Which Organizational Communication And Culture Profile Will Augment And Increase The Effectiveness Of Team Xyz?,
2013
Gonzaga University
Which Organizational Communication And Culture Profile Will Augment And Increase The Effectiveness Of Team Xyz?, Morgen Nicole Marshall
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
This thesis explores previous research in the fields of organizational communication and culture. Through the works of organizational communication scholars Deetz (1995), Conrad & Poole (2005), and Griffin (2009), the theory of critical communication in organizations is introduced as the foundation for effective communication, emphasizing the importance of participatory decision making in organizations. Through the works of organizational culture scholars Kotter & Heskett (1992), Schein (2004), and Cameron & Quinn (2011), principles of effective organizational culture are introduced, including shared values among stakeholders and adaptability within the industry. Together, these scholars lay the foundation for a study within a leading …
E-Books & The Net Generation,
2013
Gonzaga University
E-Books & The Net Generation, Jamie Beasley
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
Electronic books, otherwise known as e-books, are becoming increasingly popular in today’s technologically advanced culture. The publishing industry has evolved to meet consumers’ demands of e-book availability but many scholars, school districts, as well as the federal government, are starting to question the effects of the new mediums, and are trying to determine if e-books should be integrated into school curricula for enhanced learning. Therefore, through a quantitative research design, this study investigated the popularity of e-books as well as the impact that e-books are having on the reading habits of the students of today’s Net Generation – those who …
The Impact Of Texting On Our Society: A Look Into The Utlization Of This Communication Conduit And The Possible Positive Or Negative Impact It Has On Drivers,
2013
Gonzaga University
The Impact Of Texting On Our Society: A Look Into The Utlization Of This Communication Conduit And The Possible Positive Or Negative Impact It Has On Drivers, Michelle Crowther
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
Communication is an essential part of our everyday lives, without it we would have no way to form a community or societal structure that would allow us to effectively work and live amongst one another. Advances in technology, such as texting, have created a virtual forum for people to communicate within. Due to this change, other consequences, such as vehicle injuries and fatalities have become a recurring problem. To attempt to find potential positive or negative impacts that texting has on individuals while driving, 10 face-to-face interviews were conducted and 100 surveys were sent to a random sample of participants. …
Immigration Reform Opponents Framing Propaganda As Fact To Influence Public Opinion,
2013
Gonzaga University
Immigration Reform Opponents Framing Propaganda As Fact To Influence Public Opinion, Christopher Barr
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist (Jowett & O’Donnell, 2005). This study is to see how propaganda is used by a anti-immigrant special interest organization to frame the debate and assist the televised press to set the agenda on the topic. Specifically, the attention of the study was on the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation. The research explored in this thesis was founded on Shaw’s and McComb’s (1972) agenda-setting theory and Entman’s (1993) process of framing. The study applied …
Parental Communication And The Impact On Student Performance,
2013
Gonzaga University
Parental Communication And The Impact On Student Performance, Nicholas K. Schreck
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
In the 1980s Epstein (1987) established that the more parents were involved in their child's education, the more likely that student was to succeed academically. Since then, scholars have evaluated how parents can become further involved to improve student scores, but there has been little research as to how the teachers and parents can effectively communicate using computer-mediated communication (CMC). By tying together research on both virtual communities and student achievement through Walther's Social Information Processing Theory, the research aimed to evaluate whether the successes of parental involvement in education could be achieved through the Internet. In this study, a …
The Art Of Corporate Social Narrative: Promoting Social Change While Building Markets For Products And Services,
2013
Gonzaga University
The Art Of Corporate Social Narrative: Promoting Social Change While Building Markets For Products And Services, Lydia Mccormick Mcghee
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
For over four decades, the outdoor clothing company Patagonia has promoted environmentalist ideologies though essays and photographs published in their print media. This strategy offers an eco-friendly narrative that resonates with many brand consumers, but the art of constructing and publicizing a corporate narrative with social purpose (i.e. corporate social narrative) has yet to be explored. In this thesis, Patagonia’s corporate social narrative is reviewed in light of Fisher’s narrative paradigm theory, the principals of corporate social marketing, social exchange theories, and the idea that visual imagery holds significant power in consumer markets. Major themes in Patagonia’s environmental narrative are …
The 21st Century Educator: An Exploration Of The Communication Practices Of An 'Architect Of Learning',
2013
Gonzaga University
The 21st Century Educator: An Exploration Of The Communication Practices Of An 'Architect Of Learning', Darlene Leslie Wilson
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
The 21st century has driven many changes in the classroom and to the teacher of yesterday. Existing teacher identities are in limbo as educational systems morph from dominant beliefs and ideologies to meet the new demands of a knowledge economy. The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions of their communication practices as 21st century educators. In particular, research focuses on teachers’ views of the province of Alberta’s vision of “teacher” as an architect of learning, and is explored via semi-structured personal interviews and classroom observations. Although there is ample research on teacher identity and issues related to …
