Investigates how employees perceived organizational "rules" in describing specific communication problems. Finds that stating clear policy would have helped head off 20% of the problems described; respondents mentioned many more unwritten than written means by which communication expectations were conveyed; and organizations with written…

Finds that when uncertainty is low, low differentiators form proportionally more intraorganizational links than do high differentiators, but when uncertainty is high, high differentiators form proportionally more intraorganizational links than do low differentiators; also, low differentiators generally rely more on vertical links when uncertainty…

Investigates how organizational and communicative factors differ for a technical innovation and a community-based innovation within a large, technically-oriented governmental organization. Finds that complexity, persuasion, interpersonal channel use, and interpersonal channel utility were rated more highly for the technical innovation, and…

Explores the distinctive aspects of the new interactive communication technologies (electronic mail over the Internet) in business communication and their implications. Discusses the growth of interactive communication, the concept of interactivity, physical distance and social presence, getting to critical mass, and flexibility and control of…

Surveys registered nurses to examine whether relational closeness and issue seriousness affected the likelihood of reporting a wrong doing. Finds that relational closeness influenced the decision to report a wrong doing; severity of the wrong doing influenced whether an incident is reported; and respondents would follow the proper chain of command…

Proposes a definition of uncertainty useful in organizational communication and demonstrates the applicability of the concept in managing communication problems in a selected manufacturing firm. (MS)

Uses the example of public relations to describe important distinctions between monologic and dialogic campaigns. Explains why the dominant monological approach to public relations has long been recognized as "ethically paralyzed." Suggests an ethically more viable dialogic approach. Discusses reasons the business community has been slow to adopt…

Compares three differing explanations of the dynamic interrelationships between internal and external innovation-related communication in a new organizational form. Considers how the "communication stars" explanation suggests that individuals maintain similar levels of communication in both networks. Indicates that there was a lagged…

Examines the stance of the corporation as advocate and communicator of information of concern to its employees and publics and presents guidelines for organizations that are considering implementing advocacy communications. (MH)

Examines three approaches to the study of organizational communication: organizational behavior, organizational communication, and business communication. Compares philosophies, concerns, and methodologies of these approaches. Examines critical issues, such as academic respectability, centrality, and the consequences of studying organizational…

Presents a collection of 47 entries on nonverbal communication pertinent to the business field: 1) reference works comprised of primary and secondary books, periodical reviews, and software; and 2) human nonverbal communication articles with emphasis on body movement, facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, and paralinguistics. (JMF)

Analyzes data from five different kinds of organizations, showing that, regardless of how much information organization members reported receiving, they wanted more, thus revealing a general belief in the communication metamyth that more communication is better. (SR)

Studies the conference as a strategic communication tool used to facilitate complex interorganizational business relationships. Develops and tests a model of the necessary prior conditions for conference success, conference process variables, conference outcomes, and the long-term consequences of effective integration for an organization. (SR)

Studies 35 organizational meetings (each from a different organization) to examine the development and use of five primary tools for planning and managing meetings (agendas, support documents, announcements, meeting minutes, and evaluations). Analyzes the relationships of these tools to meeting processes, and looks at control of these tools by…

Examines the concept of strategic ambiguity in communication, and addresses the ethics of strategic ambiguity from an intrapersonal perspective that considers the congruity of communicators' espoused-ethics, ethics-in-use, and behavior, where ethical judgements are based on the congruity between espoused-ethics and actual behavior. Poses questions…