Organizational communication

Identify the organization you chose and how the article was found. If there is a web link
available, provide it.
PricewaterhouseCoopers is an accounting, audit, financial services, and consultancy firm
that operates in many countries globally. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine had
affected the organization’s activities, and subsequently, the organization had to give a statement
advising the closure of PwC Russia. The online article is available at
https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/news-room/press-releases/2022/statement-on-pwc-russia.html.
Describe the current news story (article, TV segment, etc.) you selected and briefly explain
the organizational issue.
In the communication, PwC states that it has evaluated the environment following
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and is determined to terminate its member firm in Russia. The
article also highlights its commitment to the humanitarian support of Ukraine and transitioning
the business to ensure the wellbeing of the 3700 employees stationed there.
Discuss if there is a time or space issue connected to the organizational issue, as noted in
Chapter 1 of your text.
Both time and space issues are present in this article. The closure of PwC’s office in
Russia means that until the organization redeploys them, they cannot fulfill their time-related
work routines that require fulfillment in the office. This is essential because, since the onset of
COVID-19 in 2019 and 2020, many organizations have implemented remote working policies.
Therefore, some employees can fulfill their remote working time requirements. In organizational
settings, managers’ roles include administering control over an employee to ensure they perform

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their organization’s requirements. This communication reduces the ability of managers to
exercise such control over employees due to the closure of the facility and shifting of priorities
(McCarthy 2020).
Describe one aspect of employee tension that exists within this issue.
This communication raises employee tension in several aspects. Communication affects
job stability for the 3700 employees stationed there. The tension emanates from whether the
organization is flexible enough to find other locations for the employees to be redeployed to. The
employees may also be concerned over whether PwC can continue fulfilling its commitment to
pay salaries for the staff deployed in PwC Russia.
Research the five descriptions of control and explain which is the prevalent organizational
control method that stands out to you in this story
The forms of organizational control are direct control, technological control, behavioral
control, ideological control, and bureaucratic control. The form of control depicted in the article
is bureaucratic control. The intent of PwC’s communication in that letter is to give directions to
the employees following the direction that the organization has decided to take. Ideological
control is also evident in the paper. The message in the communication is that the organization
would like to promote peace. This is evident in the way that the organization commits to
supporting Ukraine through humanitarian aid. The type of control determines the organizational
tone used. (Mumby & Kuhn, 2019 ) note that direct communication is applicable where there are
robust systems for employee supervision and monitoring. As such, the communication is
authoritative in the sense that the employees are explicitly told what to do. The message uses an
authoritative tone in the communication. For example, it says in part that “PwC should not have

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a member firm in Russia “(PWC, 2022). It also says that “PwC Russia will leave the network”
(PwC, 2022). The tone in the message depicts authoritative decision-making from the
organization’s hierarchy.
Organizations that use ideological control communicate in empathetic language. This is
an intentional way of showing the ideals that PwC stands for. The empathetic tone is evident
when the statement says in part that “PwC continues to be doing all we can to help Ukrainian
colleagues” (PwC, 2022). The statement also shows the organization’s empathy towards
employees when it says that there’s “a focus on the wellbeing of our 3700 colleagues in PwC
Russia” (PwC, 2022).
Explain how the prevalent organizational control method affects organizational
communication. Is it positive or negative?
The control method affects PwC in a positive way. Such a form of communication
depicts that the organization is in control despite the uncertainty. Though employees may
experience tension, the communication offers the reassurance that the organization is aware of
the challenge and that steps are being taken to arrive at the best possible outcome. Such
reassurances help to uphold employee motivation (Clampitt et al., 2000).
Communication that demonstrates empathy is essential for the organization’s culture. The actions
that PwC takes to support Ukrainian victims of war help to instill an empathetic mindset and
culture, which ultimately benefits the organization.
Decide if the issue is demonstrative of the perspective of communication in organizations or
the perspective of organizations as communication

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The issue is demonstrative of the perspective of organizations as communication.
(Mumby and Kuhn, 2019) hold that the perspective of organizations as communication depicts
organizations that work as bureaucratic machines. The essence of the communication by PwC is
to provide order and stability in the organization. The communication is meant to provide
stability to the interdependent systems that operate as PwC Russia. PwC understands that its
overall success is determined by the functional contribution of all members and that failing to
communicate affects the functioning of the whole interdependent and interconnected system.
Discuss how the concepts of time and space, employee–organization tension, and the five
forms of control play a part in how the issue developed.
The communication by PwC means that, for the time being, PwC cannot continue to
operate in its designated time and space. Understanding the implications of its statement, PwC
comes to reassure the staff that besides the events happening between Russia and Ukraine, it is
mindful of the employees there and has taken additional organizational measures to control the
situation. Its commitment to support Ukraine is a communication of social responsibility and
empathy, ideals that are good for organizational culture.

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References

Clampitt, P. G., DeKoch, R. J., & Cashman, T. (2000). A strategy for communicating about
uncertainty. Academy of Management Perspectives, 14(4), 41–57.
https://doi.org/10.5465/ame.2000.3979815
Mumby, D. K., & Kuhn, T. R. (2019). Organizational Communication: A Critical Introduction
(2nd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
McCarthy, C. (2020). Implement success strategies for supervising staff members working
remotely. The Successful Registrar, 20(5), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/tsr.30729
PricewaterhouseCoopers. (2022). Statement on PwC Russia. PwC.Com. Retrieved 2022, from
https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/news-room/press-releases/2022/statement-on-pwc-
russia.html