African-American Communication Within Corporate America: Challenges In Leadership,
2013
Gonzaga University
African-American Communication Within Corporate America: Challenges In Leadership, Jade D. Johnson
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
This study focuses on African-American communication and the role that it plays in the gap in African-American leadership within the corporate America environment. The thesis evidences numerous former studies around African-American communication practices and the impacts within the corporate sphere. Furthermore, the literature review includes the philosophical foundations that the larger body is based on. For instance, the thesis is using the egalitarianism philosophy of thought. From this perspective, the recommendations are examined through the lens that “basic institutions of society are charged with the task of advancing the interests of all members of society equally” (Christiano, 2008, p. 12). …
Technological Change Within Union Environments: An Examination Of Existing Change Management Literature, Union Culture, And Critical Factors For Implementation Success,
2013
Gonzaga University
Technological Change Within Union Environments: An Examination Of Existing Change Management Literature, Union Culture, And Critical Factors For Implementation Success, Bryan Altknecht
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
In today’s business climate, organizational change is a perpetual challenge for those in leadership positions. Despite the substantial academic conversation surrounding successful management of change, one aspect which has received little research is technological change within the context of union populations. This project utilizes multiple theoretical frameworks to present critical components for success including; understanding reluctance toward change, the role of leaders, managing technology change, and specific implementation considerations for union populations. It then synthesizes those components into a formal training course designed to teach organizational leaders the skills necessary to overcome the challenges of implementing technology changes within union …
The Demand/Withdraw Communication Pattern And The Success Or Failure Of Marriage Where One Partner Is From A Traditionally Non-Confrontational Culture,
2013
Gonzaga University
The Demand/Withdraw Communication Pattern And The Success Or Failure Of Marriage Where One Partner Is From A Traditionally Non-Confrontational Culture, Marty Ray Rush
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
The purpose of this research is to take foundational theories on demand/withdraw, StellaTing-Toomey’s Face Negotiation Theory, and conflict management, and analyze how these factors impact a relationship when one partner is from a traditionally non-confrontational culture such as Japan, Korea, or the Philippines. Through the use of online surveys and interviews with couples in intercultural relationships, this study seeks to breakdown the successes and failures in exogamous relationships and how the cultural eccentricities can help or hinder marital satisfaction. This research merely scratches the surface of the issue of demand/withdraw, but opens the door to more focused studies dealing with …
News Media Influence On Perceptions Of Veteran Mental Health,
2013
Gonzaga University
News Media Influence On Perceptions Of Veteran Mental Health, Elizabeth Faye Weber
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
This study investigated how news media communications affect public awareness and perceptions of the mental health concerns of post-deployed military of the recent Iraq war. Focus group research included 22 adult participants from the same geographic location with discussions on news media consumption behaviors and their perceptions of the mental health issues of veterans. Results revealed that news media consumption is preferred at a national level versus a local level, and that online news sources are utilized more frequently than television or print news sources. Participants with the least news media exposure admitted to the lowest awareness of veteran mental …
Does The Use Of Social Media For Screening Affect The Hiring Process From The Perspective Of Applicant And Employer?,
2013
Gonzaga University
Does The Use Of Social Media For Screening Affect The Hiring Process From The Perspective Of Applicant And Employer?, Corey Protzman
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
Technology has allowed people to exchange information across multiple technological mediums and interact quicker, more easily, and more permanently. The purpose of this thesis was to determine the role social media plays in the hiring and screening process from the perspective of the applicant and employer. The study was rooted in the theories of Actor Networking, Issues Arenas, and Agenda Setting, while relying on concepts like digital divide to expand the breadth of work. An online survey was administered to 25 people who had been an applicant within the last year to gauge their use of social media and awareness …
Cultural Performance And Organizational Transformation: A Case Study Of The Utah State University Football Program,
2013
Gonzaga University
Cultural Performance And Organizational Transformation: A Case Study Of The Utah State University Football Program, Marques Chavez
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
Methods of communication are often a significant reason for achieving organizational transformation. The primary aim of this study is to explain a case of organizational transformation by examining the cultural performances of organizational members—particularly the performance of ritual. The Utah State University football program served as the case study while qualitative interviews and narrative research provided the methodology for gathering and analyzing data. Communication expressed in the performance of ritual significantly contributed to fostering an environment of unity and trust within the organization which, in turn, spurred transformation. While rituals were key to fostering this environment, true sincerity from leadership …
Multitasking And Communication In The Organization,
2013
