ABSTRACT
Perception is the overriding influence surrounding our understanding of organizational communication. In organizations, the issues we pay attention to and the concepts we understand are based on what we perceive. The process of perception is the selecting, organizing, and interpreting of sensory stimulations into a meaningful and coherent picture of the world. We are constantly working to make sense of our surrounding environment as we make mental decisions, consciously or unconsciously, about events. These decisions represent an individual’s or group’s assessment or ideas about the real world. Once formed, perceptions are translated into paradigms. Paradigms are the working principles formed from our perceptions and past behaviors that we use to guide us as we respond to our surroundings, tackle problems, or deal with uncertainty.
