Organizational Communication

Metaphor for Classical Approaches

"COMMUNICATION AS A MACHINE." -specialization -predictability -standardization

Principles of Management (6)

"How" -Scalar Chain (vertical heirachy) -Unity of Command (one supervisor) -Unity of Direction (similar goals) -Division of Labor (specialization) -Order (appointed place and task) -Span of control (managers+small employment)

Machine Metaphor

"organization as a machine." 1. specialization 2. standardization 3. predictibility

Taylor's Theory of Scientific Management

-How can we be more efficient? -What came be piecework pay? *workers trained as apprentice-not standardize *led to rate busting (overachiever) and systematic soldiering (minimum work)

Taylor's Time and Motion Theory:

meant work would be fair (for owner), get rid of systematic soldiering (social pressure to keep productivity down and wages up) and rate busting

middle of the road

middle concern for people and productivity

Human Resources

movement away from purely mechanistic view; limited empirical basis for research, however long lasting application

participative

not manager, but the employees make the decision (human resource)

Transmission view

organizational communication involving messages (communication) within organizations. --practical view--

Constitutive

organizational communication involving organizations (molding) as communication --complex view--

Systematic soldiering

rate busting and the system of piecework pay (too much product, not enough demand, lower prices)

Prescriptive Theory

rather than descriptive or explanatory; Fayol does not adequately explain the ways in which organizations actually function

Organization

shared vision, goal, beliefs and values, brings order and structure

consultative

leader makes decisions, but consults with workers/employees (human resources)

McGregor's Theory X&Y

X= negative elements (control workers) Y= positive elements (rewards, responsibility, opportunity) - more effective

1. exploitative authoritative

-most productivity -less pay (classical)

critical features of organization

??????? find out answer

Centralization

centralization of decision-making power

Demographics

statistical descriptions of characteristics of a population, such as age. race, income, educational attainment. -describe how we organize, communicate, and address critical problems -changing demographic creates new challenges for organizational communication and influence the organizational experience of individuals.-> results in multicultural workplaces, workers with increasing responsibilites, longer commutes, who tellecomutes.

Likert System IV

systems of leadership

Implications of Classical Approaches

*Feedback is not a given (Fayol) *Hierarchy persists (Fayol & Weber) *Task specialization is more sophisticated

Fayol's "how" principles

*Structure -strictly vertical -unity of command (1 supervisor) -division of labor (chain of work) *Power -centralization (CEO, UP) -Authority/Discipline *Reward *Attitude

communication in Human Resources

*content (employee input) *direction (top/down;side/side/all) *channel (informal, formal; all) *style (change structure of the organization)

Henri Fayol's Theory of Classical Management

*elements and principles of management; emphasis placed on coordination and control -"what" management must do -"how" management must do it

3 things needed for implementing human resources

*subordinates who want to be involved *superiors open and willing to take advice *make decisions that are important to us

Taylor's Key Assumptions

*there is a "best" way to do X task *worker selection is critical *training improves efficiency *task differentiation improves efficiency (specialization)

Weber's 3 types of authority

*traditional: traditions and costumes are valued *charismatic: rule by personality *rational-legal: reason law, rules, are valued. not personified by a kind but a bureaucracy (Weber's preferred)

Climate change

-can be attributed to the activities of individuals and organizations. -factors of Industrial Revolution -debate on what to do about it

Role of Communication in Classical Approaches

-communication is task driven -communication flows from top of organization downward (Fayol) -little feedback is given is possible -communication is highly formalized within classical view

benevolent authoritative

-nice management but still respected (classical)

Weber's Notion of Bureaucracy

-organizations should be rational -process is favored over product -emphasis on how work is done

HR for Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

-to understand human motivations *what would motivate them to work harder - his system is one of prepotency (consecutive levels of achievement)

Reddings (5) Organizational Attributes

1. interdependence 2. specialization 3. goal orientation 4. hierarchy 5. Control Mechanisms

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

1. self actualization (goal) 2. esteem needs 3. affiliation needs 4. safety needs 5. physiological needs (most important)

Millers (4) organizational Features

1. social collectivity 2. goals 3. coordinating activity 4. structure

Vertical Flow of Info

Communication which flows along the scalar chain of the organizational hierarchy from those at the top of the chain to those at the bottom

Blake & Moutan's Managerial Grid

Concern for people/concern for productivity

Outsourcing

Contracting with an outside company to provide a service or product instead of providing it from within the organization.

