Messages

1
Messages

• Necessary for communication
• Groups, families, organizations held together by
  messages
• Interpretation varies

2
We remember messages

• when they are memorable (great! Funny!) or
• irritating, hurtful
• Messages are fundamental to understanding
  organizational experience

3
Remember, the definition oforganizational
communication is

• The collective interactive process of generating
  interpreting messages
• Message overload (information overload)
• Message inadequacy

4
Messages can be

• Non-verbal
• Verbal
• Ostensive messages (actual text which is verbal,
  nonverbal)
• Internally experienced messages

5
Messages culturally determined

• Edward Hall
• Cultures distinguished by variety and richness of
  communication networks
• High-context messages
• Low-context messages

6
4 Levels of Messages

• 1, 2) Intentions of senders
• 3) Ostensive messages (what is verbalized)
• 4) Receivers interpretations

7
Messages have multiple meanings

• There are diverse interpretations
• There are gaps in understanding
• In organizations many people are structurally
  equivalent
• Blatant ambiguity
• Subtle ambiguity

8
Deborah Tannen

• http//www.georgetown.edu/faculty/tannend/index.ht
  m
• You Just Don't Understand
• That's Not What I Meant!
• Talking Voices
• Talking from 9 to 5
• I Only Say This Because I Love You How the Way
  We Talk Can Make or Break Family Relationships
  Throughout Our Lives

9
Ambiguity

• Plausible deniability
• Doublespeak
• Political contexts
• National security guise

10
Messages Assume Multiple Forms

• Via technology (email, voicemail)
• Rumours
• Grapevine (informal)
• The Importance of Gossip
• Jokes (www.the humoursource.com) for jokes re
  Osama

11
Messages Serve Multiple Functions

• Disguised through language
• Influence messages what strategies are used
  here? (shouting, verbal abuse, quiet yet firm
  tactics)
• Culturally diverse

12
Relationships

• We define ourselves by our relationships
• Personal, familial, professional, secret
• Organizational relationships important and often
  hindered/helped by personal relationships outside
  the organization

13
Organizational relationships

• More complicated
• Diverse workplace, (multi)culturally and
  ethnically and linguistically
• Lots of gender weirdnesses
• Changing notions (legal arena) of what is right
  wrong e.g., sexual harassment

14
5 characteristics of relationships

• 1. Orientation
• 2. Multiplexity
• Symmetry
• Reciprocity
• Strength

15
Relational Orientation

• Instrumental relationships - (inauthentic,
  youre there for the job, prescriptive)
• Expressive more emotionally based, holistic

16
Relational Multiplexity

• Links vary interconnect network domains
• Uniplex-within one domain (some work
  environments, schools etc)
• Multiplexity overlap of roles (work colleagues
  become drinking buddies become confidantes).
  Crucial for healthy social support networks

17
Multiplex relationships can

• Create some ethical dilemmas conflict of
  interest
• Towing the line
• Stress emotional exhaustion
• Loss of individuality
• Lack of creativity

18
Relational Symmetry

• Symmetrical or complementary
• Different expectations regarding what message
  content is appropriate
• Social niceties often a coverup?
• Romance in the workplace
• Sexual harassment (case study Anita Hill)

19
Relational Reciprocity

• Reciprocity- how people share information and
  resources, disclose personal information and
  opinions
• How people help each other
• Physical Networks
• Virtual networks virtual communities, support
  groups (health etc)

20
Relational Strength

• Strong (highly inter-networked) or weak
• Intimate or distant

21
Relational Roles

• We all have different roles mother, wife,
  professor, friend, colleague, sister, daughter,
  aunt, granddaughter
• Roles related to social position in society
• Role expectations enacted roles
• Role ambiguity

22
Next

• Hierarchy
• Notions and issues of power
• Participation

• Trends in organizational communication