Papers by Carrisa Hoelscher
World
Employing a critical approach typical of humanities-based research, this article investigates the... more Employing a critical approach typical of humanities-based research, this article investigates the changing nature of toxic leadership in our digital world. Drawing on the perspective of media ecology, which asserts that the prevailing communication technologies at a given moment create the social conditions that, in turn, condition us, the authors illustrate how the digital logics of publicity, intransigence, impertinence, and impulsivity remake the contours of leadership. Based on a critical case study of Elon Musk’s public management of Twitter, which has subsequently been rebranded as “X”, it is argued that the four digital logics transform toxic leadership into digital authoritarianism, an unabashed form of authoritarian rule. A concluding section of the essay explores the implications of this evolution for traditional categories of leadership; the importance of attending to communication technologies in leadership research; and the individual, institutional, and social harms of...
Management Communication Quarterly, Aug 1, 2016
This study examines the proposed and utilized decision-making processes of an interagency taskfor... more This study examines the proposed and utilized decision-making processes of an interagency taskforce formed to create a strategic plan for addressing substance abuse concerns. Analysis of data obtained through prolonged observation, interviews, and document collection indicated that, although the planned structure remained relatively intact, the taskforce deviated from planned decision-making processes in the procedures and decision-making criteria utilized. These deviations were justified through retrospective rationality and strategic ambiguity. Although prior research has described decision making using rational, satisficing, and garbage can models, the theoretical implications of this study point to a renewed understanding of collaborative decision making combining these approaches. Ultimately, this study illustrates how the characteristics of a loosely coupled, bona fide interorganizational group both enabled and constrained the decision-making process. Accordingly, practitioners and scholars alike should consider the advantages and limitations of retrospective rationality and strategic ambiguity across a variety of group and organizational contexts.
Journal of Applied Communication Research, Aug 8, 2017
ABSTRACT Participants in interorganizational collaborations must manage tensions between the comp... more ABSTRACT Participants in interorganizational collaborations must manage tensions between the competing goals of efficiently accomplishing their objectives and creating participatory decision-making. For this study, structuration theory provided a lens for examining how collaboration members communicatively created initial structures and then used their agency to modify those structures. Findings from observations and interviews examined how the initial and modified communication structures both enabled and constrained group members. As members produced and reproduced the system, they modified the balance of participation and efficiency. These findings emphasize the need for members of collaborations to carefully manage their communication to maintain the desired balance of participation and efficiency.
Western Journal of Communication, Apr 15, 2016
This study examines culture, values, and identification in farmers markets as organizations that ... more This study examines culture, values, and identification in farmers markets as organizations that function as an alternative to the mainstream food/grocery industry. Utilizing observation and interviews with a grounded theoretical approach to data analysis, we investigated the culture of five farmers markets. Findings indicate that individuals identified with four main values of farmers markets through their communication: economic interests, nostalgia, fellowship, and education. In certain markets, findings revealed a dichotomy between expected and enacted organizational values. To overcome this dichotomy, sensebreaking and sensegiving communication by market managers and vendors was vital for the management of meaning and culture in markets.
Communication Reports, Jun 13, 2016
This manuscript presents two studies on arguing goals. In Study 1, participants (N = 147) provide... more This manuscript presents two studies on arguing goals. In Study 1, participants (N = 147) provided open-ended descriptions of their goals while arguing with others. A content analysis of their answers revealed 10 arguing goals: mutual understanding, problem solving, conflict resolution, persuasion, dominance, personal expression, emotional release, standing up for oneself, enjoyment, and intellectual growth. In Study 2, participants (N = 303) rated statements measuring these goals. The convergent validity, reliability, and factor structure of the measures developed were examined. Results indicated good validity and reliability, as well as unidimensional factors, with strong loadings for indicators in each scale, suggesting a promising measurement for the assessment of goals in nonserial argumentative exchanges.
Small Group Research, Jul 11, 2016
This study addresses theoretical and contextual weaknesses of symbolic convergence theory (SCT) t... more This study addresses theoretical and contextual weaknesses of symbolic convergence theory (SCT) through a fantasy theme analysis of a life enrichment group (i.e., an all-female club rugby team). By using a variety of data sources, including group social media posts, participant observation, and interviews, the authors found two concurrent rhetorical visions present within this group: belong and triumph. These visions were created through member chaining of fantasy themes. In contrast with current assumptions of SCT, results indicated several tensions within concurrent fantasy themes and the two rhetorical visions. Theoretical and pragmatic implications for transferability and application of symbolic convergence and fantasy themes in other life enrichment groups are discussed.
Management Communication Quarterly, Mar 15, 2019
Given the increasing number of interorganizational collaborations across governmental and private... more Given the increasing number of interorganizational collaborations across governmental and private sectors, this study furthers theoretical understanding of these relationships by focusing on dialectical tensions experienced in a collaborative strategic change effort. The research site was an 11-member statewide interorganizational committee working to create change across all involved organizations. Data collection included prolonged observation of meetings over 18 months and interviews with committee leaders. Analytical procedures began with a modified constant comparative analysis that guided the research toward a tension-centered approach for ongoing data collection and analysis. Results include seven dialectical tensions representing three tension types: commitment-based, processbased, and outcome-based tensions. Participants used four strategies for communicatively negotiating tensions: acknowledging, delaying, hedging, and invoking authoritative texts. This study contributes to an increasing awareness of the constitutive nature of communication in collaborations and continues to refine our understanding of dialectical tension management in group interactions.
