Module Three Reaction Paper
John.01
Chapter4Slides.pptxChapter 4: Systems and Critical Approaches to Organizational Communication
Introduction
Consideration of the organismic metaphor
Understanding organizations from a systems perspective
Use a radical frame of reference to look at how critical approaches view organizations as sites of domination
Systems Approaches
Systems approaches take a more macro view of organizations, emphasizing the permeable nature of organizational boundaries
Systems approaches to understanding organizations use this general idea to examine the component parts of an organization and how they work together to keep an organization “alive”
General Systems Theory
Ludwig von Bertalanffy suggested systems concepts for a variety of disciplines
“Novel developments” include:
Hierarchical order
Entropy
Control mechanisms
Open systems
http://isss.org/conferences/madison2008/20080714_1130_ISSS_Drack.pdf
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Cybernetics
Norbert Wiener’s contribution, from the Greek word for “steersman”
Control and communication theory that examines both machine and animal
Especially important to studying
organizational communication:
System goals
Feedback
Entropy
Gestalt (nonsummativity)
The Process of Organizing
Karl Weick’s definition of organizations includes:
Equivocality
Interdependence
In his book Making Sense of the Organization (2001) Weick states that he views “organizations as collections of people trying to make sense of what is happening around them” (p. 5)
Chaos and Complexity Theories
Used in mathematics to help explain random occurrences
Represents the collapse of order in the status quo
Chaotic behavior can appear random but can be defined mathematically
Complexity theory suggests nature is incredibly complex but is a result of underlying simplicity
The Organization as a System
The component parts and environment of a system interact in a way that can be studied and understood
Parts are interdependent or naturally reliant on one another
Inputs: incoming information
Throughputs: assimilation of that information
Outputs: end results of throughput decisions
Critical Thinking Questions – Systems Characteristics
In what ways do you use feedback to make changes in your life?
Does the quality of input affect the quality of the output in an organizational system?
Organizational System Characteristics
General terms of systems properties include:
Holism: system is more than just the sum of its parts
Nonsummative: results are more than simply adding together each piece
Equifinality: reaching the same final state from differing initial conditions; variety of paths
Entropy: process of degeneration
Typical of closed systems
Negative entropy: flow of information from external environment; leads to growth and sustainability
Typical of open systems
Subsystems and Suprasystems
Departments in an organization need to be aware of what is happening in other departments
There are 10 common characteristics of open systems highlighted by Katz and Kahn (1978)
Feedback: reaction or response to a process
System goals: results for which energies and efforts of a system are exerted
Hierarchical order: organized system of ranking
Critical Approaches
Based on the work of Karl Marx, critical theory examines organizations from the perspective of oppression
Critical Thinking Questions – Oppression
What are some classic examples of oppression and domination throughout history?
In what ways do we still see some of those examples being reenacted in organizations today?
Producing Dissensus
Critical theorists seek to reveal how social an technological structures of organizations serve to oppress workers and create sites of domination
A way to free employees from dominant restraint
Karl Marx suggested a major imbalance between owners and workers in a capitalistic society
Purpose of critical theory is to emancipate the oppressed
Feminist Perspective
Critique the marginalization and domination of women in the workplace
Developed from the women’s liberation movement
Calls for the abolishment of a patriarchal society
Dominant and privileged male voices have limited the advancement of women and minority groups in the workplace
Case Study: Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is one of the poorest Native American reservations in the United States
Barren land and few jobs
Those who live there have passively supported goals of the U.S. government, even when not in their best interests
If they develop a sense of hopelessness and accept their situation, they would be experiencing hegemony
Is there a way for the inhabitants of the reservation to avoid a hegemonic situation?
Hegemony and Domination
Any organization can develop a hegemonic environment (intentionally or unintentionally)
Some examples of ways power can be used to subordinate workers includes:
Control of resources
Control of technology
Exertion of formal authority
Control of production
Control of information
Critical Thinking Questions – Control
What are some other forms of control in organizations?
Will opportunities for such control increase or decrease as newer forms of organizing continue to take shape?
Control
Communication is a major mode for exerting control
Critical theorists have helped to expose instances of organizational sites of domination and resistance
Organizational Justice
The perception of what is fair and equitable in the workplace
Distributive justice: perceived fairness of amount and allocation of rewards or outcomes
Procedural justice: perceived fairness of process used to determine distribution of rewards
Interactional justice: perceived degree to which an individual is treated with dignity, concern, respect
Certified B-Corporation
New form of organizing emerging in the United States
Committed to conducting business that is profitable and considers the impact on employees, community, and environment
Triple bottom line: people, planet, profit
Context Matters
For-Profit Organization
Large corporations can adjust overall system to compensate for divisions that are struggling
Entrepreneurship – Small Businesses
Struggling parts of a small system felt more quickly
Nonprofit Organizations
Negative press for partners can affect nonprofits
Government Sector
Change to one component can lead to systemic changes
