Question

Each student should write an essay explaining how communication would be used in a classical organization.

Answer 1

The main idea of the classical perspectives of organizational communication is that organizations are similar to machines.Eric Eisenberg and Lloyd Goodall wrote that “the way we talk about a problem directly influence the solutions we can articulate to address the problem. Theories of organization and communication should enhance our ability to articulate alternative ways of approaching and acting on practical issues .” They further noted that theories have two basic qualities: metaphorical and historical.Communication is important process in the organization and is a key mechanism for achieving integration and coordination of the activities of specialized units at different levels in the organization. Communication can be horizontal, downward or upward.the classical management approach ignores the needs and creativity of the workers. Communication is only needed before the machine is used. An example of this would be communication that explains how to use a certain machine or discussing an employee’s tasks. Communication should not happen during production because it will slow down the process. Communication is only needed in the classical approach when giving orders and enforcing rules. This lack of communication forces a separation of power that can lead to employee unhappiness.

The approaches to Organization Communication are communication as information transfer, communication as transactional process, communication as strategic control, and communication as a balance of creativity and constraint. Communication as information transfer applies to the classical approaches to management because thoughts are transferred from the boss or supervisor to the employee.