Organizational communication and culture

Interviewing Project
Introduction
Organizational culture and communication happen to be closely connected as they are interdependent and have a major impact on the operation and performance of the organization. According to Kayworth & Leidner (2014) organizational culture influences the kinds of communication within the organization and the communication within an organization also helps to shape the culture. This paper seeks to determine identify the kinds of communication that shape the organizational culture and how culture shapes communication within Prima Community College. This is done through the use of face-to-face interview with a non-freshman expectant student. The discussion will be done on the premise of interaction with teachers and socialization with fellow students.
Interaction with teachers
The college has a laissez faire-oriented culture that is characterized by academic freedom, inviolable values, and autonomy. These characters impact the connection amid teachers and students, and the communication methods used, and even the content of the message being communicated by teachers to the students. First of all, the interaction with teachers is mainly limited to academic and professional reasons. Given this is an institute if higher education, the culture of the organization is founded on the understanding that students are mature and academic elites thus, subscribe to a higher way of life capable of self-organization and self-determination.
Interaction with students is limited to guiding-role rather than directing and supervisory role. As the interviewee states, “…teacher would try to prevent failure by giving study guides…” which is an indication of the respectful culture and interaction which is based on the fact that, the students are adults thus, they are not to be pushed around. The interviewee also states that there is room for independence and that teacher will only help when needed. The input by teachers seems to be more pronounced in training the students for the corporate world after graduating. To ensure students are adequately prepared, they hold mock interviews for training purposes and show the students how to “dress for success.”
Socialization between students
The organization allows for students to interact with each other and engage in social events and groupings freely. Social events students engage in include hanging out together and talking about other topics other the curriculum. In addition, they drink tequila and even have a special handout zone. This would be considered as an opportunity to expand the organizational culture to accommodate each individual student, and allow each student to curve their own comfortable spot. A free and unrestrained social life not only helps to grow the persons, but also helps to promote communication between students. The learning schedule has also been designed to allow socialization by providing time when students are free from curriculum and can engage in work or take a break.
Socialization in the organization also takes care of student’s diversity. Students are free to form diversity-oriented groups which according to the interviewee are “LGBT organization, disability resources, native America student’s association, veteran services.” Embracing diversity as part of organizational culture allows every student to freely express themselves which improves communication without the need for safe-spaces. In addition, embracing diversity allows ‘others’ to acknowledge divergent opinions, viewpoints, perspectives, cultures, and lifestyles which improve communication among students, based on the acceptance of diversity.
Conclusion
Organizational culture plays a key part in advancing communication, while communication is a significant factor in transforming organizational culture. In Prima Community College, organizational culture and communication can be best illustrated through two major ways in this paper; interaction with teachers and socialization with other students. Interaction with teachers is done to promote student autonomy, self-determination, and academic freedom. This culture means teachers communication is only limited to an advisory role. Socialization among students embraces the same elements of freedom, self-determination, and diversity. As a result, students are able to interact willingly and freely. This functions to promote communication through acknowledgment of the diversity among the students as well as enhancing the culture within the college.


References
Kayworth, T. R., & Leidner, D. E. (2014). “Knowledge Management and Organizational Culture.” In Knowledge Management (pp. 54-74). Routledge.