Handbook of Interpersonal Communication Essay

Interpersonal communication in the work area, which is argued to be created and recreated by means narrative and as well as discourse, is an integral part of organizational change and the organization itself. For this reason, many organizations set their attentions fro researches on interpersonal communication. The article by Mark Knapp and John Daly is one article that will interest those who seek to now more about interpersonal communication not only in the work place but interpersonal communication as a whole. The article of Phyl Johnson takes the readers to the important and highlighted aspects that can be found in the text written by Mark Knapp and John Daly about interpersonal communication between peoples in organizations. This article offers the reader a glimpse of what the book is along with the different topics that the book offers by reviewing chosen chapter from the books and introducing its concepts to the readers. Also, Johnson illustrates the five main divisions of Knapp and Daly’s article which are namely â€Å"introduction, perspective on inquiry, fundamental units, processes and functions and contexts† (Johnson 989). The introduction part of the article gives the reader an overview of what the article was all about as well as the side that the author will take. They also introduce the issues that they find important in the field of interpersonal communication both in the present time and the time to come. Such issues include â€Å"behavior as well as cognition, consciousness and intent, and meaning created in the text† (Johnson 990). The next section of the text, perspective on inquiry, focuses on the different methods of inquiry that exist in communication research in which Johnson chose Bochner’s chapter, The Moral Stories, from the three chapters in the section. The chapter shows how the study of organizations and other fields rise in the usage of narrative analysis. The third section which is fundamental units, takes the readers in to the basics of communication that serves as a starting point for readers that are newly interested in the field. Johnson takes into account the works of Burgoon and Hoobler’s text that tackles nonverbal signals that are either consciously or unconsciously sent within organizations. The section helps in introducing the readers to nonverbal communication within organizations such as the use of visual bodily movement as well as the biases incorporated in nonverbal communications. The importance of verbal and as well as nonverbal communication is also highlighted in this chapter of the article by Knapp and Daly. The fourth chapter, the processes and functions, has six chapters discussing â€Å"supportive communication, interpersonal conflict, interpersonal skills and†¦emotional communication† (Johnson 990). Johnson reviewed emotional communication from Metts nd Planalp’s dealing with emotions within the organizations that looks at motions in the context of expression as well as writing and gender roles. Then it moves through different fields such as anthropology, philosophy and others (i. e. art, business, history, psychology and sociology). The last chapter, contexts, focuses on interpersonal communication as seen in different contexts which include the work place, health care as well as family relationships and romantic relationships in which the author chose to review the chapter by Sias, Krone and Jablin regarding workplace relationships from an ecological point of view. The chapter focuses on the different status relationship in the workplace as well as some ways in balancing the power and as well as maintaining the distance and dominance within the persons in the organization. As a final remark, the author recommends the text by Knapp and Daly stating that it is a â€Å"good accessible starting point† (Johnson 993) for those who are interested in the micro level of organizations such as the communication (interpersonal communication) within organizations. Work Cited Johnson, Phyl. â€Å"Handbook of Interpersonal Communication. (Book Reviews). † Organization Studies 24. 6 (July 2003): 989(4). InfoTrac Communication & Mass Media eCollection. Gale. CCLA, Miami Dade Comm College. 28 June 2008 .