UNIT ONE Theoretical Foundations CHAPTER ONE Introduction to Organizational Constructs.

UNIT ONEUNIT ONETheoretical FoundationsTheoretical Foundations

CHAPTER ONECHAPTER ONE

Introduction to Introduction to Organizational ConstructsOrganizational Constructs

Preface

According to Modaff & DeWine, organizational life is characterized by what?– misunderstandings

What are the Textbook Assumptions?– Previous course in communication– Purpose of course is to familiarize students with the

basic elements of the field of organizational communication.

– Students will cover methodological and philosophical orientations in more depth in an advanced course (COM 525)

Preface

What the textbook is NOT about . . . – External organizational communication (“public relations”)– Macro-organizational communication (organizational memory,

lifespan) What the textbook IS about . . .

– Internal communication– Organizing issues (organizational behavior level)– Introduce basic concepts

• Foundations of the discipline• Current state of theory and practice

– Deal with misunderstandings– Central organizing feature of textbook:

MISUNDERSTANDINGS

Textbook LayoutPart One: Foundations

Chapter 1: Introduction (ethics & diversity) Chapter 2: Classical Management Theories (prescriptive) Chapter 3: Human Relations & Human Resource Theories Chapter 4: Systems Theory - Learning Organizations

(analytical framework) Chapter 5: Organizational Culture & Critical Theories Chapter 6: The Communicative Organization

– Misunderstanding will occur - organizations should be prepared.– Can misunderstandings be resolved?– Does organization need to learn to “live with the issues?”

Part Two: Challenges & Misunderstandings

ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES Chapter 7: Realistic Recruitment Chapter 8: Socialization of Organizational Members Chapter 9: Conflict in the Organization

RELATIONAL CHALLENGES Chapter 10: Supervisor/Subordinate Communication Chapter 11: Peer and Co-worker Communication Chapter 12: Team Communication Chapter 13: Impact of Technology on Communication

Chapter One: Introduction

PREVIEW Define the Study and Practice of Organizational

Communication Establish the Prevalence of Misunderstandings Discuss the Changing Nature of Organizations Present the Realities of a Diverse Workforce Identify Ethical Organizational Frameworks Introduction of Three Important Constructs

– Organizational Identification– Job Satisfaction– Communication Satisfaction

Organizational CommunicationDEFINED

Organizational Communication Definitions - Handout “Communication is the basis for the way in which an organization

functions” Communication plays a critical role in most every aspect of

organizational life A business is a group of people organized around a common goal Organization - Greek origins

– Organon - “tool” or “instrument”– Communication is both the means by which the tool or instrument (the

organization) is created and sustained and the prime coordinating mechanism for activity designed to attain personal and organizational goals.

Organizational CommunicationDEFINED

“…the process of creating, exchanging, interpreting (correctly or incorrectly), and storing messages within a system of human interrelationships.”

“…the exchange of oral, nonverbal, and written messages within (and across the boundaries of) a system of interrelated and interdependent people working to accomplish common tasks and goals within an organization.”

MESSAGE-CENTERED DEFINITION

Messages

“…nonrandom verbal symbolizations.”

“…a use of language (written or spoken) that the recipient interprets as having been created intentionally.”

Assumptions and Features of Organizational Communication

Communication is central to the existence of the organization

Organizational communication is a complex process (creating, exchanging, interpreting, and storing messages)

Misunderstandings occur

Sample Research Topics in Organizational Communication

Information Dissemination / Message Flow Relationship Creation, Maintenance, and Termination Process of Organizing Message Privilege and Power Optimal Information (overload, underload) Effective Channels Impact of Technology Workplace Democracy Influence of Organizational Structure Team Interaction Organizational Culture

Common Themes in Organizational Communication

“The use of language as a symbolic means of inducing cooperation in beings that by nature respond to symbols, constitutes our disciplinary foundation . . . A concern with collective action, agency, messages, symbols, and discourse.”

Mumby & Stohl

How messages are sent and understood through the use of language, forms the basis of communication in general and organizational communication specifically.

