Observing Organizational Communication: A Portfolio Assignment

Instructions

The items refered to that I need to get from the company I will get. I want to do this on the company I currently work for. DGB website www.dgb.co.za You are expected to visit an organisation of your choice – any organisation, small or large (for example, the local grocery store, hardware store, local school, a bank, a law firm or a nonprofit organisation) – and observe the organisational communication aspects of this organisation for a full business day. You don’t need to do anything while at this organisation; you should merely act as an observer. To do so, you need to approach the organisers or managers of the organisation to obtain permission and cooperation for your visit (if necessary, you can show them this Tutorial Letter 101 and the portfolio assignment). You need to obtain a written and signed letter from these organisers or managers wherein they confirm that you visited their organisation for a day. You need to complete a journal entry discussing the problems you encountered 1) when you approached the organisation and 2) when you were conducting your observation. Submit this letter along with your portfolio, attached as Addendum A. The journal entry should be attached as Addendum B. COM2601/101 39 Based on your observation at the organisation, answer all of the following questions: QUESTION 1 COMMUNICATION IN THE ORGANISATION 1. Critically discuss which formal and informal networks you identified as channels of communication within the organisation you have chosen. (10) 1.2 With the help of organisational or departmental organograms, describe the directional flow of communication with specific reference to upward, downward and horizontal flow of communication within the organisation of your choice. (10) [20] QUESTION 2 THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO ORGANISATIONAL MANAGEMENT Based on your observation of organisational activities in your selected organisation, a specific managerial approach and accompanying communication approach should be evident. 2.1 List and define three management approaches that are often identified in organisations. (6) 2.2 What management approach is evident in your organisation? Substantiate your answer by discussing the principles of this selected approach and include examples from your observation of this organisation. (10) 2.3 In relation to your selected managerial approach discussed in question 2.2, discuss what communication approach is evident in your organisation. In your opinion, do you feel that this communication approach is best suited to reach organisational objectives? Give reasons for your answer. (4) [20] COM2601/101 40 QUESTION 3 ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE 3.1 Many people often do not know the difference between “cultureâ€Â and “climateâ€Â, with some even using these words as synonyms. Despite this, culture and climate are different concepts. Differentiate between culture and climate by providing definitions for each and substantiate these differences with examples from the organisation you visited. (10) 3.2 Communication plays a pivotal role in facilitating how people come to understand the various elements of organisational culture. This understanding is important for how members of an organisation interact, not only with each other, but also with external stakeholders. Briefly discuss any five elements of organisational culture that were present in the organisation you visited. (10) [20] QUESTION 4 THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF ASSESSING ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE According to Grunig and Grunig (2011), no organisation’s communication is ever completely excellent; thus there is always an opportunity for improvement. By conducting research, a researcher is able to identify which aspects of organisational communication can be developed further. Keeping the above information in mind, identify an aspect of organisational communication in your chosen organisation that requires improvement. Critically discuss how you would proceed with compiling a research proposal and complete steps 1 to 5 of the research process. [20] TECHNICAL PRESENTATION [10] Journal entry Complete a journal entry, covering the following aspects: What challenges did you encounter 1) when you approached the organisation 2) when you were conducting your observation? JOURNAL ENTRY [10] TOTAL 100