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The Intrapersonal Phenomenon: The Interactional Effects Of Intrapersonal Adjustments In The Organizational Change Of A Small Business, Jennifer Wilkes

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

It is inevitable that change involves varying levels of communication. A relationship may consist of an individual's communication with one's self or with one or more persons. The functionality of a relationship depends on the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the communication of those individuals involved. When change is necessary in any form of organization, the level of communication for each member plays a vital role, especially in a small company. Based on literature and theory, intrapersonal development and influence relies on the structure of one's cultural language. Language structure shapes one's inner speech and self-talk through processes of internalization. The …

Volatile Congregations : Crisis Sensemaking In A Southern Baptist Church, Brandon Douglas Bannon

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to test the assertion that Sensemaking Theory is an appropriate lens to understand church crisis by highlighting the role of communication as a central aspect of the sensemaking process. In addition, through the application of Sensemaking Theory, the secondary goal was to assist congregations as they try to avoid the negative consequences of church splits. The analysis utilized in the current study was specifically selected to develop a history of participant interpretation within a church in order to determine how members made sense of the crisis. To that end, this study followed the …

Listening To Organizational Change: Exploring Dialogue During Sensemaking, Dianna L. Stratton

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This qualitative study explored the role of dialogue during sensemaking and how that affects receptivity to organizational change. The philosophical framework for this study comes from Buber’s (1958) I and Thou dialogue theories concerning the value of existential acknowledgement. Both communication and organizational study theories grounded this research. Bohm (1996) and Isaacs’ (1999) dialogue theories converge with Weick’s (1995) sensemaking theories as a means to explore the role of listening during organizational change. Data was obtained through ethnographic observation and interview. A cultural research framework provided the means to explore the relationships between dialogue, sensemaking and organizational change. The results …

A Comparison Of Lmx, Communication, And Demographic Differences In Remote And Co-Located Supervisor-Subordinate Dyads, Larisa Niedle

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this research were to examine the growing organizational trends of distributed work, reliance on various media for communication, and increased diversity in the workforce. Napier and Ferris' (1993) theory of distance, which includes structural, functional, and psychological distance, served as a framework for much of this research. Leader-Member Exchange theory (LMX), which Napier and Ferris (1993) translated into the functional distance component of their theory, was used to inform hypotheses on supervisor-subordinate relationships and performance ratings. Communication theories of media richness and social presence were used as a basis for the hypotheses involving communication. Finally, the similarity-attraction …

Tea Time: Raising Awareness And Support For Extension, Nancy K. Franz, Chris Fahey

Journal of Extension

In a time of reliance on electronic media for information, chaotic programming environments, and declining public resources, Extension workers need to find unique ways to connect with stakeholders to maintain and increase support for programming. To address this need, we developed, conducted, and evaluated a series of stakeholder teas. We found this method of communicating with stakeholders builds social, political, and fiscal support for Extension programming.

Library Impact Statement For Prs 300, Margaret J. Keefe

Library Impact Statements

Library Impact Statement for PRS 300. No new resources are required to suppoer the new course. Responding faculty member: Margaret J. Keefe. Requesting faculty member: Lynn Derbyshire.

Understanding The Role Of The Veteran Employee: How Organizational Communication May Bridge Gaps Between New And Veteran Employees, Jacqui L. Barker

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Framed through evaluation of the Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT), Constructive-Development Theory (CDT), and the Rational-World Paradigm philosophy, this research focused on existing, or veteran, anxieties when a new employee joins an organization‟s group or team. This research surveyed United States Navy federal civil servants employed at two, geographically dispersed, Navy science and technology laboratories and discovered these employees do in fact experience anxieties, and seek various means to manage or reduce the emotion associated with a newly-hired employee by either avoiding, talking about, observing the new person, working with the person or taking a blended approach and incorporating one or …

Telling The Story: Teaching Leaders The Art Of Storytelling And Its Impact On Individuals And The Organization, Julie Jones O’Leary

Theses and Dissertations

There are many different approaches to communicating a story which engages and inspires the audience. The opportunity comes in teaching employees a framework to tell a story that influences outcomes. This study analyzed the effects of a storytelling class delivered to employees of a Fortune 500 organization. Data for the study was sourced from a mixed-method approach: archival interviews, class evaluations, and face-to-face interviews. These methods measured the participants' reaction to the training, evaluated the relevance to the job, and determined the impact of learning the art of telling a story. The findings showed participants reported improved confidence, strengthened relationships, …

