Stacey L. Connaughton

Multinational and Multicultural Distributed Teams A Review and Future Agenda

Teams that span multiple geographic, temporal, and cultural boundaries have become prevalent in many industries and sectors. Researchers from multiple disciplines have begun to examine these multinational, multicultural (MNMC) distributed teams. The purpose of this article is to provide a review and critique of existing research in this area. To this end, the authors examine the ways scholars have conceptualized culture in this research, discuss the role that distribution is found to play in these teams, and provide a research agenda. The authors argue that scholars should continue to complicate their views of culture and embrace nuanced views of distribution to reflect the complexities of MNMC distributed team characteristics and processes.

The Impacts of Communication and Multiple Identifications on Intent to Leave: A Multimethodological Exploration.

In the currently strong U.S. economy, voluntary turnover continues to affect organizations and individuals in important ways. This study examines two sets of contributors to turnover intent that have not received much attention in the organizational communication literature: various indicators of communication and multiple targets of identification. A modified version of the International Communication Association Communication Audit survey and interviews were used to collect data at a state government agency. Results indicate that among the communication variables, supervisor and coworker relationships have the strongest association with intent to leave. The findings also reveal a rather complex relationship between three different types of identification (with division, agency, and state government) and intent to leave.

Leadership: A communicative perspective

This paper reviews the literature on communication in organizations most relevant to the study of leadership. Although leadership communication research has a history of significant overlap with leadership psychology, the value commitments of a communicative orientation now find expression in a large body of extant literature that this paper reviews. These value commitments, which cross several theoretical paradigms, serve as the organizing framework for this paper. The paper concludes with a research agenda for future leadership communication research.

Leadership Development as a Systematic and Multidisciplinary Enterprise.

Abstract Leadership development is a fundamental responsibility of colleges and universities. In this article, the authors present the theoretical foundation of an innovative initiative, as well as criteria for assessing leadership development programs in higher education. They use the Student Leadership Development Institute at Rutgers University as a case study for demonstrating that leadership development initiatives should be systematic, multidisciplinary, and research oriented and have several experiential components.

Further scale refinement for emotional labor

Purpose – Within the emotional labor (EL) literature, the papers aim is to test for additional scale distinctions in surface acting and deep acting, using a “difficult client” referent.Design/methodology/approach – Working with existing definitions and operationalizations across prior EL studies, an on‐line sample of 1,975 massage therapists and bodywork practitioners (M&Bs) was used to test the hypotheses. Hinkins recommended three steps for scale development: item development, scale development and scale evaluation were applied. The M&B sample was randomly split to carry out exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and then confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A smaller validation sample of 203 working adults was also tested using EFA.Findings – Convergent support was found for EFA between the M&B and validation samples, as well as between EFA and CFA for the M&B sample. Two types of surface acting could be distinguished, basic surface acting (BSA) and challenged surface acting (CSA), while three types of dee...

Leadership in the New Millennium: Communicating Beyond Temporal, Spatial, and Geographical Boundaries

Organizations in diverse sectors are utilizing dispersed work groups. Individuals within these organizations now face the challenge of leading others across time and space, a phenomenon known as “distanced leadership.” The purpose of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive synthesis and critique of the existing literature on distanced leadership. To this end, we examine the various ways that scholars have conceptualized distance in leadership contexts; we argue that communication is central to leadership in these emergent organizational forms; and we suggest avenues for future communication research to explore that will address organizational trends in the 21st century and beyond.

What Is Patient-Centered Care Really? Voices of Hispanic Prenatal Patients

Variations in patient-centered care (PCC) models and approaches contribute to ambiguity in how PCC is understood and defined, especially with regard to meeting the needs of diverse patient populations. One of the biggest challenges of putting PCC into practice is knowing what elements are the most important to patients. This qualitative study privileges patients’ voices and adds a cultural dimension to existing health communication research on PCC through an empirical investigation of 48 Hispanic prenatal care patients’ understandings and expectations of PCC. Semistructured interviews with 48 patients revealed five key themes in order of frequency: (a) una relación amable (a friendly relationship), (b) la atencion médica efectiva (effective medical care), (c) Español hablado (the Spanish language spoken), (d) comprensión de la información (understanding of information), and (e) eliminación del racismo (elimination of racism). The themes reflected several different assumptions and expectations with regard to PCC as compared to those espoused in many of the existing models and frameworks, such as the extent to which friendly interpersonal behaviors (e.g., smiling, making eye contact, displaying patience, and engaging in formal greetings, introductions, and farewells) were critical to patient satisfaction with the health care experience. Not only did patients feel better understood, but accompanied by friendly behaviors, information was viewed as more believable and accurate, and thus more patient-centered. The findings suggest that implementing culturally sensitive PCC approaches to caring for Hispanic prenatal care patients can include training health care staff on the importance of displaying friendly communicative behaviors such as smiling.

Expressions of Identifications: The Nature of Talk and Identity Tensions Among Organizational Members in a Struggling Organization

This study investigates how organizational members communicatively enact identification and more specifically how tensions in identification are expressed through members’ talk and behaviors. Using a case-study approach, we explored the experiences of members in an organization in turmoil. Semi-structured interviews, questionnaires given at two times, and observations of organizational events were used to understand the identification tensions these individuals negotiated and ways that identification, disidentification, and ambivalent identification were enacted. The study provides empirical evidence of changing identifications and articulates their communicative manifestations. The findings not only support the notion that identification is a complex and dynamic process but also contribute to the identification literature by illustrating specific ways that various forms of identification tensions are enacted and communicated in response to organizational change.

Inviting Latino voters : party messages and Latino party identification

Latinos increasing numbers and their uncertain voting behaviors have enticed Democrats and Republicans to actively court this demographic group, seeking their partisan identification. Through in-depth interviews with campaign strategists, a quantitative analysis of Latino-oriented television advertisements and a survey of Latino citizens, this project examines these efforts.

Apolitical politics: GOP efforts to foster identification from Latinos, 1984–2000

The growth and youth of the U.S. Latino population at the close of the 20th century makes them a desired constituency for both major political parties. Intriguingly, the party organization which has long resisted the recognition of internal voting blocs—the GOP—allocated unprecedented resources between 1980 and 2000 to inspire identification from Latinos. This study investigates the nature of these invitations. Specifically, it reveals how a party, whose organizational identity opposes acknowledging individuals as ethnic group members, appeals to an ethnic group. By examining (a) English and Spanish language television advertisements and (b) elite interview data with Republican Latino strategists, we argue that these ads depict satisfied Latino citizens, emphasize Latino family connections, and eschew traditional political issues. These identification strategies are notable for they may have considerable effects on the American polity at the dawn of, and well into, the 21st century.