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List of contents
I. INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1 Communicating and Organizing
The Nature of Organization
Case 1.1: The Smith Family and Organizational Reality
Case 1.2: The Hospital as an Information System
Internal and External Dimensions of Organizational Communication
Chapter 2 Human Communication Processes
The Nature of Human Communication
Case 2.1: Tyler Industries, Inc.
Levels of Communication in Organizations
Case 2.2: The New Product
Summary
II. PERSPECTIVES ON THE ORGANIZING PROCESS
Chapter 3 The Classical Theory of Organization
Organization as a Mechanism
Classical Theory of Organization
Case 3.1: Glenview Nuclear Power Plant
Chapter 4 The Human Relations Theory of Organization
Organization as a Context for Individual Actualization
Human Relations Model of Organization
Human Resources Model of Organization
Participative Management Approach
Case 4.1: It’s as Easy as ABC
Chapter 5 The Social Systems Theory of Organization.
Organization as a Social System
General Systems Theory of Organization
Case 5.1: Sprint Air Freight
Chapter 6 Weick’s Model of Organizing
Organization as a Response to Information Equivocality
Weick’s Model of Organizing
Case 6.1: Ace Auto Repair Shop
Case 6.2: Nurse Retention at Memorial Hospital
Chapter 7 The Organizational Culture Theory of Organization
Organization as Culture
Organizational Culture Model
Case 7.1: I.U.P.U.I.
Organizational Culture and Equivocality
Theoretical Convergence
III. COMMUNICATION AND ORGANIZING
Chapter 8 Interpersonal Communication and Organizing
Relational Development and Organizing
Motivation and Control in Organizations
Therapeutic Communication and Organizing
Case 8.1: "I Dasn’t Take Eet"
Chapter 9 Group Communication and Organizing
The Group as the Primary Work Unit for Organizing Activities
Leadership Communication
Conflict and Organization
Communication Climate
Case 9.1: The Case of the Phantom Crew
Chapter 10 Internal Organizational Communication Systems
Formal and Informal Organizational Communication
The Management Function
Case 10.1: Pain in the Hospital
Structure and Communication
Chapter 11 External Organizational Communication Systems
Open Systems Theory and Organizational Environment
Sending and Seeking Environmental Information
Case 11.1: The Case of the Sour Suite
IV. CONCLUSION
Chapter 12 Ethical Constraints on Organizational Communication
Ethics and Organizational Communication
Ethics Dimensions of Internal Organizational Communication
Ethical External Organizational Communication
Promoting Ethical Organizational Communication
Case 12.1: The Love Canal Crisis
Chapter 13 Information and Organizational Effectiveness
Coordinating Internal and External Information
Feedback and Innovation in Organizations
Case 13.1: A Matter of Education
Case 13.2 Effective Communication with the Public
Organizational Effectiveness
Appendix: Using the Case Study Method in Organizational
Communication Classes
Developing Students’ Insight, Knowledge,
and Creativity
References
Further Readings
Name Index
Subject Index
Summary
Communicating in Organizations Today: Blending Theory and Practice is a core textbook for organizational communication courses (at the sophomore and junior level). Gary Kreps presents both traditional and contemporary theories pertaining to organizations today from a communication perspective, while demonstrating how theories can be applied in daily organizational practices. The author’s approach allows for a current understanding of how intercultural communication, ethics, and technology can impact all types of organizations today, including but not limited to workplace organizations.
