some of which was personal, she remained cool and presented the facts in a calm, professional manner. When she didn’t know the answer, she admitted it but promised to find out the answer.

A group composed of Jerome Allen, Gerry Hazen, Matt Swiatnicki, Sara Haemker and Melaine Resch developed a crisis management plan for the Hooters restaurant chain. They were presented with a crisis involving an interstate prostitution ring that was operating within the Hooters restaurant chain. “CEO” Allen calmly answered many difficult questions in the press conference, while “Legal Representative” Hazen logically defended the strategy in the question/answer session. The group managed the case so effectively that their case was “retired”. (See their abstract about the case.)