50 Activities for Unblocking Organizational Communication

Communication is more than a passive medium for transmitting messages. It is the medium through which managers lead, direct others, harness creativity, control activities and understand the wants and needs of those who work within the organization and those who use the organization’s products or services. When blockages in communication occur, they can have a far-reaching effect on an organization’s performance. 50 Activities for Unblocking Organizational Communication, Volume 2 adds to Volume 1 providing increased coverage of the skills needed to communicate strategy and goals down through an organization, improve the flow of information to and from the external environment and create a positive working climate through persuasive management. Following many requests from trainers it also includes two diagnostic activities which can help identify potential blockages. A condensed form of the Audit of Communication Effectiveness (ACE) and a personalized form of the same model, the Personal Audit of Communication Effectiveness (PACE).

Introduction; Index of Activities: Audit of communication effectiveness (ACE); Personal audit of communication effectiveness (PACE); Clarifying corporate values; Comparative structure analysis; Competitor analysis workbook; Customers' decision analysis; Customer service audit; PIMS quiz; Strategic intelligence checklist; Threats audit; Managing communication - the ailing division case; Devising departmental mission statements; Departmental visioning; Establishing business direction - the Electro-Mongolia case; The Indian razor blade case; Competitive advantage audit; Understanding differentiation strategies; Managerial debate audit; Recipes for success; HQ/Divisional relationships audit; Innovation search audit; Audit of interteam communication; the Lan company case; Managers' dilemma; Movie mogul - an intergroup task; Situational management questionnaire; Strategic management styles audit; The Trad corporation - a case in organization design; managing change workbook; Spirits down; Franco gold; Idea generating - nominal group technique; Satisfaction at work - a consensus-seeking task; Sensing interviews; Exploring mind sets; The coin machine - a complex problem-solving task; Communication analysis - the sociogram; Cork in a bottle - a problem-solving task; Egg aloft; Interaction audit; Magic castles - an interteam activity; Managing group process; Sail away - a creative team task; Team effectiveness review; Management roles questionnaire; Manage your boss meetings; Busy-busy - enhancing personal effectiveness; Audit your influencing style; Who's afraid of the big bad bore?; Strategic skills audit.

Dr Dave Francis is a behavioural scientist specializing in organization change. He has consulted widely and is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Innovation Management. His research agenda includes organizational agility and human resource development.