Case Studies in Organizational Communication 2: Perspectives on Contemporary Work Life [Hardcover]

Beverly Davenport Sypher PhD (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 9, 1997 | ISBN-10: 1572302070 | ISBN-13: 978-1572302075 | Edition: Second Edition

Spotlighting the central role of communication in today's varied workplace, this up-to-date collection of new case studies will succeed its highly acclaimed predecessor as a valued reference and teaching text. Based on first-hand observation, in-depth interviews, and survey research, the studies both highlight creative and positive uses of communication and demonstrate how communication practices can hinder organizational functioning. Bringing complex situations to life, the book explores key questions about how and why people work as they do today in large manufacturing companies and in small businesses, in high-tech industries, government, education, and the human services. Timely topics addressed include new communication technologies; the dynamics of teamwork; cross-cultural communication; sexual harassment; stress and burnout; and more. Each chapter contains a useful glossary of key terms and definitions followed by practical and theoretical discussion questions and important references.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Case Studies in Organizational Communication 2 is a superb volume with a wealth of resources for organizational communication classes. The volume contains 22 original and provocative cases with lists of key terms, definitions, discussion questions, and references for each case. The cases cover a wide-array of topics including exemplars of passionate leadership, leadership showdowns, worker cooperatives, job stressors, discursive power and concertive control, emergent networks, negotiation of intercultural buyouts, overt and covert conflicts, group decision support systems, design of information management systems, self-managed work teams, and sexual harassment. The stellar cast of case scholars provide well-written, insightful scenarios of contemporary work life as viewed from a communicative lens. Their detailed descriptions of scenes, plots, and dialogue form narrative texts that will enhance the analytical skills of students and provide them with significant and memorable tales of communication practices in organizational life. This text is an essential tool for organizational communication students, teachers, and scholars!" --Linda Putnam, PhD, Professor and Head, Department of Speech Communication, Texas A&M University.

"This is not an ordinary collection of organizational case studies. These cases are rich in detail and dialogue, offering a depth of contextual information that makes them ideal for teaching organizational behavior, industrial psychology, communication, or organizational sociology. The range of institutions represented in the collection--from the Mondragon collective, to human service agencies and high technology corporations--guarantees appeal and relevance to a wide range of audiences."--Joanne Martin, PhD, Merrill Professor of Organizational Behavior, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University; by Courtesy, Professor of Sociology, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University

"At long last, a yawning gap in our literature is being filled....These cases are consistently fascinating and always provocative. By exhibiting the enormous complexity of human communication events in the organizational setting, they invite the reader to abandon simplistic notions and to engage in some mind-bending analysis. Now that this book is available, I can hardly conceive of offering a basic course in which it is not required reading." --W. Charles Redding, PhD, Purdue University

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Beverly Davenport Sypher, PhD, is Professor of Communication Studies and Divisional Dean for Social Sciences at the University of Kansas. This is the second volume of case studies that she has edited for Guilford. Her work has appeared in a variety of communication, psychology, and management journals, and she continues to focus on the kind of organizations created by the communication practices of employees. Most often she studies large-scale manufacturing organizations, but she has also helped employees of small nonprofit groups; local, state, and federal agencies, and various corporations sort out the consequences of communication choices and the possibilities of person-centered messages. Dr. Sypher is a recipient of the Speech Communication Association's Ecroyd Award for Outstanding Teaching in Higher Education and a Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence at the University of Kansas.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 403 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; Second Edition edition (May 9, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572302070
• ISBN-13: 978-1572302075
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,079,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and interesting if you are studying org com, October 14, 2009

By 

Working Mamamamama (Omaha, NE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Case Studies in Organizational Communication 2: Perspectives on Contemporary Work Life (Paperback)

The other reviewer who panned the book is obviously not interested in the study of organizations and organizing. I, for one, loved reading both volumes of case studies written by Beverly Davenport Sypher when I was a student. They provoked a good bit of discussion and debate in the classes I took as an undergrad and really helped to flesh out the theories we'd read in other textbooks. Now many years later as a professor or organizational communication, I continue to enjoy the cases in this book. They are more thorough and scholarly than some other case books that are available, and written by bigger names. Sure, every single one is not equally compelling...but that's what you get in an edited volume. I think this is a classic and I still enjoy it. On my nightstand, maybe not, but on the end table next to my reading chair...definitely!

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ugggg, November 25, 2008

By 

A. Allen "BOOKMASTER" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Case Studies in Organizational Communication 2: Perspectives on Contemporary Work Life (Paperback)

I don't like this book. I own it for one of my college classes. The case studies inside aren't interesting, I don't like to read them. Everytime I get assigned a case study from this book to read, a big frown suddenly appears on my face.

I guess the point of case studies is to learn from the success / failures of real life companies. Someone should write a case study about whoever wrote this book. That way next time someone writes a book about case studies, they can read the case study about this book first. And then they can not repeat the mistake of making a boring book that no one is interested in reading.

If it weren't for college classes I wonder if anyone would buy a book like this. I'm trying to figure out if this is the kind of book you'd keep on your nightstand and read before bedtime. Or the kind of book you read on the airplane so you can relax while flying somewhere. Or even the kind of book you buy someone as a gift. I can't imagine a world where that kind of thing happens. That'd be absolutely terrible. if I got this book as a gift I'd be hoping there was a way to return it. I'd run to the nearest bookstore that gave cash for used text books.

The case study about the marines is a little bit interesting but the rest of them are dry and boring. If you are looking for a book to give someone out of spite I recommend this book. If you are looking for a boring unexciting read I recommend this book. If you are looking to buy a book that is exciting and fun I don't recommend this book.