Org Comm Exam #1 (Garner / TCU) Questions and Answers Fully Solved Latest Update 2025-2026
transmission and constitutive perspectives - Answers -Transmission: aka container view; comm occurs in
the org; Ex: tennis ball= information, sound of the ball hitting container= org comm
-Constitutive: comm produced the organization or vice versa; communication and organization are
inseparable; Ex: playdoo
Defining characteristics of organizations - Answers -Interdependent: org units are connected to each
other; one affects the other
-Specialization: differentiation of tasks/ division of labor
-Goal orientation: aimed toward same general purpose/goal
-control mechanisms: making sure employees are effective and goal centered
5 types of control - Answers -Direct(Simple): supervisor directly monitors employee, problem is you only
observe a small amount of people
-Technological:tech. used to control employees ex:assembly line
-Bureaucratic: efficiency controls the employees, advancement based on merit
-Ideological: employees control themselves, get passionate for self and others
-Disciplinary: constantly want to improve yourself, therefore you help the org "overachieve"
5 world-views that Mumby presents - Answers 1-Functionalism (representation): progress achieved
through discovery, goal is to find general claims
2-Interpretivism (understanding) : org's are created by basic convos
3-Critical Theory (suspicion): Some people's comm. counts more than others, power is hidden, goal is to
level the playing field
, 4-Postmodernism (vulnerability): multiple ways at looking at the world, different views of world org's
aren't stable but are systems of meaning
5-Feminism (empowerment): org's traditionally favor men over women
Why is Marx frustrated with capitalism? - Answers -Marx argued that workers were alienated from
means of production/ owners had surplus of labor (worked same, made less)
-capitalism is destined to fail with an uprising of poor (didn't cuz the rise of the middle class)
-wealth is concentrated into hands of small group of people/minority (capitalist)
-workers sell their labor power
-workers can't produce for themselves
-turns money into more money
-exploitative nature of capitalism is hidden
What is the Frankfurt School's critique? ( For example, why might the Frankfurt School critique modern
media?) - Answers -Frankfurt school studied comm, mass media, rhetoric, and org comm; aimed at
reinterpreting Marxist through 20th century light and changes in capitalism; studied capitalism as
economic ,cultural and ideology(dialectical/critical theory); wanted to make Marxism relevant again
Critique: narrow conception of the role of mass culture in society, functioned as a control mechanism to
how capitalism was maintained
What is ideology? - Answers -system of attitudes that shape reality of people in society; usually taken of
granted; we don't sit and talk about meanings
-Ex: Fair; mens work vs. women work
Main points of critical approach - Answers -conditioned to accept others controlling us, power is below
the surface
-Semiotics: what the signs around us mean; they have multiple meanings
-orgs are political sites of collective decision making and democracy; sites off ethical issues/dilemmas
-key sites of identity formations; we are what we do
What are rate-busting and systematic soldiering? - Answers Systematic Soldiering:
-a problem central to the workplace
transmission and constitutive perspectives - Answers -Transmission: aka container view; comm occurs in
the org; Ex: tennis ball= information, sound of the ball hitting container= org comm
-Constitutive: comm produced the organization or vice versa; communication and organization are
inseparable; Ex: playdoo
Defining characteristics of organizations - Answers -Interdependent: org units are connected to each
other; one affects the other
-Specialization: differentiation of tasks/ division of labor
-Goal orientation: aimed toward same general purpose/goal
-control mechanisms: making sure employees are effective and goal centered
5 types of control - Answers -Direct(Simple): supervisor directly monitors employee, problem is you only
observe a small amount of people
-Technological:tech. used to control employees ex:assembly line
-Bureaucratic: efficiency controls the employees, advancement based on merit
-Ideological: employees control themselves, get passionate for self and others
-Disciplinary: constantly want to improve yourself, therefore you help the org "overachieve"
5 world-views that Mumby presents - Answers 1-Functionalism (representation): progress achieved
through discovery, goal is to find general claims
2-Interpretivism (understanding) : org's are created by basic convos
3-Critical Theory (suspicion): Some people's comm. counts more than others, power is hidden, goal is to
level the playing field
, 4-Postmodernism (vulnerability): multiple ways at looking at the world, different views of world org's
aren't stable but are systems of meaning
5-Feminism (empowerment): org's traditionally favor men over women
Why is Marx frustrated with capitalism? - Answers -Marx argued that workers were alienated from
means of production/ owners had surplus of labor (worked same, made less)
-capitalism is destined to fail with an uprising of poor (didn't cuz the rise of the middle class)
-wealth is concentrated into hands of small group of people/minority (capitalist)
-workers sell their labor power
-workers can't produce for themselves
-turns money into more money
-exploitative nature of capitalism is hidden
What is the Frankfurt School's critique? ( For example, why might the Frankfurt School critique modern
media?) - Answers -Frankfurt school studied comm, mass media, rhetoric, and org comm; aimed at
reinterpreting Marxist through 20th century light and changes in capitalism; studied capitalism as
economic ,cultural and ideology(dialectical/critical theory); wanted to make Marxism relevant again
Critique: narrow conception of the role of mass culture in society, functioned as a control mechanism to
how capitalism was maintained
What is ideology? - Answers -system of attitudes that shape reality of people in society; usually taken of
granted; we don't sit and talk about meanings
-Ex: Fair; mens work vs. women work
Main points of critical approach - Answers -conditioned to accept others controlling us, power is below
the surface
-Semiotics: what the signs around us mean; they have multiple meanings
-orgs are political sites of collective decision making and democracy; sites off ethical issues/dilemmas
-key sites of identity formations; we are what we do
What are rate-busting and systematic soldiering? - Answers Systematic Soldiering:
-a problem central to the workplace
