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Organizational Communication Commons

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Articles 1 - 7 of 7

Full-Text Articles in Organizational Communication

Rope Or Elephant’S Tail: Different Frames Of Culture, Vicki Fairbanks Taylor, Nathan Goates Apr 2017

Rope Or Elephant’S Tail: Different Frames Of Culture, Vicki Fairbanks Taylor, Nathan Goates

Organization Management Journal

Using data from participants at a single organization, we employed a three-perspective metatheory to move toward a more comprehensive description of organizational culture and examined how differing theoretical perspectives yield convergent, complementary, or contrary findings. Survey data (n = 124) combined with the results from 19 structured interviews indicated that employees shared consensus around some cultural values, but also suggested the existence of subcultures and general ambiguity around other cultural elements. That is, from an integrative perspective, there was clarity surrounding one set of values; from a differentiation perspective, subcultures existed; and from a fragmentation perspective, there was evidence of …


‘I Don’T Want To Become A Rules Cop’: An Organizational Culture And Leadership Discourse Analysis Of The Npda As A Failed Organization, Audra R. Diers Jan 2016

‘I Don’T Want To Become A Rules Cop’: An Organizational Culture And Leadership Discourse Analysis Of The Npda As A Failed Organization, Audra R. Diers

Speaker & Gavel

On March 23, 2010 Dr. Robert Trapp, former President of the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA), posted a message to the parli listserve (parli-l) suggesting the final round of the national tournament lacked the sub-stance and nuance that the community should see in debate. Trapp’s post reflects a larger issue in the NPDA—the emergent divide and disparate organizational cultures emerging over the organization’s short lifetime. This paper investigates the often discussed, but still under-developed relationship between leadership and culture in mission-based organizations by analyzing the discourse of cultural leadership in the NPDA from 1994 to 1999. Findings suggest that the …


(Re)Building A Team Culture, Todd T. Holm Dec 2015

(Re)Building A Team Culture, Todd T. Holm

Speaker & Gavel

The purpose of this article is to provide a director of forensics who wishes to rebuild a forensics program with advice, ideas, and guidance based on organiza-tional theory, organizational change research, and lived experience. This article approaches organizational culture as a dynamic construct of an organization. “Proponents of the perspective of culture as a dynamic construct are interested in both a better understanding of organizations through application of a cultural per-spective and a conscious development of organizational culture” (Sackmann, 1990, p. 133). This perspective treats culture as something an organization is and something an organization has. The shaping of forensics …


Beverly Matthews, Russell Clayton, Michael T. Stratton, Mark Julien, John H. Humphreys Oct 2015

Beverly Matthews, Russell Clayton, Michael T. Stratton, Mark Julien, John H. Humphreys

Organization Management Journal

This case describes the difficult challenges facing Beverly Matthews as she returned to the workforce after taking time from paid employment in order to spend time with her two children. She desired a workplace that would give her the flexibility to excel in both the work and family domains. Beverly specifically chose the organization because of its award-winning family-friendly reputation and the positive word of mouth from a friend who worked there. Unfortunately, she has encountered a supervisor whose values conflict with the values of Beverly and the organization. Beverly is contemplating her options as the status quo has become …


Organizational Culture, Knowledge Structures, And Relational Messages In Organizational Negotiation: A Systems Approach, Vincent P. Cavataio, Robert S. Hinck Jan 2014

Organizational Culture, Knowledge Structures, And Relational Messages In Organizational Negotiation: A Systems Approach, Vincent P. Cavataio, Robert S. Hinck

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy

This study examines a recent bargaining process between the Faculty Association and Central Michigan University. Taking a systems approach, we began with the assumption that a healthy organizational culture produces negative feedback which can help keep participants at the bargaining table despite disagreement. However, if organizational members’ relationships are threatened, organizational culture unravels as destructive messages provide positive feedback to disrupt the system and make impasse more likely. To understand how an university’s culture is impacted during contract negotiations we examined messages published in a university student newspaper, transcripts from the local NPR station, CMU’s press releases, a Facebook page, …


Beyond The Textbook: An Approach To Facilitating Student Understanding Of Organizational Culture In Organizations, Kathleen J. Barnes, George E. Smith Mar 2013

Beyond The Textbook: An Approach To Facilitating Student Understanding Of Organizational Culture In Organizations, Kathleen J. Barnes, George E. Smith

Organization Management Journal

Organizational culture has been likened to an onion, an umbrella, sticky glue, and an iceberg. Due to the multifaceted nature of the subject matter, presenting and explaining this topic to students can be a daunting task. This article describes an assignment that allows students to discover and understand organizational culture by conducting a cultural analysis of organizations. Student groups collaboratively complete this assignment by locating a research site, administering a questionnaire, processing quantitative data using a statistical analysis software package, analyzing qualitative data using content analysis with analytic coding, developing a formal written report, and making an oral presentation to …


Culture Shock: Hiding In Plain Sight—An Experiential Exercise, Mary G. Trefry, Valerie L. Christian Jun 2012

Culture Shock: Hiding In Plain Sight—An Experiential Exercise, Mary G. Trefry, Valerie L. Christian

Organization Management Journal

In Culture Shock, participants explore the potential influence of organizational culture and national culture differences on communication, interaction, and reaching agreement. The role play, with observers, involves two employees from different organizations involved in a strategic alliance who come together to plan an upcoming meeting. Their respective role information instructs them to behave and communicate in ways consistent with their own organization’s culture, which also is affected by national culture. During debriefing discussions afterward participants explore the impact of cultural differences—as well as other kinds of differences—and how employees can more effectively work across organizational cultures and national cultures. Facilitators …