Supporting Online Faculty: Developing A Supporting Website Resource, Peter John Anthony, Eric Nordin

Higher Learning Research Communications

Current trends in post-secondary education enrollment indicate that colleges and universities are likely to experience an increase in the number of online students. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the type of resources and support features online faculty need, desire, and expect in a support website. The method used to collect research findings was an online survey. The participants for this study consisted of the online faculty population at an institution of higher learning in the southwestern United States. Participants were invited by email to participate in a 13 question survey which asked participants to rate the importance …

The Effect Of A Communication Protocol Implementation On Nurse/Physician Collaboration And Communication., Jacqueline Carter Gerard 1948-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effect on physician/nurse collaboration and communication of the implementation of the SBAR protocol, used as nurses reported patient changes to physicians, in a Midwestern community hospital ICU. The design was a two-phased descriptive design. Data were collected through two surveys, one of which addressed collaboration and the other which addressed communication factors. The surveys were administered to ICU nurses (n = 28) and physicians (n = 30) three times. The study also explored attitudes regarding the efficacy of SBAR and interdisciplinary collaboration through interviews with a representative sample of physicians (n = 10) and nurses (n …

Millennials And The Adoption Of New Technologies In Libraries Through The Diffusion Of Innovations Process, Heidi Blackburn

Criss Library Faculty Publications

Purpose – Literature on the features of new technology in libraries of every type and size is readily available, but looking at the factors playing a part in the process (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability) will bring an understanding of how Millennials integrate technology into libraries. This paper seeks to discuss some of the issues involved.

Design/methodology/approach – This research focuses on Millennials and their adoption of new technologies in libraries through the process of diffusion and the stages of adoption as outlined by Everett Rogers: communication through certain channels; over time; and among members of a social …

Building And Leading A Culture Of Collaboration: An Analysis Of The Influence Of A Company's Social Networking Tools On Employee Collaboration, Sheri Lynn Nugent

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of a specific company's intranet social networking tools on building and leading a culture of collaboration in a corporate environment. The problem is the implementation of knowledge management and networking tools by a company for the purpose of collaborating, learning and replicating information across the enterprise without measurement of the receptivity of the corporate culture to use the tools effectively. This study focused on assessing the effective use of social networking tools to enable collaboration success in virtual on-line teams rather than physically co-located teams. A validated survey, the Wilder …

Comparing The Emotional Intelligence, Personal Traits, And Work Impacts Of Performing Versus High-Performing Middle Managers, Teresa Lara

Theses and Dissertations

The study of emotional intelligence (EI) has grown in popularity over recent decades. Some authors have argued that EI results in heightened personal and professional success. Middle managers, in particular, are believed to require EI, as they are tasked with linking and coordinating the strategic and operational levels of the organization. Having EI is believed to help middle managers develop relationships; influence others and garner their support; create harmony among stakeholders; and communicate, collaborate with, and lead others. All of these activities require understanding and managing others, their needs, and their emotions--in short, all of these activities require EI. However, …

Coaching Efficacy With Academic Leaders: A Phenomenological Investigation, Deanna Lee Vansickel-Peterson

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this psychological phenomenological research was to understand the efficacy of life coaching from the perspective of academic leaders. To date, not one investigation or attempt has been made towards the above stated purpose. This study includes a theoretical overview and a review of the coaching literature from Socrates (469-399 BC) to current day Humanistic theory presented in part by Roger (1902-1987). This process included data collection from five academic leaders who have been coached for at least two years. Levels of analysis of 365 statements, quote and/or comments produced finding of efficacy in life coaching with academic …

Using Critical & Creative Thinking To Enhance Productivity In Integrated Marketing Communications Meetings And Procedures, Ashley N. Smith

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

This paper provides a teaching model for how to effectively incorporate Critical and Creative Thinking (CCT) methods into a business setting to initiate organizational change. I developed a workshop on workplace meetings based on the imperfections of the marketing team at “ICS.” The workshop touches on CCT methods that are needed in order for organizations to change. I also integrated CCT methods into the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) Procedure to enhance productivity and produce results. Integrated marketing is made up of many pieces of the media field, but often the participants in IMC are searching for the same end result. …

The Closed Cohort Learning Model: Enabling Innovation And Organizational Success, Frederick D. Ellrich

