MGMT 535 - Module 7 - Communicating in Your Organization - Madeline Campbell


Within my department and a few others here at Embry-Riddle Prescott, I do see a team that strives to work across organizational boundaries to the best of their abilities. Of course, I also see areas that could certainly be improved in this area. The admissions department at Embry-Riddle works very closely with financial aid and academic advisors. Since information can become skewed and processes for students and families can be undesirably long, we attempt to reduce any errors in an effort to make the process of becoming an Embry-Riddle student simple and seamless. To do this, we have to ensure that each department is on the same page of the student’s information, which can be a tricky task. As Clampitt states, “Boundaries inherently create communication challenges that effective managers need to understand and master” (2017, p. 192). Due to organizational boundaries, this can be even more difficult. As Power states, “The bigger challenge, however, is not to just implement the changes that have been identified. More important, it is to maintain the team’s effort to continually improve the process and not accept slippage” (2012). Due to this, superiors have implemented three different databases that all three departments can utilize and document their communication and progress with each student and family. “Social networking technologies offer new ways to support teams, especially process teams that cut across organizational boundaries” (Power, 2012). These databases ensure that we are on the same page as we can document our email, face-to-face communication, phone calls, finances, classes, essentially everything that pertains to the student and family. Overall, these databases are working very well to help us communicate well across boundaries.

Of course, I strongly believe that if these three department were to implement a multi-day workshop as Power mentioned we could find time waste and constraints that we could improve upon. Also, I think having an individual work within all departments to continually workout kinks and ease the communication boundaries we face would be beneficial. Carey notes in their research a similar situation: “…this individual fulfilled a critical role working as both an inter- and intradepartmental boundary spanner, while also managing relationships across much greater divides” (Carey, et al, 2016, p. 184).

Personally, because I have struggled with organizational communication boundaries, I attempt to be proactive with other departments when it comes to communication. Since each individual I work with come from a different background and culture, I know that we do not view and think of communication in the same aspects. For example, if I have a family or student that has an issue or is creating a problem, I of course document everything in our databases for others to see. In addition to this, I also call this student’s financial and academic advisor to ask if I can meet with them. When we meet, I explain the situation and show them my documentation in our databases. I know my colleagues have appreciated this so that they are not blindsided by potential issues and then they can be proactive with these potential ERAU students. Many of my colleagues prefer face-to-face communication versus email or simply the database, even though those are also excellent forms of communication. I have been presented with situations where I have asked colleagues how they would like to be communicated to and what works best, which has altered how I communicate with specific colleagues. This has inspired growth in my leadership and challenged how I am aiding in communication across organizational boundaries.


References

Carey, G., Buick, F., Pescud, M., & Malbon, E. (2017). Preventing Dysfunction and Improving Policy Advice: The Role of Intra-Departmental Boundary Spanners. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 76(2), 176–186. https://doi-org.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/10.1111/1467-8500.12213

Clampitt, P. G. (2017). Communicating for managerial effectiveness: Challenges, strategies, solutions. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications
Power, B. (2014, July 23). Get Your Team to Work Across Organizational Boundaries. Retrieved July 10, 2019, from https://hbr.org/2012/04/building-a-team-across-organiz

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