Chapter 8 of our course text deals with the topic of organizational communication ethics, an entity mentioned as a "Community of Memory and Dwelling" (p.137). The good of organizational communication ethics is the dwelling place that is constructed. In addition, Arnett, Fritz, and Bell break organizational communication ethics down to four praxis: organizational communication, dwelling place, organizations and institutions, and finally the community of memory within organizations. Organizational communication is defined as the orchestration of formal and informal events to accomplish purpose within an organization. These events allow the organization to promote their good and create an identity for themselves. Communication of organizations is shaped by the notion of "dwelling place" and the good that the organization strives to promote and protect. Organizations and institutions are said to be connected, but not exactly synonymous. "Organizations find meaning within a larger understanding of the institutions that provide them with a sense of identity" (p.144).Community of memory deals with the "what", the communicative practices, and the "how", which is the understanding shape in an ongoing community of memory. This element of communication is found through "erratic discoveries rather than clear delineation" (p.145).
I consider my job to be a very important dwelling place in my life. The company's main goals are to promote the goods of quality customer service and overall sales growth.The institutions within my store help create a sense of identity that the organization can remain true to. Much like the book mentions, dwelling places may not welcome everybody. Being I work at Lids, a specialty retailer dealing in sports team and brand related hats, it may not cater to the lifestyle of every person that comes to the mall. This makes organizations unique, and further allows them to create the identity that they want, while protecting the good/goods desired. Lids strives to be the best seller of team and branded hats in the industry, and this is made possible by their organizational and institutional framework.
Hi Austin,
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned you consider your job to be an important dwelling place. From my own experience, how we feel about our environments, in this case dwelling, greatly affects how we are able to perform. Being a member of a company that fosters your interests greatly increases your productivity and desire to succeed. I also like how you mentioned that dwelling places are not welcoming to everyone. In your case it is not welcoming because of the product provided; however, certain companies do not create a welcoming dwelling space based on beliefs and that can create many problems when relating to communication ethics. For example: when Chic-fil-A’s CEO came out in opposition of gay marriage, it turned its restaurants’ spaces into selective dwellings. Whereas I believe that every company has the right to their own opinions, I feel in this example it was not a good business move. It didn’t treat its restaurants, which are public spaces, as sacred. It was not a dwelling place for differing particulars where a diversity of ideas and persons was nourished.
I think that your example of Lids’ infrastructure is welcoming to everyone and promotes a good for everyone, but it is the selective customer that chooses not to go there.
I, too, consider my place of employment to be an important dwelling place in my life and can identify with the idea of it being a place that promotes certain "goods."
ReplyDeleteIn my case, at Whole Foods, the idea is to present a common good of healthy eating and healthy lifestyle choices surrounding food ethics. An example of such is the rating system for meat so that people who wish to buy it can know roughly what kind of life that animal had, with a bare minimum of standards.
This good is promoted primarily through employee and customer education, and is supported through the organizational framework of core values.
Through these things, a dwelling place of health and education is promoted, and learning and health is promoted and fostered.