COMMUNICATION IN ORGANISATION

Strengths & Weaknesses Of Communication In Organisation

Abstract

Yin-yang interplay characterizes the “chi theory of communication,” a newly emerged communication paradigm developed from a Chinese philosophy. Yin and yang themselves not only constitute dialectics but also contain very rich implications. This essay first introduces the chi theory of communication and compares them with some scientific and philosophical principles to facilitate the understanding of the theory. The article then proposes six assumptions, based on which six exemplary dialectics in organizations are discussed. Three theoretical implications are drawn from the discussion.

Strengths & Weaknesses Of Communication In Organisation

Introduction and Historical Background

Among communications in all contexts intra-personal, interpersonal, organizational, and societal organizational communication is the one in which dialectics is the most prominent. Viewed from the system perspective, interdependence is a definitive feature of organizations, which involve more direct communication partners, and more frequent communication than in other contexts. Also viewed from the system perspective, organizations characterize hierarchy, which creates numerous structural dialectical relationships, e.g., leaders-member opposites. Even though organizational leadership tends to tout unity or cohesiveness centering around organizational goal, organizations are inevitably fraught with dialectical relationships. The tension in these relationships is frequently fueled by inherent diversity in life backgrounds and vested interests of members, as well as inevitable dilemmas or quandaries both in tasks or relationships. (Fairhurst, 2001)

From the viewpoint of Taoism, of which Lao Tzu was one of the earliest founding philosophers, all things are created by the interplay of yin and yang, which generates changes and creation. As far as communication is concerned, yin-yang interplay generates change and creates information - the basic element of communication. The epistemological perspective can well explain this generation process. Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people. Various business analysis techniques can be used in strategic planning, including SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats ), PEST analysis (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological), STEER analysis (Socio-cultural, Technological, Economic, Ecological, and Regulatory factors), and EPISTEL (Environment, Political, Informatic, Social, Technological, Economic and Legal)(Hsieh, 2004, 333).

FDA has seen its responsibilities increase exponentially in recent years as globalization, emerging areas of science, evolving technologies, and people's growing interest in managing their health and well-being have presented the agency with unprecedented challenges and opportunities. These factors have enormous implications for the ways in which the agency communicates the risks and benefits of the products it regulates.( Hamburg, 2009)

In the past, FDA's communication efforts were largely restricted to overseeing the key vehicle for communicating risk information to the public—the labeling of FDA-regulated products. The process of negotiating with product manufacturers about changes to labeling or decisions to recall a product was often lengthy. But as the Internet and emerging technologies have both enabled and fed the public's demand for greater transparency and communication frequency, these protracted waiting periods have given way to communication in real time. Thus, designing a contemporary risk communication strategy is key to ...