Postdoctoral Lecturer in Communications Elizabeth Petre contributed this post.
On April 22, 135 Washington University students participated in the final stage of the Management Communication Client Project (MCCP): the Showcase Finale Event held in May Auditorium. The event featured seven student teams that presented final recommendations to clients on a real-world communications issue. Students enrolled in MGT201 devoted hours to working on a key communications issue for the following St. Louis cultural institutions: the Gateway Festival Orchestra of St. Louis, the Arts and Education Council of St. Louis, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the Missouri History Museum, the St. Louis Science Center, Grand Center Inc., and the City Museum. The students’ presentations helped the organizations understand the scope of th
e communications issue, and provided creative recommendations for the organizations to adopt.
As the newest semester-length project in the course, the MCCP provides real-world context for student teams to interact with actual clients on a current communications issue. At the beginning of the semester, each section of MGT201 is assigned one Course Client who identifies a communications issue that the organization is facing. Student teams then evaluate and research the issue throughout the semester, with one team selected to represent the class at the Showcase Finale Event. Students have the opportunity to work with corporate clients during the fall semester, and St. Louis cultural institutions during the spring semester. The MCCP is designed to enhance students’ communication skills by having student teams research the communicative context each organization is operating in, and develop ways to effectively move their client to act on the proposed recommendations.
MGT201 professor Linda Buhr and I enjoyed working with students and clients through the MCCP as a way to foster connections between the University and the St. Louis community. The Showcase Finale Event represented the culmination of the students’ efforts throughout the semester, and we look forward to welcoming a new group of MGT201 students and clients in the fall.
