There’s something ridiculous about two men in suits wearing checkerboard jester hats, but that just might be the point. The cartoon shows how symbols which are meant to create feelings of pride and unity amongst a group can turn into caricatures of themselves. When everyone follows some sort of tradition without questioning it’s purpose, it can create a culture that’s less about shared values and more about being an office gag.

Visible symbols like this in organizational communication are called artifacts, which are the tangible expressions of a company’s identity. These expressions can range from things like branded mugs to slogans. Under the cultural perspective, artifacts serve as reminders of what we stand for but also can become hollow rituals if they lose the connection to the real goals of the organization. The checkerboard hat in the cartoon is a perfect example – it’s a harmless token of unity at first but becomes absurd once it takes on a life of its own. Also, when employees wear the hats without buying into the mission, the hats become an empty gesture.

At my fast food job, I had a manager who made crew members wear store branded baseball caps during the lunch rush. I think the manager wanted to increase team spirit, but the hats were huge and kept falling off our heads. It started out as a fun artifact, but it was impacting the service to the customers. Eventually, the store got rid of the baseball caps. This goes to show that artifacts need to be chosen carefully. It’s one thing to create a new tradition, but another thing to let it run unchecked. Periodically, people need to look at these traditions and ask whether they reflect the values of the group or company that they’re meant to represent. By doing this, these organizations can create a culture that evolves thoughtfully.

This cartoon has four individuals tugging a rope in different directions, with the caption reading ‘I think this works better if we all pull in the same direction.‘ The cartoon relates to the chapter because it depicts the challenges associated with interdependence and common goals, which are under the ‘Characteristics of Groups’ subheading in Chapter 10. The chapter says that in order for groups to be effective, members need to work together towards common objectives. The chapter also says that people in groups should use synergy, which is the idea that a whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When group members aren’t on the same page, the group is unable to effectively achieve its goals.

The image also addresses issues about group roles and a poor leadership style. A more laid back leader might not be able to unify the team towards a certain goal. On the other hand, a strict and authoritarian leader might discourage people from collaborating. In a group project I was working on, we struggled to agree on the template of the PowerPoint. Someone wanted to use the simple white PowerPoint template, and someone else insisted on a flashy template from the internet. Like the cartoon, we were pulling in different directions, which caused more effort and wasted time. Through this experience, I’ve learned that alignment in groups is essential. When we pull together, we can achieve much more than when we pull apart.

Communication is an important part of human interaction, as it shapes the way we connect and express ourselves. Despite this, the way that we communicate is influenced by different factors, which can include gender. The study of gender communication looks at the differences in how people of different genders express themselves and communicate with each other. Having a better understanding of gender communication can help mitigate gaps in communications and make the world more inclusive.

For example, look at the cartoon. It shows a man and a woman engaged in conversation, but showing that they’re communicating in different styles. This visual of the man and woman’s different communication styles show that men and women have unique verbal and nonverbal cues. For example, studies show that women may use more expressive facial gestures, and men may focus of minimizing verbal affirmations. These differences are influenced by culture and can lead to misunderstandings if they aren’t recognized.

The influence of gender on communication has a strong influence on society. Stereotypes have been formed about men and women in terms of how they should communicate. However, modern perspectives challenge these traditional views. By studying gender communication, we gain valuable insights into how language, tone, and body language have an influence on relationships. By recognizing these patterns, we can communicate more effectively, whether it be professionally, personally, or in public. We need to embrace diverse communication styles to have more productive conversations.