Human Relations, Apr 29, 2018
The increased reliance on interorganizational collaborations (ICs) has created new challenges for... more The increased reliance on interorganizational collaborations (ICs) has created new challenges for leaders. They must attempt to apply leadership theories and behaviors developed primarily for leading within one organization or group to leading collaborations of multiple organizations and stakeholders. To provide insight into this issue, this study examines leadership behavior in an IC developing a strategic plan to promote changes to address public health and safety concerns related to substance abuse. Combining
University of Oklahoma, 2016
Argumentation and Advocacy, 2015
This paper examines how arguing behaviors are enacted and structured among members of two culture... more This paper examines how arguing behaviors are enacted and structured among members of two cultures. We present the results of a content analysis of Romanian (N = 766) and U.S. American (N = 236) naive actors' self-reports. Differences emerged between the two cultures in respect to topics of argument, argumentation partners, the contextual appropriateness of arguing, the role of arguing, and also within each culture, based on how arguing was conceptuali;:td (i.e., a quarrel or a debate/discussion). No cross-cultural differences were found in the goals people pursued while arguing. The discussion offers a characteriQltion of arguing behaviors in the two cultures. Implications of these results and limitations of the study are also addressed.
Management Communication Quarterly, 2019
Given the increasing number of interorganizational collaborations across governmental and private... more Given the increasing number of interorganizational collaborations across governmental and private sectors, this study furthers theoretical understanding of these relationships by focusing on dialectical tensions experienced in a collaborative strategic change effort. The research site was an 11-member statewide interorganizational committee working to create change across all involved organizations. Data collection included prolonged observation of meetings over 18 months and interviews with committee leaders. Analytical procedures began with a modified constant comparative analysis that guided the research toward a tension-centered approach for ongoing data collection and analysis. Results include seven dialectical tensions representing three tension types: commitment-based, process-based, and outcome-based tensions. Participants used four strategies for communicatively negotiating tensions: acknowledging, delaying, hedging, and invoking authoritative texts. This study contributes ...
Human Relations, 2018
The increased reliance on interorganizational collaborations (ICs) has created new challenges for... more The increased reliance on interorganizational collaborations (ICs) has created new challenges for leaders. They must attempt to apply leadership theories and behaviors developed primarily for leading within one organization or group to leading collaborations of multiple organizations and stakeholders. To provide insight into this issue, this study examines leadership behavior in an IC developing a strategic plan to promote changes to address public health and safety concerns related to substance abuse. Combining observations and interviews, we followed a statewide interagency taskforce in a southwestern state of the United States from its inception through completion of its strategic plan within a 10-month deadline. Findings show different leadership behaviors were integrated and evolved over time to strike a balance between decision-making effectiveness and efficiency. In particular, the findings support recent research on examining leadership behavior holistically to develop a ‘fu...
Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 2018
This research investigated romantic expectations in a cross-cultural comparison of India and the ... more This research investigated romantic expectations in a cross-cultural comparison of India and the United States (US). The study was grounded in expectancy violations theory (EVT), which argues that expectancies are a universal phenomenon whose content is influenced by communicator, relational, and contextual factors. The expectations of romantic partners in the two countries were assessed in conjunction with relational models, sex, and gender roles in a cross-sectional study (N = 366). Results indicated that romantic partners from the two countries placed different importance on specific expectations. Furthermore, expectations were successfully predicted by one's culture, relational models, sex, and gender roles.
Small Group Research, 2016
This study addresses theoretical and contextual weaknesses of symbolic convergence theory (SCT) t... more This study addresses theoretical and contextual weaknesses of symbolic convergence theory (SCT) through a fantasy theme analysis of a life enrichment group (i.e., an all-female club rugby team). By using a variety of data sources, including group social media posts, participant observation, and interviews, the authors found two concurrent rhetorical visions present within this group: belong and triumph. These visions were created through member chaining of fantasy themes. In contrast with current assumptions of SCT, results indicated several tensions within concurrent fantasy themes and the two rhetorical visions. Theoretical and pragmatic implications for transferability and application of symbolic convergence and fantasy themes in other life enrichment groups are discussed.
Journal of Applied Communication Research, 2017
ABSTRACT Participants in interorganizational collaborations must manage tensions between the comp... more ABSTRACT Participants in interorganizational collaborations must manage tensions between the competing goals of efficiently accomplishing their objectives and creating participatory decision-making. For this study, structuration theory provided a lens for examining how collaboration members communicatively created initial structures and then used their agency to modify those structures. Findings from observations and interviews examined how the initial and modified communication structures both enabled and constrained group members. As members produced and reproduced the system, they modified the balance of participation and efficiency. These findings emphasize the need for members of collaborations to carefully manage their communication to maintain the desired balance of participation and efficiency.
Communication Reports, 2016
This manuscript presents two studies on arguing goals. In Study 1, participants (N = 147) provide... more This manuscript presents two studies on arguing goals. In Study 1, participants (N = 147) provided open-ended descriptions of their goals while arguing with others. A content analysis of their answers revealed 10 arguing goals: mutual understanding, problem solving, conflict resolution, persuasion, dominance, personal expression, emotional release, standing up for oneself, enjoyment, and intellectual growth. In Study 2, participants (N = 303) rated statements measuring these goals. The convergent validity, reliability, and factor structure of the measures developed were examined. Results indicated good validity and reliability, as well as unidimensional factors, with strong loadings for indicators in each scale, suggesting a promising measurement for the assessment of goals in nonserial argumentative exchanges.
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Papers by Carrisa Hoelscher