ICA Division IV Mission Statement 


Our division members seek to expand our understanding of the processes, prospects, and challenges of communicating and organizing in a global society.  Our scholarship articulates concepts and theories to better understand these processes, develop the tools needed to investigate them, and helps to implement the social practices to improve them.

We examine how communication shapes and is shaped by organizing across a range of contexts, including health care, community cooperatives, government and non-government agencies, global corporations, profit and not-for-profit organizations, and virtual and geographically co-located work.

We study a variety of multi-level phenomena including: discourse and discursive practices, communication of emotions, leader-follower communication, democratic communicative practices, negotiation and bargaining, group processes and decision making, socialization, power and influence, organizational culture, organizational language and symbolism, communication and conflict, identity and identification, adoption and appropriation of communication technologies, emergence of organizational and inter-organizational networks, and new organizational forms.

We explore these processes from a multiplicity of theoretical perspectives including structuration, feminism, interpretation, performance, cultural theory, postmodernism, postpositivism, complexity and self-organizing systems.  We utilize eclectic methods including ethnography, discourse analysis, survey methods, network analysis, computational modeling, experiments, content analysis, rhetorical and feminist methods.

We honor Division members' achievements through a variety of awards designed to recognize achievements such as: top paper, top student paper, dissertation, outstanding member, and best interactive display awards.  We advance scholarship in our division through doctoral consortia, preconferences focused on specific issues, and spotlight panels on scholars.  We advance scholar-practitioner dialogue through panels sponsored by our Academic-Industry Task Force.

Bylaws of the Organizational Communication Division


 

ARTICLE I: Objectives 


The objectives of Division IV - Organizational Communication are to:
  1. Stimulate theoretical development and research activities in the area of organizational communication as depicted in our mission statement.
  2. Encourage the dissemination of information about organizational communication to professional colleagues in the related fields.
  3. Relate research to current organizational communication problems.
  4. Develop instructional methods and materials for the teaching of organizational communication.
  5. Sponsor programs and endorse activities that bridge the interests of academic and practitioner organizational communication specialists.
 

ARTICLE II: Membership


Section 1.  Any Active Member of the International Communication Association who expresses interest in, and subscribes to, the purposes of the Division is eligible for Active Membership in the Division. ICA fellows are granted full active membership status, if they designate Division IV as professional interest area.

Section 2.  Any Affiliate Member of the International Communication Association who expresses interest in, and subscribes to, the purposes of the Division is eligible for Affiliate Membership. Affiliate members are not eligible to vote OR hold office.

ARTICLE III: Officers, Nominations, Elections


Section 1. Officers of the Division include a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and a Secretary. The ViceChairperson and the Secretary shall be elected in alternate years, each for a term of two years. The ViceChairperson shall be elected in even 0numbered years and automatically succeeds the Chairperson for a two-year term. No officers may immediately succeed themselves in office. Nonmembers of Division IV may not hold office.

Section 2. In addition to a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Secretary, the Division will elect whatever other officers its membership deems necessary and desirable.

Section 3. A committee of the Division appointed by the Division Chairperson to prepare a slate of nominees shall solicit nominations for offices from the Active Members of the Division. The names of at least two nominees who have given their consent must appear on the ballot for each vacant office.  The committee solicits nominations from the floor at the annual business meeting.

Section 4. The election of any officer shall be by vote of only the Active Members of the Division.

Section 5. Elections shall be by mail vote on a ballot that is incorporated with the ballot for election of officers of the International Communication Association. Such ballots shall be processed and counted, and the results reported according to the procedures employed for the election of officers of the International Communication Association.

Section 6. Unusual vacancies shall be filled by appointment of an Active Member of the Division by the President of the International Communication Association. If the unexpired term is for a period of more than six months the Division may initiate through its regular channels a special ballot for the election of an Active Member in the Division to fill the unexpired term.

Section 7. Duties of officers. (a) The Chairperson shall preside at all Division business meetings. In addition the chairperson shall create and appoint such temporary committees as deemed necessary; prepare and submit the Division budget to the Executive Committee; represent the Division and provide necessary Division reports at Association Board of Directors Executive Committee, and business meetings; appoint editor(s) for the Division newsletter; in her/his first year as Chairperson, administer the selection of competitive and noncompetitive papers/programs for conventions and notify contributors and the Association of papers/programs that are selected; review and provide recommendations for maintaining the quality of convention programs; and generally perform those duties usually associated with this office. (b) The Vice-Chairperson shall assist the Chairperson in administering Division business meetings; participate with the Chairperson in evaluating the quality of Division convention programs; in her/his second year as Vice-Chairperson, administer the selection of competitive and noncompetitive papers/programs for conventions and notify contributors and the Association of papers/programs that are selected. The Vice-Chairperson shall also assist the Chairperson when requested, and assume the duties of Chairperson in the event of the latter are absence, disability, or request. (c) The Secretary shall maintain, distribute, and obtain Division approval of minutes for Division business meetings; administer the Charles W. Redding Annual Outstanding Dissertation Awards Program and make the award presentation at the annual meeting of the Association; assist the Chairperson in administering business meetings; and participate with the chairperson in evaluating the quality of Division programs.

Section 8. Any elected officer may be removed from office by the following procedure: at least onethird of the listed members of the Division must sign a petition to the Executive Secretary of the International Communication Association requesting a special election, and including nominations for the office in question. The Executive Secretary arranges an extraordinary election within 60 days at the expense of Division IV, with the challenged officer(s) on the ballot. The result of the election becomes effective immediately.
 

ARTICLE IV. Committees


Section 1. The Chairperson is empowered to establish and appoint members of ad hoc committees to assist in the conduct of the affairs of the Division.

