Introduction to Organizational Communication

Shockley-Zalabak begins Chapter 1 by arguing that organizational life is becoming increasingly complex. Organizational complexity can be attributed to a variety of factors, including the widespread use of constantly developing communication technologies. We live in an era marked by globalization and rapid technological innovation that requires us to constantly acquire new skills.

In such a fluid and complex environment where people in organizations face complex problems that require coordinated (rather than individual) action to solve these issues, people must be able to work together. To get them to work together, communication is essential. Organizational excellence, in Shockley-Zalabak's manner of speaking, is simply the ability to work together to solve complex problems. Her central point is that the ability of an organization to respond to its environment (e.g., its customers, suppliers, regulators, shareholders, competitors, neighbors, and other constituencies) and manage its internal processes depends upon effective communication on the part of the members of the organization. After all, many features that make an organization successful are rooted in communication. Examples of such features include organizational management, problem solving, adaptability, and worker satisfaction. In Chapter 1, Shockley-Zalabak explains the human communication process, defines organizational communication, and lays out the four competencies for "organizational excellence" that the textbook (and this course) aim to help you develop.