The University of Illinois

Department of Communication
CMN 412
Advanced Organizational Communication
Spring, 2016
9:30 - 10:50 Tuesday and Thursday,
Lincoln Hall 4053
Syllabus
John C. Lammers
217-333-8912
jclammer@illinois.edu

Office: 3036 Lincoln Hall

Office Hours: Wednesdays
11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
(or by appointment)

Description of the course

This course focuses on macro-organizational communication issues. As such it consists of a
study of organizations as units of analysis rather than individuals as units of analysis. For
example, we might want to know why fast food organizations appear to use similar
communication strategies, or why health care organizations are using fast food communication
strategies. Each of these questions considers organizations rather than persons as units or foci of
analysis. The questions we ask, the processes we study, and the answers we seek are therefore
importantly different at this perspective or level. We now move from questions about human
communication in organizations (micro-organizational behavior) to questions about the
communication of organizations (macro-organizational communication).
The goal of the course this term is to explore theories (that is, explanations) and issues of such
macro-organizational behavior. Most work in organizational communication has been an
extension of interpersonal communication, and it remains dominated by an intra-organizational
(rather than inter-organizational) focus. One of the possibilities for expanding the field of
communication and increasing the strength of its explanations about human experience is in the
area of inter-organizational relations. The experiences of individuals and their opportunities for
efficacious communication, or for organizational efficiency and efficacy, can be understood as
function of macro-organizational variables.
Several areas will be explored during the course.

CMN 412 page 2 of 8 pages

I.

Macro Organizational theories: implicit communication

As our introductory and foundational unit, we begin with a view of the organization as a
unit of analysis. In this unit we also examine macro theories of organization and their
implications for communication.

II.

Interorganizational relations: organizations communicate with each other.

Once human behavior and communication becomes built-up into the patterns we call
complex organizations, we need to examine the arrangements and connections among
multiple organizations.

III.

Organizational identification: How organizations share ways of establishing identities for

themselves and their members.

IV.

Organizational culture: The symbol life of an organization develops both within and
through the permeable boundaries of organizations in a global environment

V.

Organizational ethics from a macro perspective. Ethics commonly refers to systems of

values about moral behavior of individuals. But a macro perspective suggests that the
systems are maintained by widely shared and enforced norms, rules, and regulations.

Goals and objectives of the course

The goal of this course is to make students aware of the organizational context in which humans
communicate and the larger arrangements that condition their choices. When the student has
completed this course, she or he will be able to
1.
2.
3.
4.
5
6.

Identify and describe three theoretical perspectives on organizations' environments

Distinguish between organizational and professional identity.
Define organizational culture and explain its relationship to wider human cultural variables.
Recognize the key elements of organizational network analysis.
Identify the features of McDonaldization.
Discuss approaches to corporate ethics from a macro-perspective

Methods of the course

The course will be taught through a combination of readings, lectures, and group discussions. It
is imperative that students come to class meetings prepared to discuss scheduled readings and the
issues upon which they bear. In addition, students must bring an i>Clicker device to class at each
meeting (see below).

CMN 412 page 3 of 8 pages

Evaluation
There is no discipline in the world so severe as the
discipline of experience subjected to the tests of
intelligent development and direction.
John Dewey (1859 1952)

Assignments. Students' learning in this

course will be evaluated by means of short
assignments, two midterm exams, a
scheduled final exam, and pop quizzes, to
administered via the i>Clicker system (see below). In addition, attendance will be recorded
during each class meeting. The relative weights of these assignments are as follows:
Take-home midterm exam (part 4) 25%
Second midterm 25%
Scheduled comprehensive final exam 25%
Parts 1-3 of the midterm 15%
i>clicker participation 10%

Grades. Please note, Faculty members have the responsibility to provide the University with an
individual evaluation of the work of each student in their classes, (Code of Policies and
Regulations Applying to All Students, Rule 69. Academic Work Report Requirements) and that
Grades Authorized for All Colleges [include]: Excellent (A+, A, A-); Good (B+, B, B-); Fair
(C+, C, C-); Poor (D+, D, D-) (lowest passing grade); Failure (F) (not acceptable for degree
credit)... (Code of Policies and Regulations Applying to All Students, Rule 70. Grading System).
Grades in this course will be determined according to the following scale (pluses and minuses
will be determined by the distribution of scores within each category and at the instructors
discretion).
Points
90 percent or better
80 percent to 89 percent
70 percent to 79 percent
60 percent to 69 percent
less than 65 percent

