1. Chapter 6
Critical Approaches

2. Overview Political frame of reference Role of theorist
Unitary-common org. goals/conflict is rare
Pluralist-org. consist of groups w/ diverse interests
Role of theorist
Prescriptive-finding effective techniques for organizing
Descriptive-explaining relationships to understand
Sites of domination-raise awareness of people involved

3. Roots of Critical Approach
Karl Marx & Fredrick Ingles
Critical theory
Societal structures and imbalances lead to fundamental imbalances of power
Imbalance of power leads to alienation and oppression
Role of critical theorist is to uncover imbalances and bring to the attention of the oppressed

4. Pervasiveness of power
Definition of power (what is power?)
What are sources of power in an org? (p. 123)
Traditional approach
Hierarchy, structure
Symbological approach
Views power as a product of communicative interactions and relationships
Radical-critical approach
Concerned with “deep structures” that produce and reproduce relationships in org. life
Contribute to hostile work environment-lead to exclusion

5. Pervasiveness of power
Control of modes of production
Economic conditions that underlie the production process
Control of means of production
Actual work process
Control of gender issues
Focus on patriarchy
Stereotypical female characteristics are devalued (emotion, empathy, intuition)
Control of org. discourse
The way we comm. can empower power

6. Ideology and hegemony Ideology Hegemony
Taken for granted assumptions about reality that influence perceptions of situations and events
Hegemony
Process in which a dominant group leads another group to accept subordination as the norm

7. Emancipation
Liberation of people from unnecessarily restrictive traditions, assumptions, ideologies and power relations
Dialectic of control
“Relations of autonomy and dependence (power relations) are never fixed; that is, subordinates can always exercise some degree of control over the conditions of hegemonic reproduction” (awareness)

8. Critical Approaches Theory
Concertive control theory
Power relations still exist with a team based environment
Three concepts
Control
Simple, technological, bureaucratic
Identification
Discipline (self monitoring)

9. Critical Approaches Theory
Feminist theories
Org.’s are inherently patriarchal
Traditional vs. feminist characteristics “bounded rationality” (logic vs. emotion)
Different view points toward male domination
Liberal feminists
Radical feminists
Case in Point - “Using the F Word” (p. 133)
Sexual harassment
Framing devices & Policies still tend to oppress (Table 6-2/p. 135)
Hostile work environment-degree of exclusion

10. Research methods Quantitative Interpretive Deconstruction
Demonstrates how resources are distributed in organizations or how individuals perceive their lives within org’s
Interpretive
Similar to those used by cultural scholars
Deconstruction
Involves “taking apart” a text in order to reveal social and political meanings

11. So What? What does this mean to you?
Do you feel like you have ever been marginalized, been put at a disadvantage, or missed an opportunity because of certain cultural characteristics?
What’s the role of communication?
How can we make change?