Case Study: Communicative Identity Construction at South East Youth Association
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CASE STUDY: COMMUNICATIVE IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION AT SOUTH EAST YOUTH ASSOCIATION Peter Simionides A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS May 2016 Committee: Tom Mascaro, Advisor John Dowd Clayton Rosati © 2016 Peter Simionides All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Tom Mascaro, Advisor This study examines the communicative identity of the South East Youth Association (SEYA) during a time of mission and funding transition. The study examines identity construction as defined by the linguistic turn comparing the fluid identity discussed in organizational communication literature to nonprofits’ typically stable identities, emerging from their mission statements and core values. The Communicative Constitution of Organizations (CCO) allows communication to be understood not as a peripheral aspect of organizing, but as the central phenomena to organizing. The adoption of a CCO lens leads this study to build on the principle that communication and organizational identity are one in the same. This study asks how SEYA’s communication patterns impacted how successfully they were able to fulfill their mission during this time of change. Interviews conducted with key organizational stake holders reveal not only a capacity and willingness to evaluate their communication patterns and messages, which provides background information on the transition, but also how the organization’s identity is both constituted and challenged by these communication practices. The SEYA transition unfolds by virtue of the multilayered and complex phenomena revealed in the interviews, a construct that merits further study. Qualitative analysis of SEYA’s communication determined that the distress attending their recent transition resulted from several gaps in communication and mission application, exacerbated by extra-communication that developed outside the immediate control of the organization. iv “We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This thesis would not have been possible if not for the number of people who have encouraged, supported, and offered guidance to me through the years. I’m deeply grateful to my advisor Dr. Mascaro, who provided guiding questions and practical steps throughout the entire process. Committee members, Dr. Dowd and Dr. Rosati, have also deeply contributed to this thesis by challenging my work, asking difficult questions, and continually asking more from me in this project as well as others. My thesis committee was invaluable through the entire process allowing me to gain deeper insights than what would have originally been possible. To those that chose to participate in this study, I am thankful for allowing this entire study to take place. For their willingness to allow me into their lives during a painful and chaotic time of change, I am truly thankful. My gratitude extends far beyond those who were immediately involved in this thesis. The following pages are more than just the culmination of months of work, but were shaped and influenced by years of learning and growth. This growth would not have been possible without the countless individuals who have deeply invested me. I could never thank or know everyone that has influenced me, but to a few I would like to extend deep gratitude: Dr. Nick and Lori Simionides, Dr. Clinton Lowin, Dr. Andrew Rudd, Dr. Marcia Everett, Rhett Edwards, Nathan, Ryan, Noah, and Hannah, thank you for the profound and lasting impact you have had on my life. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER II. RATIONALE & LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................. 8 Rationale .................................................................................................................... 8 Literature Review ...................................................................................................... 13 Communicative Constitution of Organizations ............................................ 13 Linguistic Turn and Critical Theory ............................................................. 18 Organizational Identity ................................................................................. 22 CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY & RESEARCH QUESTIONS ..................................... 25 Interview Schedule for Employees ........................................................................... 31 Interview Schedule for Non-Employees ................................................................... 33 CHAPTER IV. INTERVIEW NARRATIVES: “THE DIVORCE” ..................................... 37 “The Divorce” ............................................................................................................ 41 CHAPTER V. DISCUSSION ............................................................................................... 58 Research Question 1 ................................................................................................. 58 Research Question 2 ................................................................................................. 65 Research Question 3 ................................................................................................. 71 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 78 APPENDIX A. SURVEY ..................................................................................................... 81 APPENDIX B. INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS .................................................................. 85 APPENDIX C. INFORMED CONSENT ............................................................................. 251 APPENDIX D. LETTER TO PARENTS ............................................................................. 255 vii APPENDIX E. HSRB APPROVAL .................................................................................... 257 APPENDIX F. INTERVIEW REQUEST ........................................................................... 258 SEYA COMMUNICATIVE IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION 1 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION It should be noted that pseudonyms have been used for all individuals, organizations, cities, and other identifying information within this study. It was the wishes of the subjects as well as the committee and human subjects review board that the study be anonymous in order to avoid negatively effecting the relationship between the parties involved. Every precaution has been taken to respect the anonymity of individuals involved in order to ensure that no harm comes to any of the participants. Midville is at a turning point in its history. The change from a vibrant manufacturing hub to a faltering economy has put increased burdens on low-income families. Nonprofit organizations have typically played a vital role for urban families, especially by providing short- term or specialized support for human services. One of the most important is after-school programs, which enable working parents to concentrate on their jobs without worrying about the wellbeing of their children. In addition, supplemental care programs often provide nutritional supplements in the diets of children from low-income families. This study focuses on a small network of nonprofit organizations and employees and their challenge to sustain supplemental school programs for families and children in Midville. In recent years, this network has been affected by changes in funding, communication issues that have complicated the network’s mission, and communication breakdowns that seem to be hampering or changing the structures serving families and their children. This study seeks to explore this organizational communication dynamic and analyze its effectiveness. Understanding the communication and structural challenges for nonprofit services in Midville requires an understanding of the geographical and economic context. From 2014-2015 Midville underwent a comprehensive planning process with the goal of revitalizing this former SEYA COMMUNICATIVE IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION 2 manufacturing hub. The fastest growing manufacturing industries in the early 1900s made their homes in Mid County (reference withheld to uphold anonymity). However, like many Midwestern cities, Midville has been declining since the 1950s as the economic boom of early 20th century manufacturing has slowed (Robinson, 2014). This has led to a steady decrease in Midville’s population since 1950. In 2012 the city began reworking its Downtown Development Plan, which had been created in 2003, and launched a new Midville Master Plan with the help of, an outside consulting firm (reference withheld to uphold anonymity). A draft of this new plan was presented in 2014, and revised through community meetings and consultations with local stakeholders. According to the outside firm a well formulated strategic plan may be what Midville needs to survive the 21st century, not unlike nearby Midwestern cities. While Midville holds valuable assets, among them international tourist attractions, two top tier hospitals, Midville Christian University, and an international manufacturing plant, it also faces a series of obstacles to economic sustainability. The population has steadily declined every year since 1950, so Midville finds itself with more housing units than are needed. An