SAGE Journal Articles

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Lee, M., & Barnett, G. A. (1997). A symbols-and-meaning approach to the organizational cultures of banks in the United States, Japan, and Taiwan. Communication Research, 24, 394-412. doi:10.1177/009365097024004004

Under the assumption that organizational culture is highly associated with national culture, this study examines the cultures of an American, a Japanese, and a Taiwanese bank, as well as an American bank operating in Taiwan. Adopting the symbols-and-meaning perspective, this study analyzes their organizational cultures by examining the relationships among representative symbols that constitute the culture of the organizations. Galileo theory is used to display and assess the organizational cultures. The results of the four samples confirm that the banks have different cultures due to the impact of their national cultures. Although the Taiwanese and the American bank operating in Taiwan do not differ significantly in their cultures, they have distinct perceptions of the concept of the United States.

Flanagin, A. J., & Waldeck, J. H. (2004). Technology use and organizational newcomer socialization. Journal of Business Communication, 41, 137-165. doi:10.1177/0021943604263290

This article develops a framework for the examination of organizational newcomer socialization, in light of recent developments in communication and information technologies. The proposed model specifies how newcomers to organizations select and use advanced technologies to access information and facilitate interpersonal relationships that contribute to successful organizational socialization. In view of technological advances and current trends in organizations, the authors argue that such a model helps to make sense of contemporary socialization processes. The model is based on the premise that accurate, appropriate, and sufficient information is crucial to newcomers’ efforts to become successfully socialized and considers how newcomers’ selection and use of advanced technologies can aid in information acquisition. The authors propose a number of factors that may predict organizational newcomers’ use of technologies toward this end, including features of their socialization experiences, individual attitudes and personality characteristics, and group and organizational norms with regard to technology use. The article concludes by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of this perspective for organizations and their members.