Communication Studies 540

Organizational Communication

Instructor: Dr. John Haas

293 Communications Bldg

974-2090 (o)769-0095 (h)660-9173 (c)

Office hours:4:30 -5:30 W, 11:00 – 12:00 TR, or by appointment

Course Objectives

1.To provide the student with an appreciation of the multiple perspectives available to understand organizational communication theory and process.

2.To increase understanding of communication within particular work contexts.

3.To increase understanding of current issues in organizational communication research

4.To increase understanding of research methods employed in organizational communication

Required Texts

May, S., & Mumby, D.K. (2005). Engaging organizational communication theory and research: Multiple perspectives. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Alvesson, M. (2002). Understanding organizational culture. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Downs, C.W., & Adrian, A.D. (2004). Assessing organizational communication: Strategic communication audits. New York: The Guilford Press.

Additional readings available via Blackboard

CCI Diversity Statement

CCI recognizes and values diversity. Exposing students to diversepeople, ideas and cultures increases opportunities for intellectual inquiry, encourages criticalthinking, and enhances communication and information competence. When all viewpoints areheard, thoughtfully considered, and respectfully responded to, everyone benefits. Diversity andfairness unite us with the wider professional and global community.

Course Policies

  • Students are expected to attend all classes, arrive on time, and participate in class discussion.
  • In general, students are not allowed to make up missed work without advance notice. Exceptionswill be rare and at the discretion of the instructor.
  • The course syllabus is subject to change as the instructor deems appropriate and necessary.

Assignments

  • Critical reading of the assigned (and recommended) readings and active participation in class discussions (15% of course grade).
  • Discussion leader: Each member of the class will be responsible for leading/facilitating the class discussions in two separate class sessions. In addition, discussion leaders are expected to provide a discussion outline and (when appropriate) a list of relevant readings to other class members (25% of course grade). In addition, discussion leaders must email three to five discussion questions to the class at least two days in advance (i.e., by Monday at 5:00 p.m.). Discussion leaders will be graded on thoughtfulness and timeliness of discussion questions; thoroughness, readability and format of summary outline; liveliness and organization of presentation / discussion-leading; and command of topic.
  • Research project and presentation: For this assignment, each class member must select a topic of broad theoretical interest to organizational communication scholars. The topic selected should be relevant to your current thinking about the dissertation/thesis, and the author should seek expand our understanding of the topic of interest. Presentations should follow the NCA conference format (12-15 minute presentation followed by opportunities for questions from audience members). In addition, the manuscript will be submitted for presentation at an appropriate professional association meeting(60% of course grade). You have three options for the research project:

Critical Literature Review. This option will provide you the opportunity to gain expertise in a specific aspect of organizational communication. You are required to review a line of research on a specific aspect of organizational communication. For example, you could look at leadership, organizational culture, communication competence, critical theory, etc. For this assignment, you will need to complete a thorough review of the literature in relevant journals, books, and edited books on the topic (not textbooks—completing a literature review via a textbook is superficial). Then, you will need to provide a summary of each of the studies in the line of research. You will need to organize the research in some meaningful pattern. In a critical review, you are making an argument about what is there, the limitations of the current literature, and suggestions for overcoming the limitations (i.e., offering a research agenda). The research agenda should suggest some concrete ideas for what is needed next. The report should have an introduction, literature review (divided in relevant sections), and a research agenda. Select this option if you are interested in research or if you want to get started on the literature review for you thesis/dissertation. This paper can be presented at a conference and an extended/revised review could be published.

