Why does a communication perspective matter to organizational communication?

Overview: You will be required to analyze an
organization using two of the theoretical approaches used in class. In order to
do this, you must research an organization and apply the principles and
concepts of this course to your analysis. For this assignment, you can expect
to write roughly 8-10 pages – your references do not count toward your page
total and you do not need a title page.

Requirements:
·
Your paper must have AT LEAST EIGHT sources from relevant
academic, communication journals. Each journal article must be from
2005-current, and each source must be cited appropriately (using APA, 7th ed.)
within the text and within the references. You may also need to incorporate
additional citations from the popular media regarding the organization you
choose.
·
Each paper should begin with an overview of the organization
under analysis.
·
Each paper should then provide a clear, detailed, and
original evaluation of the organization, based on two different theoretical
approaches. The first approach will be from a traditional approach (e.g.,
Fordist, human resources, human relations, cultural, systems). The second
approach will take a critical perspective focusing on an aspect of power within
the organization.
o
Make sure you are basing your arguments on the class readings
and outside academic journal articles regarding how communication contributes
to its efficiency and effectiveness (or lack thereof).
o
You will want to use your two analyses in
conjunction with one another to create one cohesive argument throughout your entire
paper. You don’t want two separate analyses. You want one analysis using two
perspectives. For example, maybe a bureaucratic structure has led to issues of
diversity within the organization. For example, you would first explain the
bureaucracy of the organization then explain how that bureaucracy has impacted
the hegemony of leadership.
o
You will want to select a specific aspect
of the theory and provide a detailed, nuanced, and in-depth application of that
concept. For instance, if you select “human resource management”, you will
likely want to narrow one step further to use McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y
or Likert’s Four Systems Approach, but not both.
o
Papers that are especially insightful will
use your selected theory to hone in on, explain, or offer a critique of a
communicative problem that the organization is experiencing.
o
The strongest papers will reveal something
about the organization that is not immediately obvious. Better yet, you will
use these concepts to notice something that is usually invisible, unnoticed, or
actively ignored about the organization.
·
Each paper should end with specific
recommendations regarding how the organization under analysis can improve its
operations.
·
Assume your audience is not familiar with
the class concepts you are using. In other words, you cannot just use concepts
without explaining them within the paper (and properly citing them).

Overarching Structure:
Introduction – About 1.5 to 2 pages
Grab your reader’s attention.
Articulate your central argument (i.e., thesis) about what a
communication perspective helps us to know and/or understand about
organizational communication.
Set up your organizational history and context
Preview both analyses
First Analysis – About 2 to 3 pages
Define communication concept (from list on Blackboard)
Provide evidence from organization.
Provide evidence from outside sources.
How does this concept help us understand a communication
perspective to organizational communication?
How does this tie to your overarching thesis?
Second Analysis– About 2 to 3 pages
Define communication concept (from list on Blackboard)
Provide evidence from organization.
Provide evidence from outside sources.
How does this concept help us understand a communication
perspective to organizational communication?
How does this tie to your overarching thesis?
Recommendations to Organization – About 1 to 2 pages
Provide at
least three recommendations to your organization.
Provide
evidence from your analyses for the recommendation.
Connect
communication to your recommendations.
Conclusion – About ½ page
Restate your central argument (i.e., thesis) you made
throughout entire paper
Why does a communication perspective matter to
organizational communication?
References (on separate pages; doesn’t count toward the 8-10
page requirement)

Grading: This case study
analysis is worth 230 points and you will be evaluated on:
a) the
insightfulness of your analysis
b) the
cohesion of your argument (an overall thesis is developed)
c) the
appropriateness of the match between your selected theory and organizational
characteristics
d) the
accuracy of your use of course concepts
e) the
completeness of your analysis (the amount and quality of evidence and
explanation you provide)
f) the
professionalism of your product (including quality of writing, grammar,
spelling, organization, clarity)

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