The Communication Glue that Binds Employees to an Organization: A Study of Organizational Identification in Two Thai Organizations

Organizational communication scholars have paid scant attention to the motivations of people who choose careers in social service organizations. This study examined organizational identification in the context of two Thai social service organizations: government-run Community Development Department (CDD) and non-governmental Population and Community Development Association (PDA). The degree to which CDD members identified with CDD and PDA members identified with PDA was assessed by using the Organizational Identification Questionnaire constructed by George Cheney (1982 Cheney , G. (1982) . Organizational identification as process and product: A field study . Unpublished master's thesis , Purdue University . [Google Scholar]). Comparison of CDD and PDA scores on Cheney's OIQ provided findings that mirror those of previous studies of organizational identification. Specifically, the level of organizational identification among employees who work for the non-governmental privately-run social-cause organization (PDA) was significantly higher than for employees who work for the government organization (CDD). Thus, the non-governmental organization appears to be more effective than the government organization in fostering employee identification. Interestingly, a factor analysis of Thai responses to the Cheney instrument revealed three dimensions that were different from the three dimensions theorized by Cheney (1982 Cheney , G. (1982) . Organizational identification as process and product: A field study . Unpublished master's thesis , Purdue University . [Google Scholar]). While Cheney's conceptualization of identification included employees sense of membership, similarity, and loyalty to their organization, the Thai dimensions reflected life values (‘pride in membership’), social values (‘fit with organization’), and personal values (‘comfort zone’). These findings hold important implications for communication scholars who study employee motivation in non-Western organizational contexts.     

Family Communication Patterns as Predictors of Organizational Dissent: A Replication Study

This study replicated a previous research project addressing connections between family-of-origin communication and organizational dissent expression. We predicted that family communication patterns (FCPs), specifically conversation and conformity orientations, would predict upward, lateral, and displaced dissent. As in the original study, significant findings emerged for upward dissent and conformity orientation. This replication study indicated family type as an inconsistent predictor of expressed dissent. Contrary to the original study, we found no evidence to support a connection between pluralistic family types and upward dissent. Finally, as an extension of the original study we analyzed effects of FCPs on displaced dissent, finding an inverse association with conversation orientation. Implications for future research are discussed.     

Striving to Be King of Mobile Mountains: Communication and Organizing Through Digital Fitness Technology

This study considers fitness-tracking applications as settings for communicative performances. Qualitative interviews and observations with 41 users of a cycling-focused fitness application revealed communicative themes of qualifying, social sharing, and withholding. Users also assessed other members through social-group comparing and upward comparing. This study develops theory by revealing how individuals use the technology to communicate about their physical acts, and how the context of use facilitates organizing processes. We argue that use of this fitness application extends our understanding of how communication can constitute a community of practice (CoP; Brown & Duguid, 1991; Lave & Wenger, 1991). Primarily, the hybrid online/offline nature of Strava complicates the traditional understanding of communication and CoPs.     

媒介治理:作为善治的传播研究

西方信息社会的传播权利运动的兴起带动了传播学界"媒介治理"的研究热潮。通过社会人类学的"功能-符号"路径,媒介治理关注了传播的信息界面、产业界面、符号界面和关系界面,综合了传播系统的界内研究和界外研究,代表了一种新的传播研究范式。作为跨学科的交叉研究,"媒介治理"在研究取向上呈现出学科的交叉性:深层生态学路径、公共选择路径、协商民主路径是研究"媒介治理"的基本路径。媒介治理的研究是一种"灰色系统"的信息论,是第三种文化思维范式的代表。媒介治理理论研究尚处于起步阶段,需要进一步提供具有解释力的基本假设,实现叙事的连贯性和必要的逻辑建构。     

A Community of Practice Approach to Delivering Research Support Services in a Post-92 Higher Education Institution: A Reflective Case Study

ABSTRACT

The need for research support in U.K. universities is growing at a fast pace and a number of different professional and academic units within universities are involved in the process. This case study takes place in a post-92 higher education institution and discusses the benefit of utilizing a cross-university Community of Practice (CoP) approach to delivering research support services. It takes a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews to ascertain the personal experiences of community members. The article's key findings for successful implementation include a common sense of purpose; a shared concern or passion about the research agenda; a sense of community and belonging; trust; a safe environment; and senior management support. Added benefit is demonstrated by enhanced staff knowledge, increased job satisfaction, and profile-raising of the Library and Learning Service. The findings can help libraries in similar positions to use collaborative initiatives to develop research support services.     