Section 2. When requested by the President of the International Communication Association, the Division Chairperson is empowered to recommend members of the Division to serve on designated Association committees.

Section 3. The term of office of any appointed committee member shall not exceed the term of office of the appointing officer, except in the case of standing committees.

ARTICLE V. Dues


Section 1. The Division officers may propose to the members an annual dues charge for the various classes of membership. If approved by the Board of Directors of the Association. This charge shall be adopted upon the affirmative vote of twothirds of the responding Active Members of the Division, voting on a mail ballot. Nonpayment of such Divisional dues shall be a basis for termination of membership in the Division, but shall not affect the individual's status as a member of the Association.

Section 2. In the event the Division is dissolved, the elected officers shall transfer the net assets of the Division to the Board of Directors of the Association to be used for the work of the Association.
 

ARTICLE VI. Meeting and Reports


 Section 1. An Annual Business Meeting of the Division shall be held at the time and place of the annual conference of the Association. A simple majority of the Active members at the business meeting determines approval on motions before the Division.

Section 2. Activity reports of officers and committees of the Division shall be received at the Annual Business Meeting, and action recommendations shall be presented to the Board of Directors for vote.

Section 3. The Secretary shall prepare a written report of the Annual Business Meeting for transmission to the members of the Division.
Section 4. The Division may plan and hold professional meetings at the time of the annual conference, under the general coordination of the President-Elect of the Association.

Section 5. The Division may organize and hold local or regional programs and meetings on its own initiative, upon notification of the Board of Directors of the Association.

Section 6. At Annual Meetings, the passage of resolutions will not require a vote of the membership at large. Motions approved at the Annual Business Meeting involving (a) a change in Bylaws, (b) approval for general expenditures, (c) election of officers, (d) creation of standing or permanent committees, and (e) Division dues adjustments will require an affirmative vote of twothirds of the responding Active Members of the Division, voting on a mail ballot.

Section 7. The Division shall support the creation and maintenance of a Division Newsletter to be published and disseminated to members. Editor(s) for the Division Newsletter will be appointed for a two-year term by the Division Chairperson. To the maximum degree possible, the Division Newsletter will be supported by the Division budget, institutional contributions, donations, and/or advertising. If necessary, upon membership approval, a nominal contribution by Division members will be used to support the Newsletter. Contributions will be determined by procedures outlined in Article V of the Division Bylaws.
 

ARTICLE VII. Amendments and Restrictions


Section 1. Amendments to, or other changes in, these Bylaws may be initiated in the following ways: (a) The Chairperson may appoint a committee to consider revising the Bylaws in general or in particular, and subsequently submit to the membership of the Division the committee report, (b) Twentyfive Active Members of the Division may submit to the Board of Directors a proposed amendment or amendments in writing and signed by the sponsors, and (c) the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary may formulate proposals for amendment of these Bylaws and submit them, with any arguments, to the Active Membership for vote. Amendments formulated in this manner must be submitted to the Chairperson prior to the Annual Business Meeting. Amendments or revisions receiving an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds at the annual business meeting shall be considered formally by the Active Members of the Division.

Section 2. Amendments or revisions to this document may be considered formally by the Active Members of the Association as follows: The Executive Secretary of the Association shall send the proposed changes with explanations and arguments, a ballot, and a request for a mail vote to the Active Members. No sooner than 30 days, not later than 45 days after mailing the proposal, the Executive Secretary shall request the Tellers Committee to count the votes. An affirmative vote of at least twothirds of the ballots returned shall be required for acceptance of the amendment(s). The results of the vote shall be reported to the membership within 30 days following the vote.

Section 3. These Division Bylaws may not conflict with the Bylaws of the Association; the latter take precedence, and power for determining conflict rests with the Board of Directors of the Association.
 

ARTICLE VIII. Parliamentary Authority


In the absence of any provision to the contrary in these bylaws, all business meetings of the Division shall be governed by the parliamentary rules and usages contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order, Revised.

DIVISION IV RESOLUTION: PROGRAM PROPOSALS AND CONVENTION PAPERS


WHEREAS it is in the best scholarly interest of Division IV to promote and sustain high quality ICA convention programs and research papers, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the following procedures (amended in 2001) be enforced commencing with the 1981 calendar year ICA convention:

I.       Program Selection/Review Committee
  1. Committee members will include the current Division Chairperson and two or more elected readers.
  2. These readers will be chosen by mail ballot.
  3. Reader nominations must be submitted to the Division Chairperson at or prior to the business meeting of the preceding convention.
II.      Competitive Papers Category
  1. All competitive papers submitted to Division IV must meet current ICA submission standards.
  2. These standards are published routinely in ICA "Call-For-Papers" brochures.
  3. All competitive submissions must include full papers, with abstracts, since it is impossible for program reviewers to fairly and objectively weigh the merits of an abstract against the merits of a completed paper.
  4. Competitive papers presented for convention consideration must be original works that have not been previously presented at any other professional meeting.
III. NonCompetitive Paper Category
  1. The Non-competitive paper category includes (a) invited panels where research papers are presented that generally adhere to common research themes, and, (b) panels, symposiums, or caucuses where a  discernible thread of scholarly continuity is present but without the preparation of a formal research paper.
  2. The following guidelines must be met when submitting proposals that fall into the categories described above:
        1. For category (a) authors writing papers for accepted programs must conform to the format described above.
        2. Individuals preparing programs for either category must supply the Division Chairperson on or before the "Call for Papers" deadline the
           following information: Program title; paper titles (if applicable);  author's; and institutional affiliations.