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.

StoriesStories

CorporateCorporate

PersonalPersonal

CollegialCollegial

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

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