Assignment
The Functional Tradition describes what "messages do and how they move through organizations" (Shockley-Zalabak, 2015, p. 28). A function can be seen as a relationship between two things and/or a purpose or activity for which something (a material thing) exists or is used. In this sense, communication is seen as a series of organizational processes, which serve a purpose. For the Functional Tradition, communication exists or is used to organize, for relationships, and for change functions.
The Functional Tradition can essentially be seen as a systems perspective. Shockley-Zalabak (2015) describes information processing as the "primary function" of organizational systems (p. 28). It is useful, then, to understand the various components of a system, more specifically, as they relate to the function of organizing (organizational communication system).
The Meaning-Centered Approach views communication as the process through which shared realities are constituted. Shockley-Zalabak (2015) describes the Meaning-Centered Approach as taking the perspective that organizational communication is the "process for generating shared realities that become organizing, decision making, sensemaking, and culture" (p. 38).
Write a thoughtful, well-considered essay that addresses two of the three questions below. Each answer in Part I should be between 250-500 words. Then, choose one of your responses from section A and write a comparative response following the instructions in Part II.
Part I
Address two of the three questions below:
• Shockley-Zalabak draws from Karl Weick's book The Social Psychology of Organizing (1979). She summarizes Weick's ideas, stating, "there is no such thing as an organization" (p. 39). The reason being, "organizations as such do not exist but rather are in the process of existing through ongoing human interaction" (Shockley-Zalabak p. 39). From the Meaning-Centered Approach, how is Zappos being generated through human interaction?
• How do you see organizational communication (remember p. 17) in Zappos' efforts to socialize and assimilate employees? (Hint: Describe what socialization is and how Zappos uses it. Provide examples from the videos to illustrate the phases of socialization.)
• Shockley-Zalabak describes one way of understanding organizational culture as "the unique sense of the place that organizations generate through ways of doing and ways of communicating about the organization. Organizational culture reflects the shared realities and shared practices in the organization and how these realities create and shape organizational events" (p. 46). How does Zappos create a unique sense of place through ways of doing and ways of communicating about themselves? What is a shared reality, and how do you see it at Zappos? How do these realties create and shape organizational events at Zappos?
Part II
Choose one of your answers from Part I to analyze. Then write a comparative response following these instructions.
• Take the viewpoint of the Functional Tradition, and describe how the Functional Tradition would see your answer differently; and
• Explain/support your answer with evidence from the chapter.
This should be done in 250-500 words.