Organizational Communication

by Zaremba, Alan Jay

• ISBN13: 9780195379044
• ISBN10: 0195379047
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-12-14
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Organizational Communication, Third Edition, provides a lively, engaging overview of the principles and practices of organizational communication. Using familiar, real-world examples and interviews with actual practitioners that help students connect theory to practice, Alan Jay Zaremba illuminates themes of systems, culture, power, and skills and demonstrates how they relate to organizational communication and organizational communicators. Fully updated and revised throughout, the third edition features: * Expanded treatment of theoretical foundations * Greater focus on how gender, culture, diversity, globalization, and power impact communication networks * Streamlined coverage of written and oral communications * Substantially updated discussions of intercultural communication; crisis communication; communication auditing; emerging careers for organizational communication practitioners; new technologies; social networking; and ethical issues (with more emphasis on feminist perspectives) Highly accessible and student-friendly, Organizational Communication also offers more illustrations, hands-on practice, and pedagogical features than any other text in its market: * "Case Studies" boxes open each chapter with relevant, real-world scenarios of organizational communication. Questions at the end of each box get students making connections. * "Practitioner Perspectives" boxes--found at the end of each chapter--present interviews with women and men in many roles in different organizations. * "Ethical Probes" boxes ask students to consider moral problems and respond to questions about organizational communication issues. * "Apply the Principles" boxes challenge students to apply principles to a potentially pressing situation. * Extensive review features include the opening "Chapter in a Nutshell," summary "Toolboxes," and varied exercises that encourage group and role play. Featuring a thoughtful balance of theory and practice, Organizational Communication, Third Edition, provides students with the skills necessary to succeed in a world where communication forms the basis of all organizational activity.

Author Biography

Alan Jay Zaremba is Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Northeastern University.

Table of Contents

Preface

Foundations

Organizational Communication: An Introduction

Communicating with Chuck

Communication and Organizational Success

Communication is Central

Communication is a Pervasive Activity

Organizational Communication is Multidimensional

Misconceptions about Organizational Communication

Defining Terms

Defining Factors: Skill, Networks, Culture, and Power

Text Features

Practitioner Perspective: Craig Ingraham, Vice President and Senior Counsel

Management Theory and Organizational Communication

Communicating to a New Staff

Demystifying Theories

Symbiotic Theory: What is Symbiosis and Symbiotic Theory?

Classical Theory of Management

The Hawthorne Studies

Theory X and Theory Y

Practitioner Perspective: Duane Vild, Complex Warden for State of Arizona Department of Corrections

Bureau Administrator, Department of Corrections

Theoretical Foundations: Systems, Culture, and Power

Sales Department, Service Department, and Customers Background

Systems Theory

Cultural Theory

Critical Theory

Applying Symbiotic Theory

Practitioner Perspective: Robert Peterkin, Former School Superintendent

Ethics and Organizational Communication

Lying to Rachel Adams

Examining Ethics

Ethical Decisions and Organizational Communication

Is Honesty Overrated?

The Normalization of Deviance

Moral Conflict

Strategic Ambiguity

Assessing Attitudes toward Ethical Communication

Making Ethical Decisions

Practitioner Perspective: Victoria Kohlasch, Managing Director of Marketing

COMMUNICATION IN A COMPLEX SYSTEM

Managing Information

Communicating Tasks, Policy, Recognition, and Culture

Information and Organizations

Selecting Media Options

Social Media

Knowledge Management

Human Needs: The Human Moment

Information Needs and Selecting Media: A Recap

Practitioner Perspective: Gordon Rudow, CEO

Communication Networks

Internet Development, CCS, and Customers

What are Communication Networks?

Types of Communication Networks

Location: External and Internal networks

Formality: Formal and Informal networks

Direction: Upward, Downward and Horizontal networks

Practitioner Perspective: Mike Armani, Vice President for Marketing and Communication

Culture, Climate, and Organizational Communication

The Elan Corporation

Climate and Culture

Organizational Culture

Relationship between Climate and Culture

Culture, Communication, and Assimilation

Leadership

Emotional Intelligence

Conclusion: Credibility and Human Values

Practitioner Perspective: Governor Michael Dukakis

Meetings and Teams: Conflicts and Interventions

Gerald Sweeney and the Regular Wednesday Meetings

The Phenomenon of Meetings

Primary and Secondary Tension

Counterproductive Group Tendencies

Interventions

Making Interventions Work

Practitioner Perspective: Gail Hunter, Vice President in Events and Attractions, National Basketball Association

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

Intercultural Communication and the Organization

Rando Systems Expands Internationally

Why Study Intercultural Communication?

What Do We Mean by Culture?

Intercultural Communication in Organizational Contexts

Practitioner Perspective: Steve MacLeod, Senior Vice President

Crisis Communication

The Nuance Group

Organizations and Crisis Communication

Crisis Communication Planning

Proactive Crisis Communication

Steps to Crisis Communication Planning

Image Restoration Theory

Recurring Counsel for Crisis Communicators

Practitioner Perspective: Jason Vines, Vice President for Communication

Assessing Organizational Communication Quality

STIG: Perspectives of a Staffer

What is a Communication Audit?

Audit Qualities and Components

Reporting Results

Practitioner Perspective: Angela Sinickas, Founder and President

Careers in Organizational Communication

What Can I Do With This?

Communication as Critical to Success

What Jobs Are Available?

Preparing for the Job Market

Practitioner Perspective: Marcia Meislin: Owner

Notes

Credits

Index

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