Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons^™

Introducing Change: A Rhetorical Analysis Of The Early Communications In Mergers And Acquisitions , Janel M. Bloch

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Change and uncertainty are integral elements of any organization, yet they are not easy to face and they elicit a wide range of responses among organizational members. This study uses a rhetorical approach to examine the communications directed to employees in one type of organizational change---mergers and acquisitions;Based on a review of the mergers and acquisitions, management, organizational behavior, and rhetoric and professional communication literature, I identify four major rhetorical challenges that need to be addressed in the early communications in mergers and acquisitions: setting the stage for cultural change, addressing emotions, dealing with uncertainty, and building an identity ...