Organizational Rhetoric
Situations and Strategies
- Mary F. Hoffman - University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
- Debra J. Ford - University of Kansas School of Nursing
Organization Studies (General) | Organizational Communication | Public Relations (Analysis)
Students will gain an understanding of the power of organizations in contemporary society and be able to think critically about organizational messages.
The text is organized in two units. In the first unit, authors Mary Hoffman and Debra Ford introduce the rationale for a rhetorical approach to organizational messages, and introduce the basic rhetorical building blocks and principles behind the rhetorical situation and the analysis of strategies.
In the second unit, the authors cover six specific rhetorical situations commonly faced by organizations, image and identity management, issue management, impression management, risk management, crisis management and organizational apologia, and internal message management. Each chapter is structured similarly, in conjunction with the ideas developed in unit one, and each ends with a case study that exemplifies the content presented in that chapter.
Features and Benefits:
- The first unit in the text will introduce the details of analyzing situations and identifying strategies
- The second unit will examine six specific recurring rhetorical situations for organizations
- Organizational schema centered on situations and strategies
- Use of real-life case studies
- Focus on careers in organizational rhetoric
- Focus on thinking critically about organizations in society
step-by-step process for analyzing public texts is perfect for what i want undergrads to learn; written in very accessible language
I use the Hoffman text for an introductory graduate course and add graduate-level activities and papers to accompany the text.
I will not be teaching this course until next spring, but I know I will adopt this book.
A valuable addition to the small but growing body of literature recognising the positive contribution that the concept of rhetoric potentially has to play in modern-day communication, in this case in the context of the organisation.
For this class the book is recommended, but I will likely require it for a new course in Organizational Communication, to start Spring 2012
The book is very well organized and easy to read. Great plus for the work sheets, they are very pedagogial and helpful tools.
However, for my class on organizational changes, I would perhaps only use this book as a recommendation for additional reading, in particular in terms of chapter 10.
I believe the content will function well for my course on Corporate Advocacy. I attended a short course at the Central States Communication Association convention that helped to tell me that the material would be appropriate for me.
