"This cutting-edge text offers us the intoxicating, panoramic perspective available if one studies the changing world of diverse organizations, and the great societal engine in which they exist, function, interact, and adapt, from a wide variety of vantage points." — Jocelyn Williams, Unitec Institute of Technology
"I sincerely appreciate the breadth and depth of the topics covered in the book. In my view, the depth, in particular, overcomes some of the critical shortcomings of other Org Comm books." —Jeremy Fyke, Marquette University
"Incredibly useful in that Cheney and colleagues cover a vast array of contemporary organizational communication issues and concepts with intricate detail and concern. I appreciate the perspective from which the book is written for it provides students with a thorough understanding of organizational communication in an accessible format." — Michael Sollitto, West Virginia University
515 pages, $79.95 list
1-57766-640-2
978-1-57766-640-0
© 2011
paperback
eBook availability
Similar Titles
Organizational Communication in an Age of Globalization
Issues, Reflections, Practices
Second Edition
The thought-provoking, timely second edition continues to offer a comprehensive, global perspective on organizational communication. The authors' multinational experience, consulting and teaching expertise, enthusiasm for their subject, and engaging style of writing create an inviting foundation for the exploration of this multifaceted topic. Each chapter demonstrates the practicality of theory and how practice contributes to the development of theory, while challenging readers to build on established knowledge to develop new approaches to the pressing problems in complex, multicultural organizations.
The text is organized topically around the most important issues in organizational communication. Five themes recur throughout the chapters: the interdependence of internal and external forms of organizational communication, the "disciplinarity" and multidisciplinarity of organizational communication, global and multicultural perspectives of organizational communication, the unity of theory and practice, and critical thinking in the analysis of organizational messages and discourses.
Discussions highlight language and symbolism. The authors weave analysis of the multiple levels of messages throughout the chapters; stimulate critical thinking about contemporary work and organizational life; approach the familiar as unfamiliar; ask probing questions about commonly accepted practices; and offer more imaginative ways of working together. Readers gain an appreciation for the social, political, economic, technological, and ideological contexts in organizations—and the place of organizations within the broader culture. The authors lead by example in encouraging readers to think about, talk about, and experience organizational communication in entirely new ways.
The text is organized topically around the most important issues in organizational communication. Five themes recur throughout the chapters: the interdependence of internal and external forms of organizational communication, the "disciplinarity" and multidisciplinarity of organizational communication, global and multicultural perspectives of organizational communication, the unity of theory and practice, and critical thinking in the analysis of organizational messages and discourses.
Discussions highlight language and symbolism. The authors weave analysis of the multiple levels of messages throughout the chapters; stimulate critical thinking about contemporary work and organizational life; approach the familiar as unfamiliar; ask probing questions about commonly accepted practices; and offer more imaginative ways of working together. Readers gain an appreciation for the social, political, economic, technological, and ideological contexts in organizations—and the place of organizations within the broader culture. The authors lead by example in encouraging readers to think about, talk about, and experience organizational communication in entirely new ways.
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1. Introduction
How We Think and Talk about Organizations / What Is Communication? / Why Theory? / Thinking Critically
2. Organizational Structure and Process
Defining Organizational Structures / Key Elements of Organizational Structure / Putting Structure and Process Together / Systems, Structures, and Processes / Bureaucracy: The Structure We Know Best and Like the Least / Searching for Alternative Organizational Structures / Emergent Structures and Self-Organizing Systems
3. Rationality, Decision Making, and (Ab)uses of Information
The Idea of Rationality / Making Management Systematic and Scientific / Decisions, Decisions / Models of Group Decision Making and Communication / Constructing Rationality / Organizational Goals and Ways to Achieve Them / From Rationality to Rationalities / Emotionality in Organizational Life
4. Culture, Subcultures, and Organizational Socialization
Defining Culture / Organizations as Cultures / Studying Culture / Culture and Communication in Organizations / On Doing Culture: Reproducing and Altering Culture
5. Communicating Identity Individually and Collectively
Defining Organizational Identity / Identity in Historical Context / Organizational Identification / Challenges to Organizational Identity / Managing Organizational Identity / Ironies and Paradoxes in Corporate Identity Management
6. Connecting through Social Relationships and Networks
Workplace Relationships / Communication Networks
7. Leadership Old and New: Direction, Coordination, Facilitation, and Inspiration
The Importance of Leadership / What Is Leadership? / The Confusion about Leadership / "Visions" of Leadership in Recent History / Characteristics of Contemporary Social Life and Their Implications for Leadership / Framing: Vision, Values, and Symbolism / Leadership Alternatives
8. Participation, Teams, and Democracy at Work
A Broad Democratic Trend? / Defining Our Terms / Employee Participation / Teamwork / Participation: Civil Society and Volunteerism / Democracy and Participation in Alternative Organizations / A Case for Consideration / Ironies, Paradoxes, and Limits of Work Participation and Democracy
9. Power and Control in Organizational Life
Encountering Power / Sources of Power / Getting a Handle on Power / Negotiating Power / Systems or Patterns of Control in the Organization / Resistance
10. Encountering, Interpreting, and Managing Conflict: Harmony and Discord in Organizational Life
The Nature of Conflict / Explaining Conflict / Sources of Conflict and Communication / Conflict as a Process / The Context of Conflict / Managing Conflict / Intergroup Conflict / Stress, Burnout, and Support / Interorganizational Conflict
11. Organizational Change and Change-Related Communication
What Is Change? / The Social-Historical Context of Change / A Model of the Change-Related Communication Process / Dimensions of Change / How Do We Judge the Success of Organizational Change? / Communicating and Managing Change Effectively / Strategies for Encouraging Innovation / Responding to Change Initiatives
12. The Meanings and Uses of Organizational Communication Technologies
Understanding Communication Technologies / Features of Communication Technologies / Using Communication Technologies / Interpreting the Effects of Organizational Communication Technologies / New Organizations?
