Organizational Communication Essay -- Functions of Communication

Organizational Communication is probably the most important type of interpersonal communication a person has to perform in his or her adult life. Communicating with others in the work environment is a process that cannot be looked at as a small one, but as a very complex and of utmost significance to a person's life as a whole. We all know communication is a key factor in everyone's life, and communicating in the work place is just a larger key for cultural expectance and normalcy. Everyone communicates with each other in all different aspects of society. When you are younger, school is the main agency for social communication and in later life it is the job you occupy. It is socially stated and seen as a norm that in adult life you should have a job for means of survival. Therefore, another way to put it is the best way to survive in life is to work. Because of this sociological norm, you must be able to adapt to your job. This is the most important aspect of the work environment. A nd the only way to adapt to your surroundings and be able to participate in everyday work life is to communicate with others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Organizational Communication is therefore basically broken up into two parts; The Socialization process of communicating, and the later communication between co-workers in everyday situations. First and foremost we will look at the more complex and significant process of communication socialization. Sociologist J. Van Maanen's definition of organizational communication is "the process by which a person learns the values and norms and required behaviors which permit him or her to participate as a member of the organization" In other words, its learning the ropes of the occupation. Not only any skill you may need, but how co-workers communicate, and understanding the importance of the organization as well. One thing to understand is socialization in an organization is not a temporary process that stops after the first few months on the job, but it is fact a continuos process that will change as the longer a person stays with that organization. All socialization proc ess are broken up into stages, and organizational socialization is not any different. Think back to when you were starting a new job and it will be very easy to see and understand these stages. Remember the first day on a new job, when you probably didn't know any one, and you didn't know... ...ange in an organization just as they change in the real environment, and we must be able to change with them just as we try to do in that real environment. Moreover, communication is in all areas an important facet that we must be able to master if we want to have the ultimate experience in what we do. Lets face it we are all young and have or whole lives ahead of us. Most of that time is going to be occupied by the occupation we choose. In fact we may go through many jobs to find the one that we are most comfortable in. But above all the ability to communicate well with important others are something we cannot easily pass by, but must use to make our lives satisfying. Works Cited Wood, Julia T. (1998) Communication Mosaics: A New Introduction to the Field of Communication. Wadsworth Publishing Company Roloff, Michael E. & Berger, Charles R. (1982) Social Cognition and Communication Sage Publications Deveroux Ferguson, Sherry & Ferguson, Stewart (1988) Organizational Communication Transaction Books Macionis, John R. (1998) Society: The Basics. Prentice Hall Inc. Berne, Eric (1963) The Structure and Dynamics of Organizations and Groups J.B. Lippincott Company