Let’s try a separate page where we can put reading options . . . We can organize them by topics. I have a lot more but here are some to start. These can be academic article, readings from Time, Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, etc.
INTRODUCTORY MATERIALS
Eisenberg, et al., Chapter One
- Chapter Two is the general review of discourses of work. I use this to show them that how we talk about work, organizing, and management has changed over the years and that it will continue to do so. It seems to work as a course-related discussion of how communication socially constructs our realities.
- Chapter Seven goes through some really fascinating talk about how Slavery in U.S. history shapes how we think about work. So much of what’s in the textbook and in most org com/managerial communication readings are only from the perspective of White, middle-class workers, so I think its essential that we recognize other ways of thinking about work. This lets you do it early on in class as a fundamental part of your thinking. Not just in relation to ‘diversity’ in organization per se.
ORGANIZATIONAL SOCIALIZATION
- In a similar vein as my discussion above about Clair Chapter Seven, this article i use in conjunction with textbook materials on organizational socialization. I have students skip the theory section and read about her experiences. Some of what she says is hard to talk about, but my experiences are that students can handle it. My argument is that if you want to be an excellent manager and/or really understand managerial communication, you need to be aware of the various experiences that diverse employees may (or may not) have in the workplace.
- This case is about a new employee’s experiences gathering information. Its from the most recent Keyton & Shockley-Zalaback case book.
Power and Politics
Managerial Influence Strategies
- This is an Academy Exec article on strategies – a review of the literature in a comprehensible writing style. I’m going to try it on a day about power.
Organizational Conflict
Workplace Bullying White Paper
- This white paper is based on communication about workplace bullying. Very good for something different about conflict other than ‘styles’ in the workplace, etc.
Leadership Communication
- I love this chapter and the students seem to enjoy it as well. Its from Gail Fairhurst and Robert Saar’s popular press book on framing. It helps you focus on language strategies . . .
Work and Family Policy
Case Study: Single Father Work-Family Interactions
- I use this in conjunction with an article from Management Communication Quarterly (2002) by Kirby and Krone called, ‘The Policy Exists, but You Can’t Use it’ – I wasn’t able to upload it (too big?) but its a great example of how co-worker interactions affect the use of organizational policies.
Emotion in the Workplace
- This is a good example of the use of positive emotion in the workplace. Students can get through it and they generally like the ‘colorful’ examples.
Critical Theory, Assimilation and Diversity in the Organizational Process
how-much-does-it-cost-you-in-wages-if-you
- These are two related articles. The first is a newspaper article on the following University of Chicago study on how wages are lower for people who sound “black.” It is very interesting and brings a strong dose of reality to how and why assimilation happens in organizations.