Organizational Communication: Foundations, Challenges, and Misunderstandings, Books a la Carte (4th Edition)

For courses in Speech and Organizational Communication

Communication as the key to effective organizational functioning

Organizational Communication: Foundations, Challenges, and Misunderstandings explores organizational communication from the perspective of all organizational members — not just management — utilizing interviews to evaluate communication and misunderstandings. Modaff, Butler, and DeWine center their perspective on the concept of misunderstandings, which highlights the idea that communication in organizations is inherently problematic. This focus positions communication at the center of organizational life, and shows the reader how and why communication can serve to create and resolve misunderstandings of all types and in every aspect of organizational functioning. The Fourth Edition provides a foundational overview of the field and intersperses the discussions with excerpts from interviews conducted with more than 200 leaders and workers in a variety of organizations.

NOTE: This ISBN is for a Pearson Books a la Carte edition: a convenient, three-hole-punched, loose-leaf text. In addition to the flexibility offered by this format, Books a la Carte editions offer students great value, as they cost significantly less than a bound textbook.

Dan Modaff is an Associate Professor specializing in Organizational Communication at University of Wisconsin — La Crosse in the Department of Communication Studies. He is the author of several articles and book chapters in the areas of organizational communication, language and social interaction, and communication pedagogy.

Jennifer Butler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Wisconsin — La Crosse.  She specializes in organizational communication, and has published many articles in the areas of emotional labor, work-family balancing, and pedagogy.

Sue DeWine, PhD is a researcher and practitioner in Training and Consulting with Applied Communication as her major research area. She is also a former professor at Ohio University and has been a consultant to many corporations as well as to education and government agencies for 30 years. Dr. DeWine was Provost of Marietta College for seven years, and President of Hanover College for eight years, retiring in 2015. The Consultant’s Craft was her most significant and impactful work. She is currently President Emeritus of Hanover College, residing in Naples, Florida.