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Journal of Business and Technical Communication, Vol. 22, No. 1,
5-37 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1050651907307698
Wrestling With ProteusTales of Communication Managers in a Changing Economy
Stevens Amidon
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, amidons{at}ipfw.edu
Stuart Blythe
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
Because communication specialists often lack the power and prestige of other knowledge workers, such as engineers and product designers, managers who direct the work of communication specialists face unique challenges. This study, based on interviews with 11 communication managers, found that their agency and identity were determined both by the structure of the organizations in which they worked and by their use of genres, technologies, and regulatory techniques. With their work undergoing transition because of globalization, outsourcing, and rapid technological change, the stories that these managers tell demonstrate the importance of studying management as it specifically applies to communication specialists.
Key Words: agency • communication • globalization • management • technology
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