Communication in Organizations

By: Elizabeth B. Oliveira

What is Organizational Communications?

Katherine Miller defines it as:

– “The Study of Organizational Communications involves understanding how the context of the organization influences communication process and how the symbolic nature of communication differentiates it from other forms of organizational behavior” (1).

Henry Fayol’s Theory of Classical Management

Fayol’s Theory Is concerned with the Managerial function of Organizing

It is based on two concepts

– Elements of ManagementConcerned with with Managers should do

– Principal’s of ManagementConcerned with how Managers should enact the Elements of Management

5 Elements of Management

PlanningLooking into Future to attain organizational goal

OrganizationArrangement of Employees and the evaluation of these employees

CommandGiving employees task in order to meet the organizational goal

CoordinationWorking together to accomplish a goal.

ControlEnsuring the organization is functioning as planned

Principals of Management

– Scholar ChainManagement should be in hierarchy

– Unity of CommandEmployee should receive orders from only one person

– Unity of DirectionProposes activities that have similar goals

– Division of LaborWork is it’s best when employees are assigned to a limited number of specialized tasks

– OrderAppoint places for each employee

– Span of ControlManagers are more effective if they have control of a limited number of employees

Weber’s Theory of Bureaucracy

Clearly defined HierarchyDivision of LaborCentralization of Decision MakingClosed SystemsImportance of RulesFunctioning Authority

– Traditional (Listen to people above you)

– Charismatic

Taylor’s Theory of Scientific Management

One best way to do the jobProper selection of workersAppropriate & Proper training of workers

Strict Division of Labor– Difference between Management & Workers

Principals of Organizational Power

Centralization– Organization most effective when central management has control over decision making & employee activities

Authority & Responsibility– Managers should hold authority & responsibility must accompany authority

Discipline– Organizational Members should be obedient to the rules of the Organization

Principals of Organizational Reward

Remuneration of Personnel– Employees should be rewarded for their work with appropriate salary & benefits

Equity– Employees should be treated equally

Tenure Stability– Job should guarantee sufficient time on the job for employees to achieve maximum performance

Principals of Organizational

AttitudeSubordination of Individual Interest to general Interest– Interests of the whole take precedence over interests of the individuals

Initiative– Employees must work in the best interest of the organization

Esprit de Corps– No dissension in the organizational ranks

Summary

Classical Organizational Theories all use a machine metaphor that conceptualize the organization as highly standardized, specialized, and predictable (Miller, 22).

Structure & job design in today’s organizations often reflect the ideas expounded many years ago by classical theorists (Miller, 22).

References

Miller, K. (2006). Organizational Communication. Belmont: Holly J Allen