Organization
The set of interactions that members of groups use to accomplish their individual or common goals
3 Functions of Organizational Communication
- Production: coordinating activity toward accomplishing tasks
- Maintenance: preserving the stability of an existing system
- Innovation: changing the system
Formal Communication Networks
officially designated channels of communication, reflecting explicit or desired patterns of interaction
Informal Communication Networks
unspoken but understood channels of communication, reflecting patterns that develop spontaneously
Organizational Culture
A pattern of shared beliefs, values, and behaviors
Organizational Climate
How organizational members feel about or experience the organizations culture
Assimilation
The communicative, behavioral, and cognitive process that influences individuals to join, identify with, integrate into, and sometimes exit an organization
Issues with Supervisor-Subordinate Communication
Semantic-Information Distance: the gap in information and understanding between supervisors and subordinates
Upward Distortion: occurs when subordinates present information to superiors in a more positive light than is warranted
3 Organizational Dilemas
Emotion labor: managing feelings and expressions to fulfill the emotional requirements of a job
Burnout: a chronic condition that results from the accumulation of daily stress → leads to exhaustion, cynicism, and ineffectiveness
Work-Life Conflict: difficulty balancing work responsibilities with home responsibilities
4 Steps of Conflict Management
- Identify the desired result
- Decide if the issue is worth confronting
- Understand the other party’s goals
- Plan the interaction