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

AbstractThis study examines the development of trust, communication, and collaboration in a closed cohort academic community. The closed cohort has gained in popularity in recent years and is now common at the graduate level, especially in the colleges of business and education. A closed cohort is a group of students who begin and end together, and proceed in lock step through a sequence of courses. The research is a case study of a master’s program in leadership at a university in the mid-south area of the United States. The research approach is phenomenological in that the researcher was an instructor …

Newspapers' Representations Of Corporate Mass Layoffs, Andrea Lynn Pace

Open Access Theses

Due to rising unemployment levels, researchers have begun to investigate how corporations handle layoffs and how they could manage them better in the future. Public relations practitioners can use this type of research to help organizations learn how to best maintain their images, reputations and productivity amid mass layoffs. When an organization conducts mass layoffs, its actions become both a current event and a public issue that is frequently discussed in newspaper articles. In order for downsizing organizations to be aware of the public's perceptions of their layoff procedures, they should be aware of how the news media represents them. …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Corporate Communication During Large-Scalebailey College Of Engineering And Technology Changes, Dawna M. Drum

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The success rate ofBailey College of Engineering and Technology implementations remains low, despite decades of scholarly research and popular advice. Whether success is defined by spending within the budget, on-time completion, functionality of the final implementation, or satisfaction of the users, few projects are deemed to be complete and resounding successes. One possible reason is inadequate communication during the change process, and many studies have examined aspects of change communication such as media choice, message content, and timing of the messages. What has been missing, however, is an assessment of these items' effectiveness across hierarchical levels within an organization undergoing …

Assess, Improve, And Share: Using Libqual+Tm To Provide A Quick And Easy Assessment For Accreditors, Administrators, And Users, Eric Forte

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Assessment in academic libraries is more important than ever as we strive to satisfy users, administrators and accreditation agencies, and present data to inform ongoing and future strategic directions. LibQUAL+TM yields a substantive set of quantitative and qualitative data that is relatively fast and easy to analyze, and is especially useful when significant skills and time to conduct meaningful assessment may not be present, such as in smaller academic libraries. Communicating the results and responses of assessment to stakeholders is a vital aspect of assessment and may in itself be indicative of the likelihood to enact positive change based on …

The Development Of Technological Management Model: A Conceptualization Of Computer Technology In The Workplace, Paul E. Madlock

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this dissertation was to develop a model that would serve to assist scholars, business professionals, and employees manage the influence of computer technology in the workplace. This study also focused on mandated use environments given the paucity of research in this area. In doing so, Technology Management Model (TMM) was developed. Actor Network Theory (ANT; Callon, 1986; Latour, 1987; Law, 1987) and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT; Bandura, 1986) provided support for the multifactor design of TMM. As a result, TMM was comprised of three latent variables of technological, personal, and organizational factors though to influence the attitudes …

An Organizational Communication Perspective On The University: Understanding How Individuals Constitute Organizations, Charles Ritchie Woffinden

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Change in the university has been the topic of recent discussion in contemporary business, popular, and academic literature. This thesis uses organizational communication theory and literature to examine how communication constitutes what we know as the university. This perspective provides an analytical lens to confront the organizational questions central to contemporary ideas surrounding the university. Furthermore, it generates new ways of viewing current issues, debates, and contestation regarding its constitution. This thesis examines the role of communication as a powerful process, and the agency of each individual in creating, recreating, and transforming the university.

To understand the constitution of the …

A Qualitative Inquiry Into Organisational Culture's Moderating Effect On Knowledge Management Projects In The Aerospace And Defense Industry, Frank D. Christopian, Tim Rahschulte

Faculty Publications - College of Business

The management of knowledge permeates the social fabric of business enterprises today. Many suggest that the success of knowledge management is predominately associated with organisational culture. However, while researchers typically conclude that organisational culture affects knowledge management projects, initiatives and organisational effectiveness, there is a lack of research in this regard in the aerospace and defense industry. The research in this manuscript leveraged grounded theory protocols and existing research conducted in other industries to investigate specific cultural implications of organisational knowledge management activities in aerospace and defense companies. A constructivist knowledge claim position yielded theoretical observations about this phenomenon.

