Project Idea part 2

Another thought that I had for my project was to focus on new technologies and the changing ways people communicate within the organization because of it. I think I would look at some classical works of communication in the organization as well as research on communication done before the computer, internet, Instant Messenger, and Smartphones and then research on organizational communication after these new technologies were introduced into the workplace. It will be kind of like a cross-sectional study of the changes in technology and communications over time. Although I do not know much about technology I am fascinated how it can effect communications so dramatically.

Project Proposal part1

For my research project on organizational communications I think it would be interesting to look at the information overload that occurs in organizations these days. With the use of new media to communicate it allows for this overload to occur much more easily. In my preliminary research I have not found much information on this so I may need to alter my topic a bit. I do think it would be interesting to look at how the information overload occurs, what information is categorized as an overload, the feelings of employees towards this overload, and what technologies are used to create this.

Language and organizaitonal communications

One of the features of language that the book suggests to consider in analysis of organizational communication is narrative or story telling. I have recognized this in the organizational announcements that we send out to the supply chain management organization. They make a story out of the announcement. There is always an introduction, a climax, and close. The “voice” of the executive narrates the announcement. I think this is done to create a “relationship” with the audience that is being spoken to. It is interesting that you can recognize these “unintentional” language patterns in the communications when you just think about it. It is very easy to overlook these simply nuances of language.

Researching Communicaiton Effectiveness

Every year the communications team that I work with does a communication effectiveness study of the whole Supply Chain Organization (the function that I work in within the larger company). We carry this out not only to understand if the messages we are sending are being received and understood but also how the organization communicates best. Are they more receptive to email newsletter, face to face interaction, video, shared web spaces? We try to understand it from to sides, from what we are currently doing to communicate and how we can better communicate in the future. This study consists of focus groups first where 4 -5 groups of 10 meet with the researched and they have a more open discussion. From this focus group and input from others in the team we create a survey that is sent out to all of the members of Supply Chain. It is a accompanied by an email from the SVP requesting participation. We take the results very seriously. We have a meeting once they have all been analyzed and discuss what when wrong with past communications and how we can change our practices so that we do not see the same problem the next year. I have found it incredibly enlightening to study the communications that we send and also how the organization is communicating. It is so valuable to get that insight and understanding.