Grade
A
B
C
D
F

Exams. The first midterm exam will be available on the Moodle web-based assignment system
(https://learn.illinois.edu) and conducted on a take-home basis. Additional guides for the first
midterm also will be found there. The second midterm will be conducted in an in-class bluebook
format. The final exam, held at the scheduled time (Friday, May 9, 7:00 - 10:00 PM) will make
use of multiple choice, short answer, and/or short essay questions. Material on the final exam
will cover all reading assignments, presentations, and lectures given during the entire course (a
comprehensive examination).
i>Clicker. You are required to purchase an i>Clicker remote for in-class participation. i>Clicker
is a wireless response system that allows you to respond to questions posed during class; you will
be graded on that feedback and/or participation. In order to receive this credit, you will need to
register your i>Clicker remote in class. I will project a registration screen with 3 steps to follow

CMN 412 page 4 of 8 pages

(look for your student ID, which will alphabetically scroll down the screen). Once your remote is
registered, your student ID will no longer appear on that scrolling list and you are registered for
the entire semester. If for some reason you cant follow these steps, I will need to register you by
an alternative policy by the second week of class. I>Clicker may be used every day in class, and
you are responsible for bringing your remote daily.
Attendance Policy
Attendance is expected as a part of enrollment in the course (we are scheduled to have 29
meetings). If you cannot attend for any reason, e-mail the instructor in advance. Your absence
will be excused for illness or uncontrollable personal events, and may be excused for campus or
career events only if you contact the instructor prior to the class meeting you miss. The final
grade will be lowered one-third mark (for example, from a C+ to a C) for every two unexcused
absences after the first week of class. Please take note of the due dates of the assignments and
plan accordingly.
Academic Integrity
Students are encouraged to inform themselves of the University of Illinoiss Code of Policies
and Regulations Applying to All Students Rule 33on Academic Integrity which can be found at:
http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/article_1/a1_1-401.html and following. This document
describes and gives examples of violations of academic integrity. Students will be held to these
regulations regardless of whether they have read them. Plagiarized material submitted in this
course will not be considered for a grade, but will be returned to the student and a zero will be
entered for the assignment, and a charge of academic dishonesty will immediately be filed with
the deans office.
Classroom Civility
Each student is encouraged to help create an environment during class that promotes learning,
dignity, and mutual respect for everyone. Students who speak at inappropriate times, sleep in
class, display inattention, take frequent breaks, interrupt the class by coming to class late, engage
in loud or distracting behaviors, use cell phones in class (they should always be turned to off or
vibrate mode and never used in class to make outgoing calls or text messages), use inappropriate
language, are verbally abusive, display defiance or disrespect to others, or behave aggressively
toward others could be asked to leave the class and subjected to disciplinary action under the
Code of Policies and Regulations Applying to All Students. All laptop computers, cell phones,
and other mobile computing and telecommunication devices should remain off during class
meetings, unless indicated by the instructor.
Readings
A collection of required readings will be made available through Moodle.

CMN 412 page 5 of 8 pages

George Ritzer. (2011). The McDonaldization of Society: An Investigation into the Changing
Character of Contemporary Social Life (current edition). Thousand Oaks California: Pine Forge
Press.
An i>Clicker device (available at the bookstore) is required.
Schedule of Meetings, Topics, and Assignments
Note: Check Moodle regularly for changes or posted readings in addition to those in the reader
listed here. The purpose of the schedule is to facilitate learning; if we need more time for a
particular subject or discussion, the schedule may change. Also, guest speakers or other events
may alter the order of assignments or influence whether we have time to cover each topic. Class
members are expected to keep up with assignments in any event. Please be aware that some web
links listed below only work from University-based computers. Unless otherwise indicated, the
articles are available on Moodle.
Date

Topic/Readings (see Moodle site for a complete list)

January 19
January 21

Introductions; our philosophies of learning

Defining organizational communication

January 26

A primer on organizational communication

Eisenberg, E. (2009). Organizational communication theories, 2: 700705. In S. Littlejohn and K. Foss (Eds.), Encyclopedia of communication
theories. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Scott, W. R., The subject is organizations, in Organizations: Rational,
Natural, and Open Systems (5th Edition). Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey:
Prentice-Hall.
Orientation to a macro-organizational focus
Scott, W. R., Conceptions of environments, in Organizations: Rational,
Natural, and Open Systems (5th Edition). Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey:
Prentice-Hall.

