theory and organizing

You've probably heard people say, "That's just a theory." Yet as the authors of your text point out, theories are practical, taking "us beyond particulars toward universals" (p. 11). A good theory helps explain why things are the way they are. In organizational communication, good theories help explain how and why people organize.

Students often want to know which theory is the best. There is no one best theory, but some theories are better than others in their explanatory power, elegance, application, utility, relevance, and creativity. One criticism of many communication theories, including those in organizational communication, is their Western bias. That is, most theories of communication are grounded in Western culture, especially the dominant U.S. culture. This is why the authors of the text include "relevant to different cultures and historical periods" as a criterion for a good organizational communication theory.

You'll likely find it easy to critique early theories of organization, yet it's important to consider the historical context in which those theories--and any theory--are embedded. For example, human relations and human resources arose in response to criticism of classical management theories. Yet classical management theories provided the first systematic view of organizations, so their importance should not be neglected.

If you've taken courses in business or industrial psychology many of the theories discussed in the text will be familiar. As you read the chapters, however, consider the differences between a business or psychology approach to organization and a communication approach. The research questions organizational communication scholars posed (examples listed in Chapter 1) should give you some insights into those differences.

~ Professor Cyborg