Organizational Communication Today's Professional Life in Context

Filled with both classic and contemporary examples and a variety of engaging stories, Organizational Communication teaches students how to apply theory in diverse real-world contexts including government, small and family-run businesses, nonprofit organizations, and entrepreneurial ventures. This book presents the increasingly global and mediated nature of communication in organizations, resulting in a highly readable and engaging introduction to the field.


KEY FEATURES
* Case studies in every chapter bring organizational communication stories, dilemmas, and theories to life
* A focus on organizational behavior is infused throughout the text to help students see the content from a business-management perspective
* "Key Point" callouts appear in the margins throughout each chapter to focus students' attention on the most significant concepts
* "Context Matters" sections at the end of each chapter show students how to apply concepts in context with plentiful real-world examples and scenarios
* "The Hollywood Connection" end-of-chapter features help students apply chapter concepts to organizations depicted in popular films

Edward C. Brewer is Professor of Communication at Appalachian State University. His research has appeared in many peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Business Communication, Journal of Religion and Popular Culture, The Journal of Public Advocacy, and he has authored several books, such as Case Studies in Organizational Communication: Ethical Perspectives and Practices and Case Studies in Business Ethics. Professor Brewer's research interests include the relationship of personality to effective communication, time and probability issues in organizational and interpersonal communication, organizational culture, and free speech issues.

Jim Westerman is Distinguished Professor in Ethics and Director of Sustainable Business in the Department of Management atAppalachian State University. His research includes over 30 peer-reviewed articles, which have appeared in journals such as Journal of Organizational Behavior, Group and Organization Management, Journal of Business and Psychology, Journal of Business Ethics, and Journal of Management Education. Professor Westerman also authored the book Person-Organization Fit: Effects on Employee Attitudes and Behavior. His research has appeared in the popular press, including The Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg Businessweek, Toronto Star, ABC News, and the Raleigh News-Observer. Professor Westerman's current research and consulting work focus on employee selection, compensation, motivation, and ethics.

Chapter 1: Organizational Communication and Contextual Realities
Introduction
CASE STUDY: Twitter and Social Shaming
Defining Organizational Communication
Diversity in the Workplace
Organizing in a Global Marketplace
Ethical Issues
Task and Maintenance Roles
Forms of Communication: Oral, Written, Non-Verbal
Communication Networks
Context Matters
For Profit Organizations
Entrepreneurship - Small Businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Government Sector
Summary
Review and Discussion Questions
The Hollywood Connection
Key Terms

Chapter 2: Classical Approaches and Organizational Structure
Introduction
CASE STUDY: IPhones and Suicide Nets?
Frederick Taylor
Max Weber
Henri Fayol
Classical Management Communication
Mary Parker Follett
Classical Influences in Today's Global Economy
Context Matters
For Profit Organizations
Entrepreneurship - Small Businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Government Sector
Summary
Review and Discussion Questions
The Hollywood Connection
Key Terms

Chapter 3: Humanistic Approaches to Organizational Communication
Introduction
The Human Relations Approach and the Human Resources Approach
CASE STUDY: The Traitorous Eight
Organizations and Social Expectations
The Hawthorne Studies: The Bridge From Classical Theory To Human Relations
The Illumination Studies
The Relay Assembly Test Room Studies
The Interview Program
The Bank Wiring Room Studies
Implications and Explanations of the Hawthorne Studies
The Human Relations Movement
CASE STUDY: From Zero to Sixty in No Time Flat
Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Frederick Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory
Douglas McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y
The Human Resources Movement
Blake and Mouton's Managerial Grid
Likert's System IV
Ouchi's Theory Z
Context Matters
For Profit Organizations
Entrepreneurship - Small Businesses
CASE STUDY: The Small Art & Craft Business
Non-Profit Organizations
Government Sector
Summary
Review and Discussion Questions
The Hollywood Connection
Key Terms

Chapter 4: Systems and Critical Approaches To Organizational Communication
Introduction
Systems Approaches
General Systems Theory
Cybernetics
The Process of Organizing
Chaos and Complexity Theories
The Organization as a System
Organizational System Characteristics
Subsystems and Suprasystems
Critical Approaches
Producing Dissensus
Feminist Perspective
Hegemony and Domination
CASE STUDY: Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Control
Organizational Justice
Certified B-Corporation
Context Matters
For Profit Organizations
Entrepreneurship - Small Businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Government Sector
Summary
Review and Discussion Questions
The Hollywood Connection
Key Terms

Chapter 5: Cultural Approaches to Organizational Communication
Introduction
CASE STUDY: Avianca Flight 052
Defining Culture
Globalization and Culture
CASE STUDY: The New Job and Organizational Culture
Organizational Culture
Work Environment
Organizational Commitment
Organizational Identity
Organizational Subcultures
Changing Organizational Culture
Paradigm Shifts and Organizational Culture
Context Matters
For Profit Organizations
Entrepreneurship - Small Businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Government Sector
Summary
Review and Discussion Questions
The Hollywood Connection
Key Terms

