Chapter 11 Flashcards by Angel Thornsbury

What are some benefits to understanding organizational communication?

enhances professional success
allows you to ask more informed questions
determines which organizations you frequent and support

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The set of interactions that members of purposeful groups use to accomplish their individual and common goals

Organizations

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Organizations are composed of what?

Group members’ interactions

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Organizational members pursue ?

Goals

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The goals and effects of organizational communication

Function

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What are 3 functions of organizational communication?

production
maintenance
innovation

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A function of organizational communication in which activity is coordinated toward accomplishing tasks

Production

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A function of organizational communication in which the stability of existing systems is preserved

Maintenance

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A function of organizational communication by means of which systems are changed

Innovation

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Refers to recurring patterns of interaction among the members of an organization

Structure

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Structure has historically been viewed as occurring in a ?

Hierarchy

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A power structure in which some members exercise authority over others

Hierarchy

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Structure, being viewed as a hierarchy, has messages traveling in what 3 ways?

downward communication
upward communication
horizontal communication

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In a traditional conduit model of communication, communication with subordinates

Downward communication

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Communication with superiors

Upward communication

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Communication with peers

Horizontal communication

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A type of structure that officially designated channels of communication, reflecting explicit or desired patterns of interaction

Formal structure

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A type of structure that is unspoken but understood channels of communication, reflecting patterns that develop spontaneously

Informal structure

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A pattern of shared beliefs, values, and behaviors. Composed of artifacts, languages, rites, rituals, ceremonies, stories, beliefs, and habits enacted by group members

Organizational culture

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T/F: Organizational culture is static

False. It changes overtime.

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Groups within organizational cultures also develop their own?

Subcultures

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Edward Schein notes 3 aspects to focus on when looking at an organizational structure

artifacts
values and beliefs
underlying assumptions

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The communicative, behavioral, and cognitive processes that influence individuals to join, identify with, become integrated into, and (occasionally) exit an organization

Assimilation

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Assimilation influences ____ and membership within an organization

Participation

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What is essential to the assimilation process?

Information seeking

The stage of assimilation that occurs when an employee's values overlap with the organization's values

Organizational identification

Communication processes for assimilation includes what 3 kinds of information seeking strategies?

- active strategies - passive strategies - interactive strategies

This communication is when one person have formal authority to regulate behavior of another.

Supervisor-subordinate communication

Subordinates want to please?

supervisors

Supervisors want to managE?

Subordinates

Describes the gap in information and understanding between supervisors and subordinates on specific issues

Semantic-information distance

Occurs when subordinates are hesitant to communicate negative news and present information to superiors in a more positive light than is warranted

Upward distortion

A state in which communicators are willing to share their ideas as well as listen to others in a way that avoids conveying negative or dis confirming feedback

Openness

Refers to supervisors who provide their subordinates with access to information and resources

Supportiveness

Feeling personally invested in accomplishing a specific activity or goal

Motivation

Employees' feelings of self-efficancy

Empowerment

Behavior and communication designed to increase liking

Intgratiation

Expressing open's opinions forcefully without offending others

Assertiveness

The ability to communicate through ***reasoning***, bargaining, coalition building, and assertiveness

Rationality

Perceptual differences between supervisors and subordinates is called

Semantic-information distance

Subordinates may be hesitant to communicate negative news to superiors, so they engage in ___ ____ to avoid negative repercussions

Upward distortion

Communicating with coworkers is sometimes described as what?

Horizontal communication

Coworkers may engage in what 2 kinds of interactions?

1. formal-professional | 2. informal-personal

What can impact relationships between coworkers?

Power differences

What are 3 organizational dilemmas?

1. emotion labor 2. stress and burnout 3. work-life conflict

This refers to specific feelings or displays of emotions required of workers

Emotion labor

- Employees may be asked to heighten or increase expressions of joy - Appear mean or indifferent - Convey a vaguely pleasant professional demeanor

Emotion labor

A chronic condition that results from the accumulation of daily stress, which manifests itself in a very specific set of characteristics, including exhaustion, cynicism, and ineffectiveness

Burnout

Feel unable to respond to important demands, constraints, and opportunities

Stress

The amount of work an individual is expected to perform

Workload

When an employee is unsure of what is expected of them

Role ambiguity

When there are incompatible job demands of an employee

Role conflict

Flextime, family leave, and dependent-care benefits are examples of what?

Family-friendly policies

Why are family-friendly policies underutilized by employees?

They fear the negative consequences of using them

Early views of organizations focused on the what?

Morality and high standing of business owners

When did organizations begin to focus on the human relations function, and workers gained a voice in organizations?

1930s

System mentality began in the 1960s, with the move to what approach towards organizations?

General systems theory approach

Theory that organizations are a system composed of many subsystems and embedded in larger systems, and that organizations should develop communication strategies that serve both

General systems theory

What is one of the greatest organizational issues today?

Globalization

The increasing connectedness of the world in economic, political, and cultural realms

Globalization

Assumes that loyalty is not expected by workers or organizations and that job security is unlikely

New social contract

What reflects the change that employees are no longer expected to spend the majority of their working experience with one organization

new social contract

These people work in temporary positions, part tie, or in subcontractor positions

Contingent employees

The rise of these, companies that try to shorten the time it takes to develop new products and respond to customer demands, are also changing the workforce

Urgent organizations

The widespread use of technology in many jobs has caused what?

A blurring of the boundaries between work and time off

What are 3 communication problems in organizational comm and power?

1. bullying 2. sexual harassment 3. employee privacy and monitoring

Repeated hostile behaviors that are or are perceived to be intended to harm parties who are unable to defend themselves

Bullying

Sexual harassment: Requests for sexual favors as a condition of getting or keeping a job or benefit; one of two types of sexual harassment recognized by federal laww

Quid pro quo

Sexual harassment: an intimidating, hostile, or offensive workplace atmosphere created by unwelcome and inappropriate sexually based behavior, one of two types of sexual harassment recognized by federal law

Hostile work environment

This may diminish employee morale and dignity

Employee privacy and monitoring

Having employees and employers work together on monitoring practices can create what?

Fair and transparent practices

Ethical responsibilities and failures rest with the individuals in the organization

Individualistic perspective

All members of an organization are partially responsible for behaviors

Communal perspective

What perspective is found in the US?

Individualistic perspective

Wht perspective is based on the common good?

Communal perspective

Assessing the available information and options in order to increase one's understanding of the conflict and the other party before engaging in conflict communication

Strategy control

What are the 4 steps of strategy control?

1. determine what you want to occur as a result of interaction 2. decide if issue is worth confronting 3. understand the other party's goals 4. plan the interaction