Organizational Rhetoric: Situations and Strategies Book

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xix

Chapter 1 Organizations and Rhetoric in Contemporary Culture 1

Defining Rhetoric

Defining Organization

Defining Organizational Rhetoric

Understanding Organizational Rhetoric

Characteristics of Organizational Rhetoric

Speaker

Situation

Audiences

Message

Reasons for Studying Organizational Rhetoric

Organizations Are a Powerful Force in Society

Organizations Produce a Great Deal of Rhetoric

Goals for Studying Organizational Rhetoric

Practical Outcomes of Studying Organizational Rhetoric

A Process for Analyzing Organizational Rhetoric

Conclusion

Chapter 2 Identifying Rhetorical Strategies in Organizational Rhetoric 23

Canon of Invention

Ethos in Traditional Rhetoric

Ethos in Organizational Rhetoric

Pathos in Traditional Rhetoric

Pathos in Organizational Rhetoric: Needs, Values, and Identification

Logos in Traditional Rhetoric

Logos in Organizational Rhetoric: Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Interdependence of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos

Evidence in Organizational Rhetoric

Canon of Organization in Organizational Rhetoric

Canon of Style in Organizational Rhetoric

Canon of Delivery in Organizational Rhetoric

Interdependence of Invention, Organization, Style, and Delivery in Organizational Rhetoric

Canon of Memory in Organizational Rhetoric

Special Situations and Rhetorical Strategies

Conclusion

Worksheet for Identifying Rhetorical Strategies in Organizational Texts l Chapter 3 Rhetorical Situations in Organizations 55

The Importance of Context in Rhetoric

Two Perspectives on Rhetorical Situations

Bitzer's Perspective: Situations Call for Rhetoric

Using Bitzer's Perspectivein Organizations

Vatz's Perspective: Rhetoric Creates Situations

Using Vatz's Perspective in Organizations

The Rhetorical Situation in Organizational Rhetoric

Organizational Exigencies

Audiences in Organizational Rhetoric

Constraints and Assets in Organizational Rhetoric

Researching the Rhetorical Situation

Using Published Sources

Conducting Primary Research

Conclusion

Case Study: A Showdown Over Power in Texas

Case Study References

Worksheet for Describing Rhetorical Situations in Organizations

Chapter 4 Critical Approaches to Organizational Rhetoric

Historical Overview

Key Ideas in Critical Approaches to Organization Studies and Organizational Rhetoric

Discourse of Suspicion and the Construction of Power

Ideology

Hegemony and Whose Meaning "Wins"

Corporate Voice

"The" Public

Summary of Key Concepts in Critical Theory/Perspectives

Making Choices: Ethics and Organizational Rhetoric

Conclusion

Note

Chapter 5 Evaluating and Critiquing Organizational Rhetoric 103

Two Approaches to Analyzing Organizational Rhetoric

An Evaluative Approach

A Critical Approach

Conclusion

Worksheet for Conducting an Evaluative Reading

Worksheet for Conducting a Critical Reading

Chapter 6 Identity Creation and Maintenance Rhetoric 119

The Foundation for Identity Rhetoric: Organizational Identity

Identity Building Rhetoric

The Rhetorical Situation for Identity Building

Rhetorical Strategies for Identity Building

Identity Maintenance Rhetoric

The Rhetorical Situation for Identity Maintenance Rhetoric

Rhetorical Strategies for Identity Maintenance

Evaluating and Critiquing Identity Creation and Maintenance Rhetoric

Conclusion

Case Study: "Who Says the Internet Is Only for Young People?" Identity and Disaster Relief

Case Study Questions

Case Study References

Chapter 7 Rhetoric About Issues 139

Defining Issues and Issue Management in Organizations Foundation for Understanding Issues Rhetoric: Issue Life Cycles

Potential Status

Imminent Status

Current Status

Critical Status

Dormant Status

Issue Management: The Rhetorical Situation

Exigencies

Audiences

Constraints and Assets

Strategies for Rhetoric About Issues

Claims and Evidence in Rhetoric About Issues

Values Advocacy in Rhetoric About Issues

Credibility Strategies in Rhetoric About Issues

Evaluating and Critiquing Rhetoric About Issues

Conclusion

Case Study: Menu Labeling-Healthy Idea or Big Brother?

Case Study Questions

Case Study References

Chapter 8 Rhetoric About Organizational Risk 163

Defining Risk in Organizations

Foundations for Understanding Risk Rhetoric

Risk Perception Frames

The Elaboration Likelihood Model of Persuasion

The Rhetorical Situation for Risk Rhetoric

Exigencies

Audiences

Constraints and Assets

Strategies for Rhetoric About Risk

Organizational Credibility

Values Advocacy

Claims and Evidence

Community Participation

Stylistic Strategies

Evaluating and Critiquing Rhetoric About Risk

Conclusion

Case Study: No Bodies in My Backyard

Case Study Questions

Case Study References

Chapter 9 Crisis Rhetoric 185

Defining Rhetoric About Crisis

Foundation for Understanding Crisis Rhetoric: Life Cycle of a Crisis

Pre-Crisis Stage

Crisis Response Stage

Post-Crisis Stage

Crisis Management: The Rhetorical Situation

Exigencies

Audiences

Constraints

Strategies in Crisis Rhetoric

Instructional Strategies

Apologia Strategies

Dissociation Strategies

Crisis Strategies in Combination

Evaluating and Critiquing Organizational Rhetoric About Crisis

Conclusion

Case Study: The Perfect Storm

Case Study Questions

Case Study References

Chapter 10 Organizational Rhetoric for Internal Audiences 209

The Rhetorical Situation in Internal Organizational Rhetoric

Exigencies, Audiences, and Constraints for Organizational Socialization

Exigencies, Audiences, and Constraints for Reinforcement and Retention

Exigencies, Audiences, and Constraints for Organizational Change

External Challenges, Internal Exigencies: Situations Requiring Member Advocacy

Rhetorical Strategies for Internal Messages

Rhetorical Strategies for Socialization

Rhetorical Strategies for Reinforcement and Retention

Rhetorical Strategies for Organizational Change

Rhetorical Strategies for Identity, Issue, Risk, and Crisis Situations

Evaluating and Critiquing Internal Organizational Rhetoric

Conclusion

Case Study: A New Record-Transitioning to Electronic Medical Records

Case Study Questions

Case Study References

Epilogue: The Ancient Art of Rhetoric in Complex Organizational World 233

Rhetoric in a Globalized Organizational World

Corporate Rhetoric in Nonprofit Organizations

Traditional Rhetorical Strategies in Contemporary Forms

The Environment as Situation and Strategy

Appendix: Worksheets for Analyzing Organizational Rhetoric 237

Worksheet for Identifying Rhetorical Strategies in Organizational Texts

Worksheet for Describing Rhetorical Situations in Organizations

Worksheet for Conducting an Evaluative Reading

Worksheet for Conducting a Critical Reading

References 245

Index 259

About the Authors 267