Chapter 8 Flashcards
What is communication?
The exchange of ideas, emotions, messages, stories, and information through different discursive means.
What is organizational communication?
Communication that occurs when an organization seeks to communicate with various audiences such as employees, customers, and investors.
How did cybernetics change the understanding of communication?
It introduced the concept of feedback, emphasizing that communication is a reciprocal process.
What are the three focuses of early communications research according to Bordow and Moore?
- Flows of information
- Impact on efficiency
- Distortion of communication through organizational hierarchy
Name three disciplines within management regarding communication.
- Marketing
- Public relations
- Human relations
What is groupthink?
A phenomenon where group members conform to a single viewpoint, limiting discussion and consideration of alternatives.
List six negative impacts of groupthink.
- Limits discussion of alternatives
- Majority options favored without revisiting
- Disfavored alternatives not re-examined
- Selective information collection
- Overconfidence in decisions
- Self-censorship within the group
What are the four levels of communication according to Littlejohn?
- Dyadic communication
- Small-group communication
- Organizational communication
- Mass communication
Fill in the blank: Dyadic communication is _______.
[interpersonal interaction between two persons]
What does downward communication involve?
The flow of communication from superior to subordinate, instructing and providing feedback.
What is upward communication?
The flow of communication from subordinates to superiors, including feedback about strategies and implementations.
Explain inter-organizational communication.
Communication between different organizations, such as partners and suppliers.
What is the concept of shared meanings in organizational communication?
Agreements concerning what is real and what is illusionary, essential for effective communication.
What are the four major functions of rich communication processes according to Bordow and Moore?
- Informative
- Systemic
- Literal
- Figurative
What is mass communication?
Communication that goes from one point to many receivers, typically characterized by one-way communication.
List the four characteristics of mass communication according to Littlejohn.
- Large, anonymous audience
- Primarily one-way communication
- Fast transmission through different channels
- Typically sent by large organizations
What role does the boundary spanner play in organizational communication?
Represents and communicates an organization’s goals to its environments and acquires necessary information.
What is the role of the interlocker?
A member of two or more organizations who has insider knowledge that facilitates communication.
True or False: Communication is solely about sending messages.
False
Fill in the blank: Organizational communication comprises a series of _______ communication patterns.
[recurring]
What is the significance of meta-communication?
It influences how a message should be interpreted, which is as important as the content itself.
What is the importance of ‘selling the brand inside’ according to Mitchell?
It creates a powerful link between the services of the company and the employees who sell them.
List the six reasons organizations might collaborate with others according to Oliver.
- Necessity
- Asymmetry
- Reciprocity
- Efficiency
- Stability
- Legitimacy
What does intra-organizational communication involve?
Communication among internal audiences such as employees, which can be downward, upward, or horizontal.