Personality, Emotion And Judgment In Virtual Environments: A Theoretical Framework, Steven A. Murphy, Michael J. Hine, Nathaniel C. Lupton, John M. Zelenski

Faculty Publications

As organizations become increasingly reliant on distributive technologies, the processes that underpin the effective functioning of employees in virtual environments require systematic examination. This article provides a theoretical framework for studying personality, emotion and judgment in virtual environments. The communication media characteristics, social context, and individual traits and states are presented to portray the dynamic nature of judgment formation in a virtual environment. We argue that media characteristics, combined with personality, motivation and emergent social contexts serve to shape emotions and resultant judgments. By integrating the Information Systems (IS) and Organizational Behavior/Psychology literatures, we chart a course for research examining …

The Drama Of Collaborative Creativity: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Hollywood Film Making-Of Documentaries, Robert M. González Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Current creativity research is dominated by attention to the individual, with increasingly less attention paid to creativity in its context, in groups, and in filmmaking as a collaboratively creative enterprise. This study answers the research call to explore filmmaking as an exemplar for collaborative creativity. Utilizing the stories told on DVD extras on special edition releases of feature films, this study analyzes how collaborative creativity is storied. In turn, these stories reveal specific communication forms, practices, and strategies that enrich theoretical conceptions of collaborative creativity. Following dramatistic concepts elaborated by Kenneth Burke, this rhetorical analysis finds three emergent patterns of …

Mentoring Dialogues: An Investigation Of The Dialectical Tensions And Management Strategies In Mentoring Relationships, Paul J. Kosempel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the past 30 years, mentoring has gained perhaps the largest recognition of any phenomenon related to career success. Much of the current research that has explored mentoring relationships has been conducted in fields other than communication studies, although better communication is often the recommended solution to improve mentoring. The majority of research has focused on the outcomes of mentoring relationships, rather than the process of mentoring relationships. Mentoring has also not been studied through a relational dialectics perspective. This study explored the communication dynamics within mentoring relationships through a relational dialectics theoretical lens. The study utilized multiple methods including …

Made To Stick : The Book By Chip And Dan Heath, Adapted To A Library Audience, Samantha Hines

Mansfield Library Faculty Publications

Presentation of ideas from the book "Made to Stick" outlining the five steps to SUCCES which include Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, and Stories.

The Impact Of Change Messages On The Commitment To A Change: An Analysis Of It Professionals In India And Malaysia, Humayun Rashid

Student Scholarship

Affective commitment of individuals is critical for the success of an organizational change initiative. In order to secure this desired form of commitment, managers spend a great deal of time and money implementing elaborate change management and communication strategies, often with little success. Three important types of change messages that are expected to drive commitment to change are:: (1) the organizational need for change (discrepancy), (2) the support of organizational leaders (principal support), and (3) the benefit of the change to the individual (personal valence). In this quantitative survey-based study conducted at a large global bank, we analyzed the perceptions …

Navigating The Paradoxes Of Working From Home, Susan L. Rosiek

ETD Archive

Many of today's organizational employees are turning to flexible work programs, such as telework, to help them balance their work and life responsibilities. Previous research indicates working from home has positive effects, but the same research reveals telework can have a negative impact on work-life balance. There are gaps in the amount and variety of theoretical development in the area of telework. The goal of this research study was to extend the scope of telework analysis beyond technology use by exploring the various tensions teleworkers encounter when working from home, learn how teleworkers alter their communication practices to deal with …

Contradiction And The Carnival: A Study Of Mcgregor’S Theory X And Theory Y Framework Applied To Communication Within A Carnival Setting, Ashley Dawn Johnston

Masters Theses

The following study addresses Douglas McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y management paradigm as applied toward carnival executives' (CEs) communication to employees. Fifteen CEs were interviewed and elicited narratives that held either Theory X or Theory Y paradigm. From the narratives it was discovered that most CEs held a Theory Y paradigm toward employees. However, it was also discovered that the Theory Y paradigm may be a result of increased use of foreign labor or a swing in the carnival industry itself.

Adult Retraining Programs And Reemployment For Dislocated Workers, Tony J. Perry

Faculty Dissertations

A variety of government sponsored programs provide retraining and income assistance to dislocated workers, yet it is unclear whether these initiatives are effective in providing workers the essential skills needed for new careers. Using Mezirow’s transformational learning theory, this study was designed to evaluate programs in selected counties in the states of Virginia and North Carolina. Using self-administered surveys, data were gathered from college instructors, dislocated workers, and local business owners. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and related to each research question. Results showed that instructors were effectively using adult training methods, the majority of students perceived their retraining …