Overcoming the Adverse Impact of Internal Subculture Communications within Organizations PDF
Preview Overcoming the Adverse Impact of Internal Subculture Communications within Organizations
Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2017 Overcoming the Adverse Impact of Internal Subculture Communications within Organizations Terrence Lee Farrier Walden University Follow this and additional works at:https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of theBusiness Administration, Management, and Operations Commons,Communication Commons,Databases and Information Systems Commons, and theManagement Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please [email protected]. Walden University College of Management and Technology This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Terrence Farrier has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Anthony Lolas, Committee Chairperson, Applied Management and Decision Sciences Faculty Dr. Thomas Spencer, Committee Member, Applied Management and Decision Sciences Faculty Dr. Howard Schechter, University Reviewer Applied Management and Decision Sciences Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2017 Abstract Overcoming the Adverse Impact of Internal Subculture Communications within Organizations by Terrence Lee Farrier MSS, U.S. Army War College, 2005 MBA, Regis University, 2001 BS/BA, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, 1989 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management and Technology Walden University February 2017 Abstract The need for clear and organizationally effective communications is necessary to maintain sustainability as competition increases. Current research has not addressed problems associated with senior managers’ clarity and intent and the misinterpretation by midlevel managers of that intent, causing division managers to misinterpret the company plans. Unresolved miscommunications may lead to destructive subculture development. This mixed methods design focused on how to minimize the confusion that manifests between senior and midlevel management within diverse and decentralized decision support structures. The secondary purpose was to advocate for the identification of divisional misalignment and provide information for a tool to help senior level managers identify possible misalignment. Leader-member exchange theory and decision theory guided the research design associated with the study of middle-level managers (N = 220) whose companies were members of the local Rotary clubs and selected individual businesses in South Carolina. Results were analyzed with correlations, ANOVA, and regression. Results indicated that the independent variables of clarity, information delivery tools, mental frame, and the form of message did not statistically affect the decision-making processes of middle level managers in similar-sized businesses. However, the qualitative results suggested that the senior manager’s clarity is related directly to the distinction between FYI and FYA forms of communication. Positive social change may result from the findings. The results could be used to improve decision makers’ ability to communicate their organizational strategy to other managers, thus promoting sustained businesses success and employment in a community. Overcoming the Adverse Impact of Internal Subculture Communications Within Organizations by Terrence Lee Farrier MSS, U.S. Army War College, 2005 MBA, Regis University, 2001 BS/BA, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, 1989 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management and Technology Walden University February 2017 Dedication This study is dedicated to my parents, Lee and Erma Farrier, who never gave up on me and taught me early that perseverance to achieve is a laudable habit. I also dedicate this work to my uncle, Roy Farris, who instilled in me a love of learning; and to my daughter and son, Stephanie and Jeremy, who often endured not having a dad to enjoy their many activities because of my civilian and military educational requirements. Additionally, I dedicate this study to the myriad mentors, peers, and friends who supported me throughout this journey. Without their combined support, this study would not have been possible. Acknowledgments “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” —Pierre Teilhard de Chardin French philosopher I would like to acknowledge the following people whose guidance and support enabled me to complete this milestone: First, I would like to recognize my dissertation chair and faculty mentor, Dr. Anthony Lolas, for his strong support. He offered both mentorship and friendly advice as I completed my journey. His professional guidance was immeasurably important to me. Second, I would like to thank Dr. Thomas Spencer, my committee member and methodologist, who constantly asked leading questions so I might understand how the study had statistical relevance. I would also like to give special thanks to Dr. Howard B. Schechter, who acted in the role of University Research Reviewer. Third, I would like to thank Dr. Bernard Omolo, University of South Carolina, for his direction to help explain inferences that were derived through statistical analysis. Finally, I thank the International Rotary Clubs who granted me access to their members, as well as to the small business middle-managers who contributed by participating in my study. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................2 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................3 Research Questions and Hypothesis ............................................................................13 Specific Research Questions ................................................................................. 13 Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks ....................................................................15 Decision Theory .................................................................................................... 17 Conceptual Framework ......................................................................................... 19 Clarity or Divisional Centralism ........................................................................... 20 Information Delivery Tools .................................................................................. 23 Mental Models and Cognitive Frames .................................................................. 24 Information and Message Forms .......................................................................... 27 Internal Cultures Versus International Cultures ..........................................................27 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................33 Appropriateness of Design .................................................................................... 37 Sources of Information or Data....................................................................................41 Definitions....................................................................................................................42 Assumptions .................................................................................................................42 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................43 i Limitations ...................................................................................................................45 Summary ......................................................................................................................51 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................53 Introduction ..................................................................................................................53 Small- to Medium-Sized Businesses in South Carolina ..............................................54 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................60 Theoretical Foundation ................................................................................................62 Conceptual Framework and Possible Inferences .................................................. 66 Leader-Member Exchange .................................................................................... 69 An Overview of Decision-Making Models ........................................................... 78 Rational Model...................................................................................................... 79 Intuitive Model...................................................................................................... 81 Conjoined Decision Models .................................................................................. 82 Internal Communication ....................................................................................... 84 Cultural Rules of Communication ........................................................................ 87 Information Delivery Tools .................................................................................. 89 Mental or Cognitive Frames ................................................................................. 91 “For Your Information” Versus “For Your Action” ............................................. 94 The Gap and Background ............................................................................................95 Relevance of the Study ......................................................................................... 98 Summary and Conclusions ........................................................................................104 Chapter 3: Research Method ............................................................................................108 ii Introduction ................................................................................................................108 Setting of the Study ....................................................................................................109 Choosing the Method .......................................................................................... 114 The Choice .......................................................................................................... 115 Meta-Inferences .................................................................................................. 117 Convergent or Sequential Designs ...................................................................... 119 Bracketing and Bridging ..................................................................................... 120 Cross-Referencing Data ...................................................................................... 121 Limitations .......................................................................................................... 123 Role of the Researcher ...............................................................................................124 Methodology ..............................................................................................................125 Participant Acquisition........................................................................................ 126 Instrumentation ................................................................................................... 126 Procedures ........................................................................................................... 126 Data Analysis Plan .............................................................................................. 127 Study Design ....................................................................................................... 128 Modeling and Rationale ...................................................................................... 128 Threats to Validity .....................................................................................................130 Transferability ..................................................................................................... 131 Ethical Procedures .....................................................................................................135 Summary ....................................................................................................................136 Chapter 4: Results ............................................................................................................137 iii
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