Polysemy, Plurality, & Paradigms: the Quixotic Quest For
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University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School January 2013 Polysemy, Plurality, & Paradigms: The Quixotic Quest for Commensurability of Ethics and Professionalism in the Practices of Law Eric Paul Engel University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Communication Commons, and the Law Commons Scholar Commons Citation Engel, Eric Paul, "Polysemy, Plurality, & Paradigms: The Quixotic Quest for Commensurability of Ethics and Professionalism in the Practices of Law" (2013). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/4886 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Polysemy, Plurality, & Paradigms: The Quixotic Quest for Commensurability of Ethics and Professionalism in the Practices of Law by Eric Paul Engel A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Communication College of Arts and Science University of South Florida Major Professor: Eric M. Eisenberg, Ph.D. Fred Steier, Ph.D. Jane Jorgenson, Ph.D. Cynthia Cohen, Ph.D. Date of Approval: November 12, 2013 Keywords: interpersonal communication, organizational communication, coordinated management of meaning (CMM), framing, sensemaking Copyright © 2013, Eric Paul Engel Dedication For Susan—from diapers to dissertation you’ve always been there (except during playoff games). For John—who took a little boy to class with him one day and inspired a dream. For Byron, Chaos, and Olivia—it is true that a home with cats need not have sculpture. For Lily, Ani, and Winnie—thank you for making me take such long walks. Without you I would have never come to know how beautiful the neighborhood really was and to taste such wonderful mangos! Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge my dissertation committee: Dr. Eric Eisenberg, Dr. Frederick Steier, Dr. Jane Jorgenson, and Dr. Cynthia Cohen. I am indebted to each of you for your patience, guidance, insight, and inspiration. I would also like to acknowledge Scott Hawkins, President of The Florida Bar (2011-2012), who asked just the right question at just the right time, and to John Berry, Executive Director of the Legal Division of The Florida Bar, who told me I was on the right track when I needed to hear just that. I would also like to acknowledge, albeit anonymously, all of the interviewees and World Café participants, without whom this research could never have happened. i Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................... iv Abstract ............................................................................................................... v Purpose of the Study .......................................................................................... 1 Chapter One. Introduction and Statement of the Problem ................................. 2 Chapter Two. Literature Review ........................................................................ 8 How Did We Get to This Particular Problem? .......................................... 8 Originating Intentions of the Professionalism Project ........................... 10 The Professionalism Project: Where Are We Now? .............................. 15 Values/Opinions v. “Facts” .................................................................... 20 The Theoretical Lens of the Coordinated Management of Meaning ...... 23 The Atomic Model ....................................................................... 27 The LUUUUTT Model ................................................................. 31 Logical Force and Emergent Interactional Logics ....................... 33 Four Forms of Communication .................................................... 36 Monocultural Communication ........................................... 37 Ethnocentric Communication ........................................... 38 Modernistic Communication ............................................. 38 Cosmopolitan Communication ......................................... 39 A Working Definition of Ethics/Morals .................................................... 43 Joanne Martin’s Tripartite Taxonomy of Organizational Culture(s) ........ 43 Communicating Our Way “Out” of the Problem ..................................... 46 Research Questions ............................................................................. 69 Chapter Three. Research Methodology ........................................................... 70 The World Café: A Methodology of/for Inquiry ....................................... 70 Principle 1: Set the Context ........................................................ 71 Principle 2: Create Hospitable Space ........................................ 71 Principle 3: Explore Questions That Matter ................................ 72 Principle 4: Encourage Everyone’s Contribution ........................ 76 Principle 5: Cross-Pollinate and Connect Diverse Perspectives. ......................................................................... 76 Principle 6: Listen Together for Patterns, Insights, and Deeper Questions .................................................................. 77 Principle 7: Harvest and Share Collective Discoveries .............. 79 ii Engaging the World Café as a Research Methodology: In Summary .............................................................................. 82 Agenda: Half-Day Workshop ................................................................. 83 Table 1. Half-Day Event Agenda ................................................. 84 Organizational Goals and Objectives ..................................................... 85 Table 2. The Florida Bar: Strategic and Organizational Goals and Objectives ............................................................. 86 Chapter Four. Results ...................................................................................... 90 Pre-Event Interviews .............................................................................. 90 World Café Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Program ....................... 91 Post-Event Focus Group ........................................................................ 92 Research Question 1: Responses and Emergent Themes .................... 92 1. “Formal” Communication Resources ...................................... 93 2. Accountability .......................................................................... 94 3. The Practice of Law in a Market Society ................................. 97 4. Community & Demography ................................................... 102 5. Pedagogy & Mentoring .......................................................... 108 6. Psychology ............................................................................ 111 Research Question 2: Responses and Emergent Themes .................. 114 1. “Formal” Organizations ......................................................... 114 2. “Formal” Procedures & Documentation ................................. 115 3. Community & Identity ............................................................ 116 Research Question 3: Responses and Emergent Themes .................. 118 1. Encouraged Behaviors .......................................................... 119 2. Paradoxical Behaviors: Stories Told vs. Stories Lived .......... 120 Research Question 4: Responses and Emergent Themes .................. 131 1. Encouraged Behaviors .......................................................... 132 2. Paradoxical Behaviors .......................................................... 133 Chapter Five. Discussion ............................................................................... 146 Summary of Key Findings .................................................................... 147 Polysemy and Public Relations .................................................. 147 Identity Development vs. Regulative Enforcement .................... 148 “Loss of a Collective Mentality” ................................................. 149 The Locus of Expertise .............................................................. 150 An Observation: Ethnocentric Stories Lived vs. Modernistic Stories Told ................................................................................ 151 Practical / Theoretical Implications ...................................................... 152 #1: Introducing the Florida Legal Community to the World Café Methodology ................................................................ 153 #2: Professional Community Building ....................................... 153 #3: CLE Ethics and Professionalism Credit .............................. 154 #4: Honoring Stakeholders’ Collective Voice(s) ........................ 156 #5: Expanding and Extending Existing Interpersonal and Organizational Communication Theory and Practice .......... 157 iii Study Limitations .................................................................................. 158 World Café Lessons Learned ............................................................. 160 Conclusion ........................................................................................... 166 Endnotes ...................................................................................................