Gonzaga University
Multitasking And Communication In The Organization, Cayla A. Stephenson
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
Because communication is an intricate part of how an organization works, and because organizations and employees alike are stressing the importance of multitasking on the job, studying the interaction of communication and multitasking is increasingly important. Studies relating to multitasking have revealed primarily negative impacts: doubling task completion time, overstimulating our brains to the point of dysfunction, generally diminishing our productivity, and extinguishing our stimuli filters and damaging our memories. Other studies show that we can use multitasking in a positive way by utilizing task trainings and practicing focused task completion. The study here completed two focus groups with 12 …
Technology Use In A Virtual World To Build Organizational Culture And Identity,
2013
Gonzaga University
Technology Use In A Virtual World To Build Organizational Culture And Identity, Tim Carroll
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
Organizations are embracing agile work environments for their employees more and more every day. This thesis explores the ability to create and maintain organizational culture in a virtual world through technology use. As more of these organizations move to a virtual workplace it is becoming more imperative to find ways to connect these virtual employees together as peers and to the organization as a whole. This communication audit is formed using the cultural approach to organizational theory, by Geertz and Pacanowsky, and uses surveys as well as interviews to assess how effectively organizational culture is expressed and maintained through the …
Stories Of Money: Building Social Capital Through Time Banking,
2013
Gonzaga University
Stories Of Money: Building Social Capital Through Time Banking, Stacey Anne Jacobsohn
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
This study explored communication and ethical investment in social capital to improve quality of life through the lens of time banking, a model of alternative currency. Previous studies of time banking noted a distinct set of characteristics of time banks that contrast with capitalist-based systems while using similar language; these were compared to research of social capital and social networks. Seven participants were interviewed at-length as representatives of the time bank movement. Stories of money framed theoretical constructs in practice on a daily basis and future visioning of the movement. Further analysis using the dialogic ethic of Martin Buber and …
Sororities, Interpersonal Relationships, And A Dialogical Perspective,
2013
Gonzaga University
Sororities, Interpersonal Relationships, And A Dialogical Perspective, Jessica Lynn Fresques
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
This study focuses on interpersonal relationships and skills gained through sorority membership. The purpose of this research sought to develop the understanding of potential developmental outcomes, in which a sorority can provide to its members. Research methods used: online surveys and follow-up interviews. The dialogical perspective by Martin Buber helped develop an understanding of the I-thou relationship, whereas, each person within conversation is fully valued for what they have to say. In general, sororities are known as social organizations and the use of dialogue is important when communing or working with others. Alumnae who participated provided enough feedback to determine …
The Power Of Shame: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Social And Cultural Expectations Communicated In Media,
2013
Gonzaga University
The Power Of Shame: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Social And Cultural Expectations Communicated In Media, Sarah Tovah Matz
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
Shame is an inescapable human feeling, and its impacts on human interaction are well documented. This thesis focuses on the power of symbolic shame in media and presents a critical discourse analysis (Machin & Mayr, 2012) of three recent public service announcements. As a theoretical basis, the study examines shame from point of view of ritual communication, framing theory, and the symbolic communication of stigma. Although shame is often regarded as an effective means to communicate social and cultural expectations and a tool for balancing behavior in society, shame may also be used to create structures of power and agendas …
Story, Ritual, And Religion In Changing Social Climates,
2013
Gonzaga University
Story, Ritual, And Religion In Changing Social Climates, Denise Young Jackson
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
This study was created to investigate how ministers of the Montana/Northern-Wyoming Partnership express the story and ritual of religion in changing social climates. It was designed to answer three questions. RQ1) How are mission activities interpreted, defined, and given form through the storytelling by the ministers within the Church? RQ2) How do ministers integrate the mission statement and the mission activities into their Bible based storytelling? RQ3) How and for what purpose do ministers incorporate or connect issues and ideas from the secular sphere into religious-based storytelling? Since the dramatic social and economic changes in Montana as a result of …
You Really Like Me: Dialogic Social Media Use In Organizational Communication,
2013
Gonzaga University
You Really Like Me: Dialogic Social Media Use In Organizational Communication, Heidi Lee Keller
Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses
Social media is an interactive communication tool with the potential to strengthen organization-member relationships and contribute toward the achievement of organizational goals. Yet many nonprofit organizations use social media for one-way information delivery and do not take advantage of its dialogic potential. This study aims to contribute to the business case for investing in dialogic social media. Three nonprofit organizations that use social media dialogically were studied to identify the factors that set them apart from others. Walther’s social information processing theory (1993) and Buber’s philosophy of dialogue as a relational form of communication (Arnett, Grayson, & McDowell, 2008) were …
