Organizational Communication: A Lifespan Approach is a student-focused introduction to the field. Featuring real-world stories, helpful and unique illustrations, and practical applications of theory, this text engages students and shows them how to apply concepts, theories, and perspectives in every chapter.

Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors 1. Introduction Defining Communication Information Transfer Shared Meaning Transactional Meaning Creation Applying the Three Definitions of Communication Working Definition Defining Organizations A Legal Definition of Organizations A Social Definition of Organizations A Communicative Definition of Organizations The Complexity of Defining Communication in Organizations Strategic Ambiguity Ethical Issue: Strategic Ambiguity Nonverbal Communication Applying the Three Nonverbal Criteria Communication Challenge: Office Design Perspectives on Organizational Communication A Post-Positivist Perspective An Interpretive Perspective A Critical Perspective Other Perspectives Application to Different Types of Organizations Summary Glossary 2. Communication and Anticipatory Socialization Anticipatory Role Socialization Family Education Communication Challenge: Realistic Expectations Peers Previous Experience Communication Challenge: Comparing Workplaces Media Application The

Selling point: The Lifespan Approach uniquely organizes organizational communication theories to when individuals will first or more frequently encounter them, helping students apply that theory during their lives in the workplace. This applied focus assures that students can easily connect what they are reading to their current and future organizational experiences. Selling point: Each chapter begins with a brief scenario or case study that is highlighted throughout the chapter to make it easier to apply the concepts and theories to a specific workplace example Selling point: Ethical issues are integrated into every chapter Selling point: More than forty new references to this edition, with most of those being published within the past few years