Organizational Communication: What’s in it for You?

Better equipped to address contemporary workplace issues.– Development of a temporary workforce– Implementation of teams– Adoption of new technologies– Multiculturalism

Trained to focus on the complex and collaborative nature of communicating, organizing and knowing.

Organizational Communication: What’s in it for You?

More articulate about ideas.

Understand the task of organizing individuals, groups, projects, and thoughts.

Knowing/Learning how to learn.

Prevalence of Misunderstandings

Paradigms More levels of hierarchy More work teams with more members Cultural, age, sex, gender, religious, and value

differences Power struggles Sub- and counter organizational cultures Competition for scarce resources Impersonal communication media

Impersonal Communication MediaImpersonal Communication Media

Misunderstandings“Instances in which people who are communicating

don’t share meanings as well as situations in which features of organizational life serve to impinge upon the efficient and effective functioning of organizational members.”

Highlights the central nature of communication.

Case study example: page 7.

Changing Nature of Organizations

Shift from . . . hierarchical (tall) to decentralized (flat)

structures climate of authority (control) to climate of

coaching (support through performance feedback)

analog to digital (computerized information technology)

regional or national competition to global competition

Realities of Diverse Workforce

“Diversity in the workplace encompasses a variety of personal and social bases of identity, including race-ethnicity, gender, age, socio-economic status, and country of origin.”

Brenda Allen

Diversity must be seen as a positive characteristic of the work environment

Ethical Frameworks and Organizational Communication

Must be defined within the unique culture of a particular organizational environment. (???)

“There is something inherently present in any modern organization that facilitates unethical or immoral conduct”

W. Charles Redding

Kreps’ Ethical Guidelines

Organization members should not intentionally deceive one another. (Trust)

Organization members’ communication should not purposely harm any other organization member or members of the organization’s relevant environment. (Do No Harm)

Organization members should be treated justly (Justice)

Cheney & TompkinsFour Guidelines for Ethical BehaviorFour Guidelines for Ethical Behavior

Guardedness - critically assess messages Accessibility - be open to new ideas

Nonviolence - consider multiple options

Empathy - genuinely listen and respect

Three Important ConstructsThree Important Constructs Organizational Identification (process & product)

– An active process by which individuals link themselves to elements (people, policies, products, services, customers, values) in the social scene.

– Involves an individual’s sense of membership in and connection with an organization.

Job Satisfaction– The degree to which employees feel fulfilled by their job and

related experiences.– A pleasurable or positive emotional state from the appraisal of

one’s job or experiences – Linked to absenteeism and turnover

Communication Satisfaction– The degree to which employees feel that communication is

appropriate and satisfies their need for information and work relationships

Communication Satisfaction (CSQ)Communication Satisfaction (CSQ) “Overall degree of satisfaction an employee perceived in his [sic]

total communication environment.”

Eight Factors concerned with communication information, relationships, channels, and climate

– Communication Climate– Relationship to Superiors– Organizational Integration– Media Quality– Horizontal and Informal Communication– Organizational Perspective– Relationship with Subordinates– Personal Feedback

Communication satisfaction is often considered the “sum” of an individual’s satsifaction with the above dimensions.

Summary

Define the Study and Practice of Organizational Communication

Establish the Prevalence of Misunderstandings Discuss the Changing Nature of Organizations Present the Realities of a Diverse Workforce Identify Ethical Organizational Frameworks Introduction of Three Important Constructs

– Organizational Identification– Job Satisfaction– Communication Satisfaction

Summary Organizational communication is the process of creating,

exchanging, interpreting (correctly or incorrectly), and storing messages within a system of human interrelationships.

The study of organizational communication helps people understand and appreciate communication as the central process in the organization.

Goal is to reduce misunderstandings through communication.

For Thursday, Read Chapter 2 (Classical Theories of Organizations)– Taylor’s Theory of Scientific Management– Fayol’s Administrative Theory– Weber’s Theory of Bureaucracy