Basic Concepts and
Communication
Models
An introduction to thinking
about communication in
organizations
Some Course Assumptions
Information in this course is valuable to the
extent that you can use it
 We’re trying to provide you with a
repertoire of skills to meet a variety of
situations
 We want to go beyond skills and
techniques to understand the underlying
situation…theory has its uses!

Prof. Nick Burnett, ComS 103, Sec. 1118, F'07
Some Fundamental Concepts
 Context
 Process
 Truth
Prof. Nick Burnett, ComS 103, Sec. 1118, F'07
Some Initial Observations
A communication axiom-- “You cannot not
communicate”
 Always judge communication in terms of
context
 Language is an inherently arbitrary symbol
system
 Communication is polysemic

Prof. Nick Burnett, ComS 103, Sec. 1118, F'07
Communication and
Organizations
Communication is not a secondary or
derived aspect of organizations--it is not a
“helper”
 Communication is an intrinsic, inherent,
defining feature of organizations


“No human relationship could be maintained, no
organizational objective achieved, no activities
coordinated and no decisions reached without
communication.”
Prof. Nick Burnett, ComS 103, Sec. 1118, F'07
Unique Perspectives on
Communication in Organizations
Downward communication (superior to
subordinate)
 Upward communication (subordinate to
superior)
 Horizontal communication (among
colleagues)
 Informal communication (the grapevine)

Prof. Nick Burnett, ComS 103, Sec. 1118, F'07
Comparative Communication
Models

Early models depicted linear movement
S->M->C->R


More accepted view now is
transactional/transformational model of
communication--simultaneous encoding and
decoding of messages
Dodd—”Communication is defined as
participants interpreting information by
interacting through sending and receiving
messages across a channel in an organizational
Prof. Nick Burnett, ComS 103, Sec. 11context.”
18, F'07
Critical Elements in
Communication Models



Participants—uniquely situated actors in a
particular context. Those participants are
affected by their own particular frame of
reference—their culture, gender, level of
education, organizational rank, etc.
Interpretation—involves the encoding and
decoding of symbols transmitted during the
interaction. Those processes are not
uncomplicated.
Context of the workplace—context is always
important in communication, the workplace
brings special
challenges to context.
Prof. Nick Burnett, ComS 103, Sec. 1118, F'07
Critical Elements continued
Channel--importance, needs of receiver,
amount of feedback needed, permanent
record?, cost, formality level, is it live or is
it mediated?
 Feedback--advantages and disadvantages
 Noise--external and internal, technical or
semantic

Prof. Nick Burnett, ComS 103, Sec. 1118, F'07