STUDY OF A SELF-STUDY
COMMITTEE
Using Schein’s Categories of Culture Theory
and
Berlo’s SMCR Communication Theory
Trish Halder – LDR 630
March 9, 2011
Introduction
• Mission of Kellogg Community College (KCC):
To prepare and
graduate students with meaningful degrees so they can either enter the work
world or transfer to four-year colleges.*
• Accreditation is crucial if educational institutions wish to accomplish their
mission of preparing and graduating students with meaningful degrees
• Definition of accreditation:
“to certify [a school, college, or the like]
as meeting all formal official requirements of academic excellence, curriculum,
facilities, etc.” (Dictionary.com)
• KCC is up for reaccreditation in 2012
• KCC is preparing a comprehensive self-study document in preparation for the
reaccreditation process, using nine self-study teams
*Trish’s unofficial definition
TEAM 2 BREAKDOWN
Role on Committee
KCC Organizational Level
or “Sub-Culture”
Co-Team Leader
Administration
Co-Team Leader
Faculty
Committee Members (6)
Administration
Committee Members (2)
Faculty
Committee Member
Support Staff
Committee Member/Recorder
Support Staff
Total Administration: 7
Total Faculty: 3
Total Support Staff: 2
Total Team: 12
Schein’s Categories of Culture Diagram
MACROCULTURES
Nations, ethnic and religious groups, occupations that exist globally
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURES
Private, public, non-profit government organizations
SUBCULTURES
Occupational groups within organizations
Three generic subcultures:
operator, engineering, executive
MICROCULTURES
Microsystems within or outside organizations
Schein’s Categories Applied to Team 2
MACROCULTURE
United States
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
Kellogg Community College
SUBCULTURE
Operator = Support Staff
Engineering = Faculty
Executive = Administration
MICROCULTURE
Self-Study Team 2
SUBCULTURE DETAILS
SUPPORT STAFF (OPERATOR):
•Serve in “front-line” positions
•Must react as situations arise
•Share similar educational background – both have Bachelor degrees
FACULTY (ENGINEERING):
•Only subculture with flexible working hours (based on teaching schedules)
•Have more personal and consistent contact with students
•Share similar educational background – two Doctorates and one Masters degree
ADMINISTRATION (EXECUTIVE):
•Each is in charge of a division, center, or department at KCC
•Experience similar concerns/stress associated with their levels of responsibility
•Share similar educational background – five Masters (two exceptions: one Bachelor, one
Associate degree)
UNIFYING MISSION THAT BONDS TEAM 2 AS A MICROCULTURE:
To work together to write a comprehensive chapter of KCC’s self-study document, which
will be used to determine if the College receives reaccreditation.
Berlo’s SMCR Diagram
(www.uri.edu)
Berlo’s SMCR Communication Theory
Explanation
•
•
•
•
•
•
SOURCE: the person who originates a thought they wish to convey to someone
ENCODING: the process of the source converting their thought into words
MESSAGE: the actual information the Source is relaying
CHANNEL: the medium used to deliver the message (1 or more of the 5 senses)
DECODING: the process of the Receiver interpreting the Source’s message
RECEIVER: the person to whom the Source’s message was directed
• PROs: One of the first communication theories to recognize the receiver as
integral to the process; encoding and decoding emphasized the difficulty we all
face when translating our thoughts and deciphering others’ words.
• CONs: The theory assumes the Source and Receiver share common levels of
skills and knowledge; it ignores humans’ sixth sense – the ability to think,
understand and analyze.
Berlo’s Theory Applied to Team 2
SOURCE
MESSAGE
CHANNEL
RECEIVER
2 TEAM LEADERS
SELF-STUDY INFO
HEARING
10 TEAM MEMBERS
Keep it clear; check Specific to mission
with receivers; listen
(Content)
to questions
Upbeat/positive;
understanding of
the committee’s
stress
Body language:
engaged (faculty);
relaxed (admin.)
Obvious they’ve
done research;
honest about still
learning
Importance of
staying on task
stressed
Face-to-face
meetings; phone
calls between
meetings
Seek clarification
and ask questions
when appropriate
Willing to put forth
considerable effort
(Elements/Code)
SEEING
Computer image on
screen; printed
handouts; e-mail;
Minutes
Knowledge of selfstudy is growing and
evolving
(Treatment)
Both value the
College and believe
Clear/concise
All U.S. citizens and
share common
Conclusions
• Team 2 is a microculture, comprised of three
distinct subcultures, which is bound by the
mission of writing an effective chapter of the selfstudy to help the College gain reaccreditation.
• We have been successful so far due in part to
effective, clear, and concise communication that
has kept us on track. We have turned in our
second draft to the Steering committee by their
deadline and are awaiting their feedback.