ABSTRACT

The goal of fostering effective communication within organizations is often pursued by seeking to improve the specific communication skills of individuals (e.g., team leaders and managers). However, organizations are socially structured and differentiated entities, and their effective functioning hinges on more than the specific qualities of individuals. In particular, social identity theorists have highlighted the crucial role that a sense of shared group membership plays in structuring organizational dynamics and creating the conditions for organizational success and failure. The present chapter considers the implications of this analysis for effective organizational communication.