13. Communicating in Global and Multicultural Contexts
Confronting and Defining Globalization / The Global and the Local (and in between) / Forces of Convergence / Expanding Our Ideas about Globalization / Intercultural Communication and Diversity in Organizations
14. Speaking of Ethics and Values in Organizations
Coming to Terms with Ethics / Why Ethical Reflections Matter / Ethics as a Contemporary Issue in the Communication of Organizations / Thinking about and across Different Ethical Perspectives / What Can Communication Add to Our Understanding of Ethics at Work? / Postmodern Challenges to Ethics / Organizational Culture and Ethics
15. Analyzing Organizational Communication
What's in "Communication"? / Dimensions of Organizational Messages / Language and Other Symbols / Some Purposes/Reasons for Analyses of Communication / Data Gathering / Data Analysis / Features of the Language Itself / Analyzing Discourse Strategies / Overall Research Orientations / Epilogue
How We Think and Talk about Organizations / What Is Communication? / Why Theory? / Thinking Critically
2. Organizational Structure and Process
Defining Organizational Structures / Key Elements of Organizational Structure / Putting Structure and Process Together / Systems, Structures, and Processes / Bureaucracy: The Structure We Know Best and Like the Least / Searching for Alternative Organizational Structures / Emergent Structures and Self-Organizing Systems
3. Rationality, Decision Making, and (Ab)uses of Information
The Idea of Rationality / Making Management Systematic and Scientific / Decisions, Decisions / Models of Group Decision Making and Communication / Constructing Rationality / Organizational Goals and Ways to Achieve Them / From Rationality to Rationalities / Emotionality in Organizational Life
4. Culture, Subcultures, and Organizational Socialization
Defining Culture / Organizations as Cultures / Studying Culture / Culture and Communication in Organizations / On Doing Culture: Reproducing and Altering Culture
5. Communicating Identity Individually and Collectively
Defining Organizational Identity / Identity in Historical Context / Organizational Identification / Challenges to Organizational Identity / Managing Organizational Identity / Ironies and Paradoxes in Corporate Identity Management
6. Connecting through Social Relationships and Networks
Workplace Relationships / Communication Networks
7. Leadership Old and New: Direction, Coordination, Facilitation, and Inspiration
The Importance of Leadership / What Is Leadership? / The Confusion about Leadership / "Visions" of Leadership in Recent History / Characteristics of Contemporary Social Life and Their Implications for Leadership / Framing: Vision, Values, and Symbolism / Leadership Alternatives
8. Participation, Teams, and Democracy at Work
A Broad Democratic Trend? / Defining Our Terms / Employee Participation / Teamwork / Participation: Civil Society and Volunteerism / Democracy and Participation in Alternative Organizations / A Case for Consideration / Ironies, Paradoxes, and Limits of Work Participation and Democracy
9. Power and Control in Organizational Life
Encountering Power / Sources of Power / Getting a Handle on Power / Negotiating Power / Systems or Patterns of Control in the Organization / Resistance
10. Encountering, Interpreting, and Managing Conflict: Harmony and Discord in Organizational Life
The Nature of Conflict / Explaining Conflict / Sources of Conflict and Communication / Conflict as a Process / The Context of Conflict / Managing Conflict / Intergroup Conflict / Stress, Burnout, and Support / Interorganizational Conflict
11. Organizational Change and Change-Related Communication
What Is Change? / The Social-Historical Context of Change / A Model of the Change-Related Communication Process / Dimensions of Change / How Do We Judge the Success of Organizational Change? / Communicating and Managing Change Effectively / Strategies for Encouraging Innovation / Responding to Change Initiatives
12. The Meanings and Uses of Organizational Communication Technologies
Understanding Communication Technologies / Features of Communication Technologies / Using Communication Technologies / Interpreting the Effects of Organizational Communication Technologies / New Organizations?
13. Communicating in Global and Multicultural Contexts
Confronting and Defining Globalization / The Global and the Local (and in between) / Forces of Convergence / Expanding Our Ideas about Globalization / Intercultural Communication and Diversity in Organizations
14. Speaking of Ethics and Values in Organizations
Coming to Terms with Ethics / Why Ethical Reflections Matter / Ethics as a Contemporary Issue in the Communication of Organizations / Thinking about and across Different Ethical Perspectives / What Can Communication Add to Our Understanding of Ethics at Work? / Postmodern Challenges to Ethics / Organizational Culture and Ethics
15. Analyzing Organizational Communication
What's in "Communication"? / Dimensions of Organizational Messages / Language and Other Symbols / Some Purposes/Reasons for Analyses of Communication / Data Gathering / Data Analysis / Features of the Language Itself / Analyzing Discourse Strategies / Overall Research Orientations / Epilogue