January 28

February 2

Orientation to a macro-organizational focus, continued

O'Rourke, J. S. (2013). Corporate Reputation and the Discipline of
Management Communication (pages 7280). In
Carroll, C. The Handbook of Communication and Corporate Reputation.
New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Gregory, A. (2013). Corporate Reputation and the Discipline of
Communication Management (pages 8193) In Carroll, C. The
Handbook of Communication and Corporate Reputation. New York:
John Wiley & Sons.

CMN 412 page 6 of 8 pages

February 4

A systems view of organizational environments

Scott, Organizations as Open Systems
Katz & Kahn, Organizations and the Systems Concept
Emery & Trist, The causal texture of organizational environments

February 9

A population-ecology view of organizational environments

Hannan, Michael T. (2005). Ecologies of organizations: Diversity and
identity. The Journal of Economic Perspectives 19, 1, 51-70.
An institutional view of organizational environments
Meyer & Rowan, Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony
DiMaggio & Powell, The Iron Cage Revisited

February 11

February 16
February 18

February 23
February 25

March 1

March 3

March 8

An institutional view of organizational environments, continued

Lammers & Barbour, An Institutional Theory of Organizational
Communication
Communicative implications of the institutional view
Lammers, How Institutions Communicate
Midterm part 1 due in class (this is group work--see midterm
instructions)
Structuration and institutions
For a guide see: http://www.religiousworlds.com/text/ag-struct.html
Lecture notes.
The Organizational Environment as a network
Provan, K. G., Fish, A., & Sydow, J. (2007). Interorganizational networks
at the network level: A review of the
empirical literature on whole networks. Journal of Management, 33(3),
479516.
Midterm part 2 due in class (this is group work--see midterm
instructions).
More tools for studying interorganizational relations
An Introduction to Social Network Analysis at http://orgnet.com/sna.html
Gulati & Gargiulo, Where do Interorganizational Networks Come From?
http://plinks.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?hid=1&sid=3ca4b6b6-36f1410d-a253-54f160cd7c1f%40sessionmgr4
Interorganizational Networks
Midterm part 3 due in class (this may be done in groups but must be
submitted individually--see midterm instructions)
The Communicative Constitution of Organizations
McPhee, R. D., & Zaug, P. (2000). The communicative constitution of
organizations. Electronic Journal of Communication, 10(12), 1-17.

CMN 412 page 7 of 8 pages

March 10

Discussion of the Midterm

March 14 (Monday)

Midterm part 4 due by 8:00 a.m. -- see midterm instructions

March 15

March 17

Identity and organizations

Ashforth, B. E., Harrison, S. H., & Corley, K. G. (2008). Identification in
organizations: An examination of four fundamental questions. Journal of
Management, 34, 325-374.
Identity and institutions
Lammers, J. C., & Garcia, M. (2009). Exploring the concept of
'profession' for organizational communication research: Institutional
influences in a veterinary organization. Management Communication
Quarterly 22, 357-384.

March 22
March 24

No Classes (Spring Break)

No Classes (Spring Break)

March 29

Globalizing Organizational Communication

Keyton, J. (2014). Organizational culture: Creating meaning and
influence. In L. L. Putnam, & D. K. Mumby (Eds.), The Sage handbook
of organizational communication (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
Stohl, C. and Ganesh, S. (2014). Globalization. In Mumby, D. & Putnam,
L. (eds.), The Sage handbook of organizational communication. Newbury
Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Cultural comparisons explored
Hofstede, Culture and Organizations, Software of the Mind: excerpts.

March 31
April 5
April 7

April 12
April 14

A cultural approach to organizational environments

Barber, Jihad vs. McWorld
Cultural Comparisons: a critique
Communicating Rationality: McDonaldization
Ritzer, The McDonaldization of Society, Chapters 1, 2, 3
McDonaldization, Contd.
Ritzer, The McDonaldization of Society, Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7
Disneyization
Ritzer, The McDonaldization of Society, Chapters 8, 9, 10

April 19

Second midterm, in class, bluebooks required

April 21

Discourse in Organizations
Putnam, L., & Fairhurst, G. (2014). Discourse analysis in organizations:
Issues and concerns. In Mumby, D. & Putnam, L. (eds.), The Sage

CMN 412 page 8 of 8 pages

handbook of organizational communication. Newbury Park, CA: Sage

Publications.
April 26

April 28

Communicating Corporate Ethics

May, S., & Roper, J. (2014). Organizational Communication, Ethics, and
Responsibility. In Mumby, D. & Putnam, L. (eds.), The Sage handbook
of organizational communication. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Communicating Corporate Ethics Discussion

May 3

Review and Evaluations

May 4

(Wednesday) Instruction ends

May 12

(Thursday) Final Exam 7:00 - 10:00 PM