Organizational Communication: Foundations, Challenges, And Misunderstandings

This text is written for an introductory course in organizational communication, focusing on internal communication and organizing issues on the organizational behavior level. Early chapters cover foundations of organizational communication from the perspective of the author's concept of "misunderstandings," an umbrella term used to connote the nature of interaction in organizational settings. Later chapters frame topics traditionally covered in organizational communication textbooks in terms of "misunderstandings," illustrating points with news stories and excerpts from interviews with leaders and workers in various types of organizations. It is assumed that students have had a previous course in communication, and that they will cover methodological and philosophical orientations more deeply in a subsequent advanced course. Modaff is affiliated with Ohio University. DeWine is affiliated with Marietta College. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Organizational Communication:

Foundations, Challenges, and Misunderstandings, Second Edition

Daniel P. Modaff

Sue DeWine
Jennifer Butler

 

Organizational Communication uses interviews to explore communication and misunderstandings at all levels of an organization.    

 

This text offers a unique perspective on the field of internal organizational communication. The authors review the foundational material but also intersperse the discussions with excerpts from interviews conducted with more than 100 leaders and workers in a variety of organizations. Unlike other texts in the field, Organizational Communication explores organizational communication from the perspective of all organizational members, not just management.

 

Features:

• Contains segments in each chapter from interviews with different organizational members, including those in positions from the bottom of the organization to the management.
• Includes communication as central to each chapter, not just as an ancillary discussion, so that students will understand how communication is relevant and critical to each of the concepts discussed.  
• Highlights the central role of communication in organizations and its relevance to all organizational members through the “The Communicative Organization Model,” proposed by the authors (Chapter 6).
• Relates almost every chapter to the concept of “misunderstandings,” the inherently problematic nature of organizational life.  
• Shows how organizational communication begins before a person enters the organization, by sharing realistic recruitment practices and problems (Chapter 7).

Quotes from Reviewers:

 

“It offers a solid coverage of the fundamentals of organizational communication theory while engaging the reader through real-world examples and cases. Students will love the easy-to-read delivery of complex information!”

                                                                                                    — Sandy H. Hanson, University of North Carolina

 

“First, the book is well-written, detailed, and fits the level of my students without being too scholarly or too simplistic. Second, the book is based on a solid foundation of relevant research in the communication field as well as related fields.” 

                                                                                                    — Calvin Brant Short, Northern Arizona University