Journal of Business Communication
Journal of Business Communication http://job.sagepub.com/ The Sounds and Silences of Employee Communication
John C. Athanassiades Journal of Business Communication 1973 10: 43 DOI: 10.1177/002194367301000406 The online version of this article can be found at: http://job.sagepub.com/content/10/4/43
Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of:
Association for Business Communication
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>> Version of Record - Jul 1, 1973 What is This?
Downloaded from job.sagepub.com at UQ Library on September 15, 2013
interactions exist between upward and downward distortions ofcommunication and the organizational clmate. Here are some of the findings ofrecent research and a discussion oftheir implications for the individual and the organization.
Dynamic relationships and
THE SOUNDS AND SILENCES OF EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATION
JOHN
C. ATHANASSIADES Georgia State University
Two RECENT REPORTS have disclosed a widespread practice of distortion of downward communication by executives in both private and public organizations.’ Obviously, managers, executives and administrators (or, whatever
which decision-makers are known), busted by mounting pressures from various clients and publics,2 tend to freeze their attitudes and to resolve perceived problems either by direct confrontation or, more often than not, by resorting to increased secrecy, tighter controls and-in some cases-to outright manipulation of information. Understandable as such executive behavior may seem, its effects are often dire for the organization. For example, one of the aforementioned studies reports that distortion of downward communication by business executives, i.e., the
John C. Athanassiades Journal of Business Communication 1973 10: 43 DOI: 10.1177/002194367301000406 The online version of this article can be found at: http://job.sagepub.com/content/10/4/43
Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of:
Association for Business Communication
Additional services and information for Journal of Business Communication can be found at: Email Alerts: http://job.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts Subscriptions: http://job.sagepub.com/subscriptions Reprints: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav Permissions: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav
>> Version of Record - Jul 1, 1973 What is This?
Downloaded from job.sagepub.com at UQ Library on September 15, 2013
interactions exist between upward and downward distortions ofcommunication and the organizational clmate. Here are some of the findings ofrecent research and a discussion oftheir implications for the individual and the organization.
Dynamic relationships and
THE SOUNDS AND SILENCES OF EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATION
JOHN
C. ATHANASSIADES Georgia State University
Two RECENT REPORTS have disclosed a widespread practice of distortion of downward communication by executives in both private and public organizations.’ Obviously, managers, executives and administrators (or, whatever
which decision-makers are known), busted by mounting pressures from various clients and publics,2 tend to freeze their attitudes and to resolve perceived problems either by direct confrontation or, more often than not, by resorting to increased secrecy, tighter controls and-in some cases-to outright manipulation of information. Understandable as such executive behavior may seem, its effects are often dire for the organization. For example, one of the aforementioned studies reports that distortion of downward communication by business executives, i.e., the
References: Downloaded from job.sagepub.com at UQ Library on September 15, 2013 50 Downloaded from job.sagepub.com at UQ Library on September 15, 2013