Post on 14-Dec-2015
Communication In Our Lives, Fifth EditionCommunication In Our Lives, Fifth Editionby Julia T. Woodsby Julia T. Woods
Chapter 12Chapter 12
Communication in Communication in OrganizationsOrganizationsCommunication in Communication in OrganizationsOrganizations
Key Organizational Communication FeaturesKey Organizational Communication Features
StructureStructure provides predictabilityprovides predictability chain of command, hierarchychain of command, hierarchy
Communication networksCommunication networks formal and informal links between formal and informal links between
members of organizations members of organizations virtual networksvirtual networks
Key Features (cont’d)Key Features (cont’d)
Links to external environmentsLinks to external environments systems in which organizations exist systems in which organizations exist
influence communication in influence communication in organizations organizations
Organizational CultureOrganizational Culture Ways of thinking, acting, and Ways of thinking, acting, and
understanding work that are understanding work that are shared by members of an shared by members of an organization and that reflect an organization and that reflect an organization’s distinct identity organization’s distinct identity
Conveying Organizational CultureConveying Organizational Culture VocabularyVocabulary
StoriesStories
Rites and ritualsRites and rituals
StructuresStructures
VocabularyVocabulary
Hierarchical languageHierarchical language distinguishes levels of status among distinguishes levels of status among
membersmembers Mr., Mrs., Sir, Ma’am, professor, Dr., etc.Mr., Mrs., Sir, Ma’am, professor, Dr., etc.
Masculine languageMasculine language related to men’s traditional interests related to men’s traditional interests
and experiencesand experiences homerun, ballpark estimate, plan of attack, get homerun, ballpark estimate, plan of attack, get
the big guns, etc.the big guns, etc.
Rites and RitualsRites and Rituals
RitesRites dramatic, planned sets of activities dramatic, planned sets of activities
that bring together aspects of an that bring together aspects of an organization’s culture in a single eventorganization’s culture in a single event
Rites of passageRites of passage Rites of integrationRites of integration Blaming ritesBlaming rites Enhancement ritesEnhancement rites Renewal ritesRenewal rites Conflict resolution ritesConflict resolution rites
Rites and Rituals (cont’d)Rites and Rituals (cont’d)
RitualsRituals repeated communication performances repeated communication performances
that communicate a particular value or that communicate a particular value or role definition role definition
Personal ritualsPersonal rituals Social ritualsSocial rituals Task ritualsTask rituals
StructuresStructures
RolesRoles responsibilities and behaviors responsibilities and behaviors
expected of people because of their expected of people because of their specific positions specific positions
RulesRules formal or informal patterned ways of formal or informal patterned ways of
interactinginteracting ConstitutiveConstitutive RegulativeRegulative
Structures (cont’d)Structures (cont’d)
PoliciesPolicies formal statements of practices that formal statements of practices that
reflect and uphold the overall culture reflect and uphold the overall culture of an organization of an organization
Communication networksCommunication networks links formed through formal and links formed through formal and
informal forms of interaction and informal forms of interaction and relationship relationship grapevinegrapevine
Communication GuidelinesCommunication Guidelines Adapt to diverse needs, Adapt to diverse needs,
situations, and peoplesituations, and people
Expect to move in and out of Expect to move in and out of teamsteams
Manage personal relationships Manage personal relationships on the jobon the job
WebsitesWebsites
BNET Business NetworkBNET Business Network Free articles on a multitude of business topicsFree articles on a multitude of business topics
Entrepreneur.comEntrepreneur.com Online Magazine Online Magazine
Blackwell SynergyBlackwell Synergy Journal of Computer-Mediated CommunicationJournal of Computer-Mediated Communication