ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE THEORY

AND WEICKS INFORMATION SYSTEMS

THEORY

http://www.flickr.com/photos/completesoft
waresolutionsllc/6325531873/
By Cate Ambrosich, Tyler Haas, and Rachel Phillips

CLIFFORD GEERTZ AND MICHAEL

PACANOWSKY
Geertz viewed culture as a
web of shared meaning
Pacanowsky applied his
theory to organizations

http://www.zam.it/biografia_Clifford_Gee
rtz

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
THEORY
Behavior, including
rituals, stories, and
symbols
Culture, which relates
to the values, visions,
norms, working
language, symbols and
beliefs of an organization
Socio-cultural tradition
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8230585@N
06/3702272638/

Interpretive Theory

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
THEORY
Culture is not whole
or undivided
There are always
subcultures and
countercultures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/channed/448
9478334/

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
THEORY

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidgutierr
ez/2108651315/

Culture can be viewed from two different

perspectives, either as a variable or as a metaphor

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
THEORY

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38382651@
N04/3922920774/
Ethnographers study culture and seek to discover information
about people.

CRITIQUE
Relies heavily on
shared meaning
Does not evaluate
the customs
Lacks aesthetic
appeal
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doberagi/14
04539812/

WEICKS INFORMATION SYSTEMS

THEORY
Theory is built upon
phenomenology
Focuses on managing
information within an
organization
Cybernetic Tradition
Objective Theory

http://ur.umich.edu/0102/Oct01_01/32.ht
m

WEICKS INFORMATION SYSTEMS

THEORY
Equivocality:
Uncertainty
Complication
Ambiguity
Lack of
predictability
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23679420@
N00/545653437/

WEICKS INFORMATION SYSTEMS

THEORY

Equivocality
1.Enactment
2.Selection
3.Retention
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tza/3214197
147/

WEICKS INFORMATION SYSTEMS

THEORY

https://blackboard.jmu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-3039399-dt-content-rid7744838_1/courses/SCOM240_1_2_3_4_5_6_SP13/Info%20Systems%20Approach
%281%29.pdf

Act, Response, and Adjustment

Tightly or Loosely Coupled

WEICKS INFORMATION SYSTEMS

THEORY

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8729549@N
08/528199341/

Darwins Theory of Evolution

CRITIQUE
Metaphor can
become an ideology
Violates norm of
reflection before
action

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mad_african
78/2926501952/

COMPARISONS BETWEEN THEORIES

http://www.flickr.com/photos/purpleflame
s/6085067199/

Goal of sensemaking

COMPARISONS BETWEEN THEORIES

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pshanks/411
196422/

Beneficial Communication

COMPARISONS BETWEEN THEORIES

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dailyhrtips/
4549109108/

Usage of Metaphor

CONTRASTS BETWEEN THEORIES

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46357991@
N02/4257819552/

Socio-cultural Tradition
VS.
Cybernetic Tradition

CONTRASTS BETWEEN THEORIES

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markjwuma
urader2124/8068818338/

Interpretive Theory VS. Objective

Theory

CONTRASTS BETWEEN THEORIES

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypi
cs/7702783218/

Purpose of the Theories

CONCLUSION

http://www.flickr.com/photos/etaymor/245
5107288/

SOURCES

Griffin, E. (2012). Communication: A First Look at

Communication Theory (8th ed). New York: McGraw-Hill.
West, R. L., & Turner, L. H. (2004). Introducing communication
theory: Analysis and application. (2nd ed.). New York City:
McGraw-Hill. Retrieved from
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0767430344/student_vie
w0
/
Griffin, E. A. (1998). Chapter 19: Information systems approach to
organizations of Karl Weick.A first look at communication theory,
3rd ed.(pp. 278-288). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Munsayac, Michael Gines. "Organizational Communication
Theories under the Cybernetic Tradition ."
Academia.edu. (2012): Web. <
http://www.academia.edu/760701/Organizational_Communication
_Theories_under_the_Cybernetic_Tradition>.