Unit 2_MT434_Discussion response

13607Respond or elaborate on the response below:

Beyond traffic lights, what other systems of representation can you think of in your community? What elements of difference do they rely on to generate meaning? Other systems of representation in my community are stop signs, cross walks, Railroad crossings etc. They all have the same type of representation as the stoplights, but the meanings differ. They all stand to relay a message that everyone driving or walking or riding should be able to understand. I would say the elements they rely on are obviously the message, then the channel or the way the message is conveyed and then the reciever or the person the message is received by and how they perceive it.
How does this system of representation illustrate the critical approach to organizations? This system is important for organizations because it enables organizations to establish modes and ways of doing things that can be spoken or unspoken. It is also important to understand the complexity of these communications within organizations. As Mumby et al (2018) states “most systems are much more complex than the traffic light example above.”
When considering shared cultural meanings, what is one thing that comes to mind from an organization you have been a part of or are a part of? Which ideology described in Chapter 2 best aligns with this organization? Does this meaning translate the same outside of the organization? I was in the Army and within that organization, the cultural differences were robust. There were individuals from every walk of life and every cultural group represented within the United States and even some who were not US citizens quite yet. A shared meaning in the “military culture” what that we all knew why we were there and what each command by our leadership meant. We all saw each other as equals and that was truly an amazing thing to be a part of. The best ideology in chapter 2 that best describes this organization is probably capitalism with some elements of socialism. As far as being a civilian now, looking back, the military was very socialist in my view as we were often given the same clothes, food, housing etc. On one hand it was harsh and on the other it was your duty and it was an honor to serve in that capacity. You know going in of the expectations and what that entails.