Organizational Communication

Description

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.

Table of Contents

Each Chapter opens with a "Chapter in a Nutshell" summary. Each Chapter ends with "Summary: A Toolbox," Review and Discussion Questions, and Group/Role Play exercises.

Preface

PART 1: FOUNDATIONS

Chapter 1. Organizational Communication: An Introduction
Case 1.1: 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

Chapter 2. Management Theory and Organizational Communication
Case 2.1: 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

Chapter 3. Theoretical Foundations: Systems, Culture, and Power
Case 3.1: Sales Department, Service Department, and Customers Background
Systems Theory
Cultural Theory
Critical Theory
Applying Symbiotic Theory
Practitioner Perspective: Robert Peterkin, Former School Superintendent

Chapter 4. Ethics and Organizational Communication
Case 4.1: 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

PART 2: COMMUNICATION IN A COMPLEX SYSTEM

Chapter 5. Managing Information
Case 5.1: 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

Chapter 6. Communication Networks
Case 6.1: 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

Chapter 7. Culture, Climate, and Organizational Communication
Case 7.1: 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

Chapter 8. Meetings and Teams: Conflicts and Interventions
Case 8.1: 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

PART 3: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

Chapter 9. Intercultural Communication and the Organization
Case 9.1: 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

Chapter 10. Crisis Communication
Case 10.1: 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

Chapter 11. Assessing Organizational Communication Quality
Case 11.1: STIG: Perspectives of a Staffer
What is a Communication Audit?
Audit Qualities and Components
Reporting Results
Practitioner Perspective: Angela Sinickas, Founder and President

Chapter 12. Careers in Organizational Communication
Case 12.1: 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