What is Organizational Communication? 2.0

Summary

This script delves into the concept of organizational communication, exploring it from two angles: as internal communication within organizational structures and as the fundamental process that shapes social realities. It contrasts the traditional transmission model, which views communication as information flow, with a constitutive model that sees communication as creating and sustaining organizational realities. The script advocates for a communicative approach to understanding organizations, highlighting how communication practices influence norms, leadership, and change initiatives, and urging a deeper examination of the social processes that form the backbone of organizational life.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Organizational communication traditionally refers to the various forms of communication that occur within an organization, such as writing memos, sending emails, and having meetings.
• 🔍 An alternative perspective views organizations as inherently communicative entities, suggesting that communication is not just contained within but is the very essence of what constitutes an organization.
• 📦 The conventional approach likens organizations to containers with communication flowing within, influenced by the organization's structure, similar to how liquids take the shape of their containers.
• 🔄 The transmission model of communication is highlighted as a way to understand the flow of information within organizations, emphasizing the importance of effective information transfer for organizational success.
• 🚫 The transmission model is critiqued for not fully capturing the complexities of communication, such as the varied interpretations of messages and the non-technical aspects of communication problems.
• 🌐 The constitutive model of communication positions communication as the process that shapes social realities, suggesting that it is not just about transmitting information but about creating and establishing social meanings.
• 🏢 Organizations are social realities created by human interactions and communication, rather than neutral structures; they are the result of collective communicative activity.
• 🛠️ The material aspects of organizations, such as buildings and equipment, only gain meaning through the interactions and communication practices that constitute the organization.
• 🤔 The conventional approach is limited as it treats organizations as pre-existing entities and communication as a separate phenomenon, rather than recognizing communication's role in creating organizations.
• 💡 Viewing organizations as communication opens up new insights into how social phenomena, such as norms and leadership practices, are created and sustained through communication.
• 🌟 A communicative approach to understanding organizations provides a framework for examining and improving the social processes that create and sustain societal systems and institutions.

Q & A

What is the conventional view of organizational communication?

The conventional view sees organizational communication as the communication that happens within organizations, such as writing memos, sending emails, talking on the phone, having meetings, and video conferencing. It is viewed as a transmission of information within the 'container' of the organization.

What is the alternative, more sophisticated approach to understanding organizational communication?

The alternative approach views organizations themselves as communication, suggesting that communication is the fundamental process that shapes our social realities and constitutes our social worlds, rather than just being a transmission of information.

What is the transmission model of communication?

The transmission model of communication is a concept where communication is seen as the act of transmitting information throughout the organization, similar to how liquids take the shape of their physical containers.

Why might the transmission model of communication be considered insufficient?

The transmission model might be insufficient because it doesn't fully capture the complexities of organizing and communicating, such as the fact that people interpret the same message differently, and that communication is often used for reasons beyond just transmitting information.

What is the constitutive model of communication?

The constitutive model of communication sees communication as the process that constitutes or establishes our social worlds. It suggests that communication is not just about transmitting information but also about creating and shaping social realities.

How do organizations differ from natural entities like trees, mountains, and rivers?

Organizations are social realities created by people and their interactions, unlike natural entities that exist independently of human activity. Organizations are the visible manifestations of collective communication and interaction.

What is the significance of viewing organizations as communicative entities?

Viewing organizations as communicative entities helps us understand that organizations are not just neutral structures but are created and changed by human interactions and communication practices, highlighting the active role of communication in shaping organizations.

What are some of the material aspects of organizations that are given meaning through communication?

Material aspects of organizations such as buildings, cubicles, tables, and equipment are given meaning through our interactions and communication practices, which constitute the organization's identity and function.

What benefits does the constitutive view of organizations as communication offer for research and practice?

The constitutive view offers new insights and understanding of the complexities of organizing and communicating, allowing for the examination of how communication practices create and sustain organizational realities, norms, and identities.

How can a communicative approach to understanding organizations help in addressing organizational challenges?

A communicative approach can help identify and address hidden forms of power and control, promote equity and inclusion by surfacing alternative voices, and encourage innovation and collaboration through communication practices.

What is the ultimate goal of studying organizational communication from a communicative perspective?

The ultimate goal is to examine and improve the fundamental social processes of organizing that create and sustain the main systems and institutions of our society, recognizing that communication is not just something that happens within organizations but is constitutive of them.