Abstract

This dissertation presents a theoretical development of a critical approach to the study of organizational communication. Following an exploration of the philosophical issues that divide different paradigms in social science, as well as in communication, the dissertation focuses on examining and developing the critical position. ;First, the critical approach is discussed in terms of its philosophical foundations. It is suggested that commonalities and differences within the critical tradition center around 3 key ideas: the position of critique, the concepts of social complexity and causality, and the commitment to social change. This notion is developed further through a detailed examination of the principles that guide critical ontology, epistemology, methodology, and its perspective on society. These philosophical foundations, it is then argued, provide an approach to the study of communication and organization that is fundamentally different from conventional approaches. ;Second, a critical approach to studying organizations is presented. It is pointed out first that critical research reconceptualizes organizations to emphasize the problem of power, and is guided by the goal of social emancipation and change. Next, a critical model of organizations is developed, based on Marxist social theory. The model conceptualizes organizations as a complex ensemble of economic, political, ideological, and theoretical practices, that are intricately interwoven with one another, and with the larger historical and social context. Implications for studying organizations and communication, and possible applications, are noted. ;Third, the dissertation identifies a number of conceptual, methodological, and political issues in the field of critical organizational communication research: the issue of multi-level analysis, which is a unique characteristic of critical research but poses analytical and methodological difficulties; the conceptualization of the relationship between organizations and society; and political problems of organizational access for research. General guidelines and suggestions for dealing with these issues are developed. ;The dissertation concludes by evaluating the contributions and liabilities of the critical perspective, both as a general approach to the study of communication and as a specific theory of organizational communication. Suggestions for further development of the approach are also provided