When you hear Classical Approaches... THINK...

EFFICIENCY

The Challenges of Globalizations:

Economic, Messages, Relationships, and Systems of Understanding

constitutive model

Elements of communication are reflexively constituted and that are part of an on-going process that symbolically forms and reforms meaningful objects and events

Theory of Classical management

Henri Fayol's theory that have been influential are his consideration of the elements of management and principles of managementm which both concern the managerial funcioning of organizing. "What" and "How."

Theory of Scientific Management

Frederick Taylor -concentrates on the "micro" level of organizational functioning: the relationship between manager and employee and the control of the individual at work

Globalization

Global Economy which transportation and as telecommunication systems improve, the world becomes more connected on a personal and organizational level.

Fayol's "what" element

Managers should -plan -command -control -organize -coordinate

Theory of Bureaucracy

Max Weber -provides prescriptions to managers about how organizations should be run -believed bureaucratic organizations would eventually dominate society b/c of their technical superiority -clearly defined heirachy -division of labor -centralization

domains of communication theory

Seven domains proposed by Craig that provide different ways of thinking about organizational communication. 1. Rhetorical 2. Semiotic 3. Phenomenological 4. Cybernetic 5. Socio-psychological 6. Socio-culture 7. Critical

Task-related comm innovation-related comm maintenance-related comm

Task: task and work Inno: comm about new ideas main: comm on social topics that maintains human relationships.

Terrorism/ War on Terror

Terrorism: A set of strategies that involve the use of unpredictable violence against individuals creating ongoing fear and suspicion. How do terrorist network/recruit? Complex political negotiations with a wide range of government entities organizational rhetoric to connect institutional goals.

Elements of Management (5)

The What: -planning -organizing -command -coordination -control

Channels of Communication

The means by which a message is transmitted. In the classical approach, written channel of communication is the most likely means by which a message is transmitted.

Traditional Authority Charismatic Authority Rational-legal Authority

Traditional: Legitimate Authority Charismatic: personality, attractiveness Rational-legal: rules, info, expertise

Ideal Type Theory

Weber's theory termed as "Ideal Type" -does not advocate particular organizational form as best but rather lays out the features of an idealized organization

Homeland Security

a problem of organizational communication; "an ongoing construction project that builds upon philosophy and strategy to ensure effective organization, establish rules and procedures, deploy new technology , and educate a vast army of federal agents and citizens."

transmission model

analogy that communication looks exactly like transportation, assumes that all communication operates like interpersonal communication, assumes a relatively direct relationship to source. The problem is that the receiver does always take away what you transfer (i.e. the game of telephone)

Closed Systems

bureaucracies are relatively closed systems- it will shut itself off from influences of the outside environment b/c environmental interruptions could hamper its smooth functioning.

Communication

interaction, shared meaning, behavior, non-verbal and verbal

authority/compliance

low concern for people and high for productivity

impoverished

low concern for people and productivity

Requisite variety

concept suggests that successful organizations and groups need to be as "complicated" as the problems that confront them

classical approaches

connected to industrial and rise of mercantilism

time and motion

determining the most time-efficient way to accomplish the task at hand then proper selection of workers and training workers

country club manager

high concern for people and low productivity

team leadership***

high concern for people and productivity

Style of Communication

highly formal (avoid slang) separate managers from employees classical organization and maybe nonverbal communication such as attire

Human resources theory

if you satisfy workers needs there will be more efficient production

Generational cohorts

indicate similarities in birth year and associated similarities in experience