Chapter 6: Socialization
Introduction
CASE STUDY: Job-Seeker
A Virtual Job-Seeker
Human Capital
The Cost of Human Capital
Making the Right Choice
CASE STUDY: An Ohio Reboot of Human Capital
What "Great" Managers Do Differently
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
The Importance of Attitude
CASE STUDY: The Southwest Airlines Case - Passing through the Screen
The Socialization Process
CASE STUDY: The New Guy
Anticipation
Information Seeking
CASE STUDY: Asking Questions
The Role of Leadership in Socialization
Socialization and Role Development
Cultural Fit
Metamorphosis
Organizational Exit
Recruitment and Socialization: New Technologies
Social Media
Avatars
Context Matters
For Profit Organizations
Entrepreneurship - Small Businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Government Sector
Summary
Review and Discussion Questions
The Hollywood Connection
Key Terms

Chapter 7: Organizational Relationships
Introduction
CASE STUDY: The Flight Attendant
Emotion in the Workplace
Emotional Labor
Regulating Your Emotional Response
Listening and Relationships
CASE STUDY: Learning to Listen
Perception in the Workplace
Nonverbal Communication in the Workplace
Personality and Organizational Relationships
CASE STUDY: CBS Hit The Big Bang Theory
Decision-Making and Relationships
Power, Politics, and Ethics: Effects on Relationships
Context Matters
For Profit Organizations
Entrepreneurship - Small Businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Government Sector
Summary
Review and Discussion Questions
The Hollywood Connection
Key Terms

Chapter 8: Organizational Leadership
Introduction
CASE STUDY: Charismatic Preacher
Trait Approach to Leadership
Leadership Behaviors
The University of Michigan and Ohio State Studies
Managerial Grid
Contingent Approaches to Leadership
Least Preferred Co-Worker
Leader-Member Exchange
Situational Leadership
Continuum of Leadership Behavior
Charismatic Leadership and Transformational Approaches
Charismatic Leadership Theory
Transformational Leadership Theory
Authentic Leadership
Challenges to The Leadership Construct--Attributions, Substitutes and Neutralizers
CASE STUDY: Lead with LUV
Leading Change
Vital Aspects of Leading
Listening, Leadership, and Change
The Distinction Between Leadership and Management
Context Matters
For Profit Organizations
Entrepreneurship - Small Businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Government Sector
Summary
Review and Discussion Questions
The Hollywood Connection
Key Terms

Chapter 9: Face-To-Face and Virtual
Introduction
CASE STUDY: The MacIntosh Pirates
Teams - What Are They?
Types of Teams
Technology, Social skills, and Face-to-Face Teams
The Virtual Team
Team/Group Characteristics
CASE STUDY: Southwest Airlines' Success
Team Job Design
Cohesion and Loyalty
Framing and "Fantasy": Important for Group Cohesion
Trust
Efficiency in Teams
Motivation
Synergy
Fairness: Finding a Reasonable Solution
Feedback and Learning
Norms
Groupthink
Diversity
Satisfaction
The Impact of Technology On Teams
Voice Mail
Teleconferencing and Videoconferencing
Computer Mediated Technology
Email
CASE STUDY: Instant Gratification Expectations
CASE STUDY: Oops, I hit reply all!
Faxing
Social Networks
Timing and Culture
Context Matters
For Profit Organizations
Entrepreneurship - Small Businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Government Sector
Summary
Review and Discussion Questions
The Hollywood Connection
Key Terms

Chapter 10: Managing Conflict
Introduction
Conflict Defined
Conflict VS. Difference of Opinion
Managing Conflict
Dimensions of Conflict
Effective VS. Dysfunctional Responses
CASE STUDY: Zest Manufacturing Wars
Conflict Within The Organization
Styles of Dealing with Conflict
Avoiding
Competing
Accommodation
Compromise
Collaboration
Strategic Objectives
Organizational Conflict and Power
Forms of Power
Third Party Intervention
CASE STUDY: Email Fiasco
Conflict Outside: Dealing with an Angry Public
Context Matters
For Profit Organizations
Entrepreneurship - Small Businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Government Sector
Summary
Review and Discussion Questions
The Hollywood Connection
Key Terms

Chapter 11: Managing Organizational Change and Crises
Introduction
Organizational Change
CASE STUDY: Merger Mayhem
Downsizing
Identifying the Change Process
Laying the Foundation for Change
Implementing Change
Evaluating Change Outcomes
Organizational Learning
Crisis and Change
CASE STUDY: Takata Airbags
Organizational Crisis
Crisis Communication Plan
Crisis Communication and Image
Crisis Communication Should Be Dynamic
Context Matters
For Profit Organizations
Entrepreneurship - Small Businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Government Sector
Summary
Review and Discussion Questions
The Hollywood Connection
Key Terms

Chapter 12: Celebrating Diversity
Introduction
CASE STUDY: Bass Pro Shops
Engaging a Diverse Environment
The Aging Workforce
Sex and Gender Issues
Racial and Ethnic Issues
Disabled Workers
Intercultural Issues
Dealing with Emotion
Understanding Personality
Discrimination
Sexual Harassment
Technology and Diversity
Organizational Culture and Diversity
Organizational Values
Leadership and Management Styles
Climate Issues
Working with Difficult People
Effective Organizational Diversity Programs
Context Matters
For Profit Organizations
Entrepreneurship - Small Businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Government Sector
Summary
Review and Discussion Questions
The Hollywood Connection
Key Terms