The Organizational Communication Division (OCD) focuses on the analysis, understanding, and critique of communication practices, processes, and technologies within and between organizations. OCD members study organizing in all sectors of society (public, private, nongovernmental/nonprofit, intergovernmental). The division is committed to the use of multiple methodologies for data gathering and data analysis. Both theoretical and applied projects are encouraged. Topics of interest to OCD members range from microanalysis of organizational phenomena (e.g., talk, knowledge-sharing) to macroanalysis of processes (e.g., discourses of globalization, network society). The OCD welcomes submission of special panels and programs that will enhance multicultural, multinational, and academic-industry interaction.

The OCD will consider only completed papers and fully developed panel proposals for regular panels.

In addition, in keeping with ICA's  experimentation with  extended sessions this year, the OCD will  also  introduce a "Research Escalator" session. This session will provide an opportunity for less experienced researchers to pair up with experienced scholars to discuss and get feedback on a paper-in-progress, with the goal of making the paper ready for submission to a conference or journal. Those interested in the Research Escalator session should  submit an extended abstract (500-600 words) of their paper; if accepted, participants are expected to send the full paper to the scholar assigned to their paper two months before the convention. Anyone can submit an abstract for the Research Escalator session. However, we especially encourage advanced doctoral students, junior faculty, and people inexperienced in publishing in ICA journals or in English. For more details on the Research Escalator session, see the OCD website: www.icahdq.org/divisions/orgcomm/News/News/ConferenceUpdates.htm.

Six important issues should be considered before submitting papers, extended abstracts, or panels:

The OCD does not review papers that are over the ICA 25-page limit, excluding references and tables.
We also do not review more than 3 submissions authored by the same person either as sole author or co-author. For the Research Escalator session, we do not review more than 1 abstract authored by the same person either as sole author or co-author. Hence, you may submit 3 papers and/or panels OR 1 extended abstract plus 2 papers and/or panels.

If your panel, paper, or Research Escalator extended abstract is accepted for the ICA conference, you have an obligation to register for and attend the conference and present your work.

Be sure that paper submissions are completely anonymous, by removing your name from headers, references, footnotes, etc.

The OCD encourages panel submissions to include authors from multiple institutions and/or multiple countries.

There will be a US$500 prize (sponsored by Waveland Press) for the top interactive display presentation (i.e., poster presentation) submitted to the OCD. Please consider indicating a willingness or preference to present as an interactive display.

Submissions may be:

Full-length completed research papers (8,000 - 9,000 words; maximum 25 pages, excluding references and tables),
Panel proposals (title, rationale of 400 words maximum, and a 150-word description of each panelist's paper or presentation; 75- word rationale for conference program, a full list of participants), or Research Escalator paper-in-progress abstracts (500-600 word extended abstracts).

Questions? Contact:

Ted Zorn
Department of Management Communication
U of Waikato
Private Bag 3105
Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
Phone: +64(7) 838 4776
Fax: +64(7) 838 4358
E-mail: tzorn@waikato.ac.nz