图书馆有偿服务的新探索：书刊代租服务

The service of being commissioned to rent books and periodicals is a new approach to paid services of the library profession.It alliviates,to a certain extent,various contridictions emerged due to short funds.Also it suits the change of values and attitudes held by the readers,meeting their needs of reading and paid communication of personal books and periodicals,thus breaks through the traditional and long-standing mode of proinding services with the support of the library holdings.     

中华文明起源研究中“知识”“方法”与“精神”的展示——兼论科普展览的“多维目标取向”策展思路

以“中华文明探源工程”为代表的中华文明起源研究是可作为科普创作主题的重要题材。科技馆应在充分发掘其中丰富展览素材的基础上,汲取国内外科学教育界、博物馆和科技馆界的先进教育理念,采取“多维目标取向”的思路策划中华文明起源科普展,立体地、综合地呈现中华文明起源研究中的科学知识、科学方法、科学思想、科学精神及科学家精神。在有特定教育意义、教育目标的环境设计中“讲故事”“模拟再现科学探究实践”是实现“多维目标取向”展览的有效方法。学术研究作为策展前期的准备工作,也应该围绕这样的目标和手段展开。     

Virtually Working: Communicative and Structural Predictors of Media Use and Key Outcomes in Virtual Work Teams1 A previous version of this work was presented as a Top 3 Paper in the Organizational Communication Division at the International Communication Association Annual Conference,New Orleans,LA (May 2004).

Organizational trends toward team-based structures, globalization, and reliance on communication technology have spurred research addressing the communication processes of virtual teams. However, much of the extant research focuses on the ways virtual teams differ from conventional, face-to-face teams and fails to examine variations in virtual team characteristics that may impact team communication behaviors and experiences. The study reported here identifies two categories of virtual team characteristics (communicative and structural) and uses these to explore their relationships to team communication technology use and team outcomes. Analysis of data from 98 virtual teams reveals that structural features primarily relate to media use, whereas communication considerations are associated with team outcomes. Additional analyses indicate that various communicative predictors moderate the relationships between technology use and outcomes. These results point to theoretical and practical implications for researchers, team members, managers, and organizations related to virtual team design and communication processes.     

基于卢因行为模型的社交网络学术信息交流行为影响因素研究——以苏州地区高校科研人员为例

分析高校科研人员社交网络学术信息交流行为影响因素,有助于提高高校科研人员社交网络学术信息交流行为活跃度,拓宽群体知识面,实现组织内部工作模式创新。文章首先借鉴卢因行为理论构建高校科研人员社交网络学术信息交流行为影响因素模型,结合理性行为理论、顾客感知价值理论等提出八个假设,并采用问卷调查方法收集数据;然后对测量指标进行信度和效度检验,借助结构方程模型分析影响因素并验证假设;最后根据分析结论提出相应建议。通过分析得出行为意向、机会和激励对学术信息交流行为具有正向影响,并从学术社交平台建设、组织内部支持、加强个体学术信息交流意识等方面提出建议。     

Examining the Library as a Site for Intervention: A Mixed-Methods Case Study Evaluation of the “Innovative Solutions to Homelessness” Project

Abstract

This study examined a project that delivered social work services to homeless individuals. A mixed-methods case study was conducted using quantitative and qualitative data from 93 library employees and the project’s Homelessness Prevention Outreach Worker (HPOW). There was an increase in the number of clients accessing community supports during the project, and the HPOW was integral to the provision of support and resources to homeless individuals. Staff training was associated with significantly greater knowledge, comfort, and skills in working with homeless individuals. These findings can inform the delivery and implementation of similar programs for homeless individuals.     

Money and Leadership: A Study of Theses on Public School Libraries Submitted to the University of the Philippines' Institute of Library and Information Science

The author suggests the importance of knowledgeable leadership as a factor in improving Philippine school libraries. He offers a brief case study of how two different libraries fared with similar levels of funding. One without outstanding leadership did not advance; the other with knowledgeable leadership made large advances. This report is drawn from the author's earlier degree research at the University of the Philippines' Institute of Library and Information Science.     

清末北洋大学堂学生的首次留美之路——以上海图书馆馆藏盛宣怀档案中盛宣怀与傅兰雅的通信为例

在清末尝试官派学生出洋的背景下,1901年夏,盛宣怀向美国柏克莱加州大学教授傅兰雅提出带领北洋大学堂学生赴美学习的委托。经过多次协商,两人最终达成一致,派遣学生进入柏克莱加州大学学习。在留学期间,由傅兰雅担任学生们的监督,负责管理他们的学习和生活。北洋大学堂学生的此次留美尝试,也是清末留学运动初兴时期的一个缩影。