Assignment #1 Ch. 8 Case: Whole Foods
Dr. Carrie E. Tuning
BUS 322 Organizational Behaviors
May 5th, 2010

1.Discuss how the basic interpersonal communication model that is presented in Figure 8.1 can be applied to the impersonal nature of an online forum.

The Interpersonal Communication Model is a form of communication in an Organization between two or more people. This model uses skills like reading, listening, managing, interpreting information, and communicating with people all over the world. This model is designed to help build relationships and sustain human relationships at work or in any other settings for communication purposes. In the case with Whole Foods John Mackey would be the communicator, who is originating the message in the forum in reference to Wild Oats. The message posted contains the thoughts and feelings that the communicator, who intends to evoke in the receiver. The communicator is trying to get his thoughts across by using the worlds, ideas, symbols, and concepts that he has chosen to relay in the message. The communicator also gets his feelings and emotional effects across as well by intensity, force, demeanor, and gestures that he is using. The receiver is the person viewing the forum through the Perceptual screens which are the windows that are used to interact with people all over the world on the internet. The Perpetual screens do influence the quality, accuracy, and clarity of the message posted online. These screens are designed to get the sender’s and receivers individual traits across, including age, gender, values, beliefs, past experiences, cultural influences, and individual needs. These screens influence both the sender and receiver, which is the case with Whole Foods the communicator, got his content across with its affects to the receivers. Feedback is provided by the receiver to the send and this will complete a two-way communication process in the forum. The language used is extremely important the choice of words, their pronunciation, and the methods of combining these words can have positive or negative effect. In this case, the affect would be negative since the communicator conveys his message buy using harsh words that are consider provocative, boastful, and impulsive.

2.How does defensive communication enter into this case?

In the case of Whole Foods majority of communication posted in online forum was consider defensive communication. The posting in the online forum were aggressive and angry communication making offensive remarks regarding Wild Oats. This sort of communication creates barriers between people and questions John Mackey’s values and judgment. In this case the defensive communication was considered dominant because he was actively aggressive and the communication demonstrated his attacking behavior. These defensive tactics raise an ethical dilemma and issues for those who are involved. These kinds of statements raises doubt about another person’s values and beliefs in this case it would raise questions about Wild Oats. These types of defensive tactic are used to control and manipulate others to gain advantage in this case the advantage would be to dominate the market and control the prices of the items sold. In this case, Whole Food insult or put-down hurt Wild Oats their competitor so they can gain an upper hand in the relationships and purchase of the chain of Wild Oats. The language used in this case contains offensive remarks, aggression is apparent and consider very hostile toward Wild Oats. This type of misleading information uses a form of deception and the selective presentation of information is designed to leave a false and inaccurate impression of the company as a whole. In this case majority of communication in the forum used scapegoating form of language and this caused a wide range of problems. The use of language that conveys a message that injured feelings, destructive, and retaliatory behaviors damages company statement, mission, and value. The entire communication was based on aggressive and attacking behavior consider unacceptable by the mission statement of Whole Foods. There are consequences associated with the kind of language used and the FTC made that public in their law suit that they filed against Whole Foods to try to block the purchase of Wild Oats.

3.How is the Internet transforming the way people communicate?

Internet is transforming the way people communicate with just a click of a button you can communicate with anyone all over the Worlds within minutes or seconds. Information technology has made it possible to communicate faster and immediate access to information is available by using the internet for communication, research or any other need. There are no time limit or time zone issues and the internet is available around the clock for all who have access to it. This is a great way to communicate if being in front of people intimidates you then this would enable that person to still communicated with the other party. Internet is a great tool for researching information, e-mailing reports, keeping in touch with people, this kind of communication is impersonal in nature it shields the sender from personal interactions with the other party. Internet is an effective way of communication and this is helping companies with their market, businesses are utilizing the internet for marketing purpose along with all many types of business ventures. Many enjoy conducting training seminars using the Internet and to conduct conference all over the World. Now most cell phones are designed with internet access so you are able to search on internet from your cell phone and e-mail anyone at anytime. Internet is a great way to build new relationships and you can keep in touch with people all over the World twenty-four hours around the clock. Internet has open new channels for everyone even the businesses and now many companies will give you an opportunity to work right from the comfort of your own home by telecommuting. This is a new way of working you can do almost everything from the comfort of home including having access to work from home by signing in, attending meetings, Web cam, which is a great feature it makes it possible to see the other party over the internet when in a meeting this is a great tool. You can use Internet to connect with people in any other country and conduct a meeting using webcam feature you can do face to face meeting without leaving your home. Internet has made it possible to pay bills, send reports, pictures, documents, shopping, book vacations, and buy airline tickets online along with many other features.

4.Discuss the ethical problems that are revealed by examining John Mackey’s online postings in relation to the communications provision of the Whole Foods Declaration of Interdependence?

John Mackey’s online posting are in conflict with the Whole Foods Declaration of Interdependence; it is clear that these posting are not in line with the Declaration. He is not showing compassion through his communication in the forum and his communication style is clearly defensive, he uses defensive tactics to get his message across. Most of his posting are unethical and provides misleading information regarding Wild Oats while concealing his identity. John Mackey’s communication style has caused many problems for Whole Foods and has created a destructive environment for the company. He has been very aggressive in the online posting toward Wild Oats and his attacking behavior is translated through his postings. He is raising doubts about Wild Oats, which is clearly unethical these tactics are form of power play he is trying to control and put-down Wild Oats. This probably caused many problems for Wild Oats in the process; they can lose their customers who are getting negative information through John Mackey’s online posting. He used a screen name to bash the company, which is a major form of deception and his posting according to Nelson “designed to leave a false and inaccurate impression in the listener’s mind”.

References

Nelson, D., & Quick, J.C. (2009) ORGB: 2010 custom edition Mason, OH: Cengage Learning