The purpose of this article is to review over three decades of research supporting the organizational communication management theory known as the Theory of Independent-Mindedness. The theory is especially productive in assessing superior-subordinate communication for organizations located within individualistic cultures. The article synthesizes…

Investigates communication and organizational codependency: (1) explores literature that presents human organizations as both "open" and "closed" systems; (2) reviews literature describing the symbolic construction of organizational systems; (3) identifies and describes communicative behaviors and strategies that fuel…

Examines the interdependent relationships between organizational climate and communication climate. Six critical dimensions of organizational climate are discussed in terms of their perceived impact on dual typologies of the communication climate. Concludes with an analysis of the suggested relationship between organizational climate and…

Proposes a framework for using experiential programs to facilitate community building through individual and organizational learning. Discusses single-loop and double-loop learning by individuals and organizations, use of reflection and metaphors, program design, and dialog as an approach to creating shared meaning. Contains 21 references. (SV)

The current status of productivity and motivation research, particularly as they relate to communication studies and climate studies, is delineated in this paper, largely by a review of literature in these areas. In the section following the introduction, the problems of defining productivity and its relation to performance and communication are…

Proposes a schema for categorizing interpretive research in organizational communication by analyzing four interpretive texts on organizational life: Terkel's "Working," Kanter's "Men and Women of the Corporation," Kidder's "The Soul of a New Machine," and Heller's "Something Happened." (PD)

This literature review examines prisons as organizations and prisons as cultures, for as J. M. Shafritz and J. S. Ott (1992) point out, "a strong organizational culture literally controls organizational behavior." The review investigates the research of prison, organizational, and communication scholars to see how prison cultures shape…

Quality Circle (QC) and Quality of Working Life (QWL) in the United States are similar in that both stress participative decision making, preserve management's prerogative to have the final say, and are voluntary. QC and QWL programs differ, however, in that labor unions are more involved in QWLs; QCs deal only with technical problems related to…

Organizational culture has an incredible function and is an incredible function, as it is both product and process, and effect and cause. Within an investigation of tertiary students' perceptions of the fairness of educational assessment using grounded theory methodology, it became apparent that it was important to consider the influence of course…

Examines 51 cases of organizational whistle blowing to derive a model of the steps through which whistle blowing incidents progress. From the model it is possible to generalize about the nature of these incidents and how they fit into patterns of organizational communication. (JMF)

This paper begins with a discussion of the role of communication in the organizational setting in general and in libraries in particular. Four attributes of effective communicators and the responsibility of library managers to foster a communication climate manifesting these attributes are then examined: (1) trust, (2) empathy, (3) openness, and…

Discusses general issues involved in conflict management and provides more specific examples of conflict management in libraries. Causes of conflict are considered, including organizational structure, departmentalization, performance appraisal, poor communication, and technological change; and methods of dealing with conflict are described,…

This paper attempts to blend the literature on professionalism with the literature of community, thus positing a framework for a school-based professional community. Sociologists have long distinguished between occupations--even high status ones--and professions. Among the key distinctions of professionalism are: a technical knowledge base shared…

Although a large body of research exists regarding the construct of "socialization," scholars have no universally accepted definition of this construct. Additionally, scholars have used the term to describe several different components of both structural and communication dynamics without agreeing upon a metaphor or general acceptance of…

Review of recent articles defines elements of risk management for camps: an organizational culture of safety; properly trained and certified staff; continuous improvement, feedback, and input involving all personnel; and a flexible communication policy. Both participation in leisure activities and related lawsuits have risen steadily in recent…