Organizational Communication

Upward communication

(Subcategory of vertical spread) Subordinate to superior Ex: server communicates to CEO- complaint, ask for time-off

Downward communication

(Subcategory of vertical spread) Superior to subordinate Includes managerial communication and leadership Ex: CEO to server- evaluation, promotion, change responsibilities/duties

4 Key points of an Organization

-Unified goals influence roles -Roles influence structure -Structure influences expectations, communication and behavior -behavior results in outcomes

What is network analysis useful for?

-changing formal organizational structure -diagnosing need for personal or interpersonal interventions (improvement) -identifying key people and their roles

What can one study with the Network Perspective?

-communication network -or networks that are produced and maintained by communication. for example: social network, knowledge network

Discursive perspective: when you belong to an organization, pay attention to its:

-goals (stated and unstated) -roles (formal and informal) -structure (rules and resource allocation) -culture (shared values and beliefs that influence how members behave)

The Three Perspectives of Organizational Communication

1) Organizational Features perspective 2) Network Perspective 3) Discursive Perspective

Discursive Perspective (two key points)

1) Organizations emerge and diminish through communication 2) Communication creating structure --> communication creates behavioral structures (e.g. what's acceptable, unacceptable, safe, risky, desirable, undesirable, etc. for members of this organization) --> communication is not always verbal, can be through all different types

Organization

A relatively large group of people coordinating their activities for some purpose ex: McDonalds, Apple, County Market, Bass Pro Shop What purpose does your organization serve?

What is the Network Perspective? (one sentence)

A visual depiction of relationships (based on communication) that affect organizing; who talks to who in an organization

Discursive Perspective

How communication makes organizations and organizing possible

Organizational Features Perspective (one sentence)

How features of organizations affect communication processes

Vertical spread

Levels in the organization's hierarchy --> CEO to mail clerk

Difference between liaison and bridge/broker

Liaison: connects but isn't in a clique Bridge: connects and IS in a clique

Network roles: liaison, isolate, bridge/broker

Liaison: person who connects 2+ cliques but doesn't belong to any Isolate: has few or no links, someone with no connections bc they are new to organization or an outsider Bridge/broker: member of 1 clique who links to another clique

The network perspective: links and cliques

Links: connections (Becca talks to Jill) Cliques: (departments, more than 2 people) a tight cluster of nodes within a larger network (6 people who are very close, 10 people here, 8 people there)

Potential problem of vertical spread

Mum effect: employees will often suppress complaints because they don't want to complain to boss

Discursive Perspective key point

Organizations are communicative constructions because communication is the very foundation upon which organizational life is built. -emphasis on how communication constructs the process of organizing

Horizontal spread

Parts of the organization differentiated by specialized responsibilities (Different departments communicating) -how do organizations communicate unilaterally?

Geographic spread

Physical distance between parts of the organization