Research Proposal- Prospectus. This option is similar to the first option. There are two differences. First, the literature review in a proposal is much more focused. Rather than critiquing the literature, you use the literature to advance research questions/hypotheses that you wish to study (e.g., questions or hypotheses that haven’t been addressed yet). Second, instead of offering a research agenda, you’ll offer a specific methodological proposal. You will write the “first part” of a prospective research paper, proposing a study or initiating a literature review or theoretical argument. That is, you’ll propose a specific study designed to answer your research questions and/or test your hypotheses. You will design an actual study, but not carry it out. You will need to explain the specific methods that you would use to gather data to answer your research questions. Essentially you’ll need to describe the type of study (survey, focus groups, experiment, etc.), the participants/organization of study, the way you would collect data and the type of data you plan to collect (e.g., instruments in a survey), and how you would analyze the data. The topic for this assignment is open as long as it focuses on some aspect of organizational communication. The prospectus should include an introduction, literature review, and methods proposed. Select this option if you want to pursue a specific research topic and plan on carrying out the study (perhaps via an independent study with me). This proposal should lead to a conference paper and publication and could help you set up your research agenda. This option is for those of you pursuing a career in academia or wanting to prepare for your thesis/dissertation.

Research Project. You may have a specific project in mind right now and would like to carry it out this semester. This paper can be about any topic on organizational communication and can use any specific research method (e.g., survey, interviews, experimental design, ethnography, etc.). For this project, you’ll need to include an introduction, literature review, methods, results, and discussion. Select this option if you are pursuing a career in academia. The final result can lead to a conference paper and/or publication.

Course Schedule

January 13Course Introduction

January 20Foundations of Organizational Communication Theory

Discussion Leader – Haas

Readings:

  • Burrell and Morgan (1979) – on Blackboard
  • March and Simon (1958) – on Blackboard
  • Taylor commentary (Schachter, 1989) – on Blackboard

January 27Theorizing about Communicating and Organizing: Organizational Culture

Discussion Leader – TBA

Readings:

  • Alvesson – Understanding Organizational Culture

February 3Theorizing about Communicating and Organizing: Social

Constructionism and Institutional Structures/Systems Theory

Discussion Leader – TBA

Readings:

  • May and Mumby – Chapter 3 on Social Constructionism
  • May and Mumby – Chapter 8 on Structuration Theory
  • Lammers & Barbour – Institutional Theory on Blackboard

February 10Theorizing about Communicating and Organizing: Postmodernism

Discussion Leader – TBA

Readings:

  • Mumby – Postmodernism on Blackboard
  • May and Mumby – Chapter 6 on Postmodern Theory

February 17Theorizing about Communicating and Organizing: Critical Theory

Discussion Leader – TBA

Readings:

  • May and Mumby – Chapter 5 on Critical Theory
  • Deetz – Critical interpretive research in organizational communication on Blackboard

February 24Theorizing about Communicating and Organizing: Synthesis and

Integration

Discussion Leader – TBA

Reading:

  • Wieck – Theory Construction on Blackboard

March 2*Problem Driven Research in Organizational Communication:

Assessing Communication Effectiveness

March 9

Discussion Leader – TBA

Readings:

  • Downs and Adrian – Assessing organizational communication
  • Haas – Metamyth on Blackboard

March 16Spring Break

March 23Problem Driven Research in Organizational Communication: Organizational Change

Discussion Leader – TBA

Readings:

  • Carter et al. – Incremental organizational change on Blackboard
  • Tanner and Otto – Org change and superior-subordinate communication on Blackboard

March 30Problem Driven Research in Organizational Communication: Leadership and Communication

Discussion Leader – TBA

Readings:

  • Men – Leadership on Blackboard
  • Mikkelson et al –Leadership behaviors and outcomes on Blackboard
  • Kramer and Shuffler – Leadership and context on Blackboard

April 6Problem Driven Research in Organizational Communication:

Team and Group Communication

Discussion Leader – TBA

Readings:

  • Gouran – Communication skills for group decision-making
  • Hirokawa et al – Small group communication

April 13Problem Driven Research in Organizational Communication: Diversity in the Workplace

Discussion Leader – TBA

Readings:

  • Downey et al. – The role of diversity practices on Blackboard
  • Okoro and Washington – Workforce diversity on Blackboard

April 20Problem Driven Research in Organizational Communication:

Communication Competence

Discussion Leader – TBA

Readings:

  • Hajek and Giles – Intercultural communication competence on blackboard
  • Wilson and Sabee – Communicative competence on Blackboard

April 27Future directions

Discussion Leader – Haas

Readings:

TBA

May 4Presentations

*Class time may be rescheduled