Passive Addiction or Why We Hate Work: An Investigation of Problems in Organizational Communication

by Xin-An Lucian Lu, Matthew C. Ramsey Shippensburg University

Overview

This work examines various organizational problems that contribute to the phenomenon of passive addiction, problems so entrenched and quotidian that they no longer register in the organizational consciousness as problems. Passive addiction refers to the phenomenon in which the individual is addicted to various forms of passivity (e.g., procrastination, effortless and vacuous behaviors) as refuge from work one dislikes. Xin-An Lucian Lu and Matthew C. Ramsey investigate the dichotomization between work and life, ill-designed evaluation, the divorce between purpose and action, overemphasis of extrinsic order, the crisis of credibility, and the overuse of management over leadership. Technological and economic changes in the future may lead to the emergence of active addiction, a state of work that is blended with life and is actively embraced by the worker with a spirit of creativity and innovation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761861638
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	06/26/2013
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Xin-An Lu received his PhD from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He is an associate professor at Shippensburg University in the Department of Human Communication Studies. His teaching and research areas include computer-mediated communication, leadership and organizational studies, and cultural studies.

Matthew C. Ramsey received his PhD from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is an assistant professor at Shippensburg University in the Department of Human Communication Studies. His research interests include organizational communication, humor, message effects, and quantitative research methods.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter One: Passive Addiction: Symptom of a Deep and Prevalent Organizational Problem
DEFINING PASSIVE ADDICTION
ILLUSTRATING PASSIVE ADDICTION
CAUSALITY OF PASSIVE ADDICTION
COST OF PASSIVE ADDICTION
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

Chapter Two: The Dichotomization of Work and Life
WHY AND HOW WE IDENTIFY WITH ORGANIZATIONS
THE PARADOX OF WORK AND LIFE
FINDING BALANCE
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

Chapter Three: The Bad Economics of the Contemporary System of Evaluation
PREVALENCE OF EVALUATION
JUSTIFICATION OF EVALUATION
LACK OF STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF EVALUATION ON EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION
THE LOGIC OF NUMBERS
COMPETITION, FALSE SCARCITY, AND MOTIVATION
WASTE DUE TO INVALID OR PRO FORMA EVALUATION
INEQUITY IN CERTAIN EVALUATION
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

Chapter Four: The Divorce Between Purpose and Action
WHY PURPOSE
ILLUSTRATIONS AND CAUSALITY OF THE DIVORCE BETWEEN PURPOSE AND ACTION
COST OF THE DIVORCE BETWEEN ACTION AND PURPOSE
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

Chapter Five: The Paradox Between Extrinsic Order and Intrinsic Chaos
THE SEARCH FOR ORDER
THE FUNCTION OF ORDER
ORGANIZATIONAL MECHANISMS FOR ORDER
A CLASSIFICATION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORDER
CHAOS LATENT IN PHENOMENAL ORDER
NOUMENAL ORDER IN PHENOMENAL CHAOS
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

Chapter Six: Crisis of Credibility
DEFINING CREDIBILITY
EMPLOYEE CREDIBILITY
ORGANIZATIONAL CREDIBILITY
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

Chapter Seven: Leadership or Management
LEADERSHIP VERSUS MANAGEMENT
ORIENTATIONS OF MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT AND PASSIVE ADDICTION
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

Chapter Eight: Active Addiction: Envisioning the Future of Work
DEFINING ACTIVE ADDICTION
WORK IN ITS NATURAL STATE
FROM COMPETITION TO INNOVATION AND PERSONAL GROWTH
FROM EFFICIENCY TO EFFECTIVENESS
THE BLENDING BETWEEN WORK AND LIFE
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

Index

About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

The authors demonstrate a command of classic and contemporary literature and a compelling vision for new understandings and possibilities.

John Nicholson

This text allows [one] to take a critical look at organizations. .. without sacrificing excellent coverage of basic organizational communication research on topics like leadership, relationships, and identification.

John C. Meyer