FINAL EXAM

Please answer three of the questions below. You should spend no more than 30 minutes on each and write from 1 to 2 pages on each. Ask me if you have questions. You can use your book or notes if you so desire.

1. Very briefly define the structural frame and the cultural frame. Discuss how the two work together in an organization. Give at least one example of how structure and culture can be used together to improve the organization.

2. Briefly describe a real organization and tell how you would go about using an organizational communication audit to examine it. Pick at least four major audit methods to use as part of the process.

3. Briefly describe buffering. Then elaborate on the implications of buffering for effectively managing an organizational system.

4. Briefly describe power. Then elaborate on power in an organization and how you would use it to lead and improve an organization.

5. Briefly describe information. Then elaborate on information in an organization and how you would manage it to lead and improve an organization.

6. Do a self assessment on communication issues, be concrete drawing from the Communication Fundamentals Lecture and/or the Strategic Communication Lecture. Identify at least 1 or 2 strengths and at least 2 areas where you believe you can improve. What is your plan for self improvement?

7. What are some of the goals that you might have with regard to the cultural frame? Explain how the other frames can be used to develop such a culture. Do so strategically, though examples and tactics are appropriate to use.

8. What approaches would you use to make an ordinary act(s) cause or create an extraordinary outcome(s) in an organization?

9. What is the single most significant concept you learned in this class about how organizations function and how people work in them? Elaborate on it.

10. Take one theoretical perspective that we discussed in class and explain it and its application for an organization.

11. Write and answer your own essay question.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FOUR FRAMES

NOTE: you can only do 1 of these four questions about the frames, you don't have to pick one of them, but you cannot do 2!

12A. Please define (Very Briefly) the Structural Frame and its assumptions. Say what it is, what some of the assumptions are and some of the critical issues. Tell me what you know about the Structural Frame and how you would use it to manage organizational improvement & change.

12B. Please define (Very Briefly) the Cultural Frame and its assumptions. Say what it is, what some of the assumptions are and some of the critical issues. Tell me what you know about the Cultural Frame and how you would use it to manage organizational improvement & change.

12C. Please define (Very Briefly) the Political Frame and its assumptions. Say what it is, what some of the assumptions are and some of the critical issues. Tell me what you know about the Political Frame and how you would use it to manage organizational improvement & change.

12D. Please define (Very Briefly) the Human Resource Frame and its assumptions. Say what it is, what some of the assumptions are and some of the critical issues. Tell me what you know about the Human Resource Frame and how you would use it to manage organizational improvement & change.