InfoTrac Exercises

Chapter 13 Communicating in Organizations

1. Reading body language can offer insight to HR pros.

Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2007 SourceMedia, Inc.
Employee Benefit News, May 1, 2007 pITEM07121009
Record: A162826558

Abstract: An overview of body language focusing on the fact that, generally, it is not done well by Greg Hartley, a former U.S. Army interrogator. He notes that people often miss non-verbal cues, do not do well in employment interviews, cause unnecessary conflict, and are ignorant of cultural differences all by ignoring body language.

1. Are you aware of the body language that you are demonstrating right now? How would this be interpreted by others?
2. How does the author suggest to diffuse a potential conflict situation using body language clues?
3. What are important considerations when interpreting the body language of a person from a different culture than your own?

2. How team communication affects innovation: good communication is a prerequisite for good teamwork. But how much is enough?(ORGANIZATION)

Larry Yu.
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2005 Sloan Management Review
MIT Sloan Management Review, Summer 2005 v46 i4 p7(1)
Record: A134827646

Abstract: The frequency of communication was found to be a significant factor in creative output where innovation teams tend to communicate much more than one to three times per week at a minimum. Too much and too little communication was also noted to have detrimental effects on team performance.

1. What do you feel is the optimal size of team? Why?
2. What does the article note as the result of too little communication between team members? What about too much communication?
3. What are cliques and how, according to the article, can they be avoided?