Abstract
This article applies organizational communication theory to academic administration by diagnosing recurring communication problems faced by department chairs . Using a context bound Likert type instrument distributed before professional development workshops the study ranks thirty common issues and uncovers a pattern of chronic communication overload limited authority over faculty motivation and frequent conflict mediation . The highest scoring concerns highlight information management burdens persuasion challenges with so called dead wood colleagues and public relations gaps between departments and central administration . The findings cluster into four domains conflict management persuasive leadership image management and data management signaling an urgent need for applied communication interventions and targeted training. By mapping these vulnerabilities this article advances applied communication research and offers a pragmatic agenda for scholars and practitioners seeking to strengthen academic leadership effectiveness.
Recommended Citation
Hickson, Mark III and McCroskey, James C.
(1991)
"Diagnosing Communication Problems of Academic Chairs: Applied Communication in Context,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 78, Article 3.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol78/iss1/3
