MD

Ch. 1 Review 8/20/25

Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors

  • Attitude definitions from the transcript:
    • "No. You have a bad attitude." (preconceived notions about something; judgments or predispositions toward something)
    • Even if someone doesn’t know a lot about something, they likely have some kind of judgment about it.
    • This collection of judgments and predispositions is what we call an attitude.
  • Beliefs:
    • Beliefs are more set in stone than attitudes.
    • Based on past experiences or convictions.
    • Generally, confidently expressed convictions are beliefs.
  • Behaviors:
    • Behaviors are actions that people take.
  • Interconnection:
    • Communication affects us more than we might initially expect.
    • This sets the stage for discussing ethics and how we speak about and treat others.
  • Practical implication:
    • When evaluating messages in ethics, consider how attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors shape interpretation and response.

Plagiarism and Ethical Considerations

  • Plagiarism definition:
    • A form of ethical dishonesty/ethical violation because it uses the work of others as your own.
    • It involves taking someone else’s work and passing it off as your own.
    • Intentions aren’t always present: plagiarism can be accidental, but it is still plagiarism.
  • Tips to avoid plagiarism this semester:
    • Start early to avoid the temptation to use information without proper citation. Put in the work to cite information correctly.
    • You will need to cite sources twice for presentations this semester:
    • once during the presentation (oral citations), and
    • again on a references page with your outline. APA 7 formatting is used in this class.
    • Keep track of sources throughout the project (e.g., a giant Word doc or Google doc with hyperlinks to all sources).
    • Clarification on what to cite:
    • Anytime you use others’ words, ideas, or quotes, you must cite it.
    • Anything that isn’t your own work or not considered common knowledge.
    • Common knowledge examples provided: "The sky is blue"; "The Earth revolves around the sun." If unsure what counts as common knowledge, ask for guidance.
    • If unsure, err on the side of citation: when in doubt, cite it.
  • Guidance on common knowledge distinctions:
    • If you’re uncertain about whether something is common knowledge, discuss with the instructor or peers to avoid unintentional plagiarism.

Common Knowledge and Citation Boundaries

  • What counts as common knowledge vs. not:
    • Common knowledge examples provided: widely-known facts (e.g., daylight, basic astronomical facts).
    • If a fact is not something a typical reader would be expected to know, it should be cited.
  • Strategy:
    • When in doubt, cite it or seek clarification to avoid plagiarism.

Activity: Messages Have Power in Your Life

  • Task:
    • Pair up with a buddy and discuss how others’ messages have affected you recently and how your messages have affected others recently.
    • Reintroduce yourself to your buddy and learn their name; then share in the group later.
  • Illustrative experiences from the instructor (RA):
    • RA responsibilities: talking to residents, health concerns, roommate troubles—"how are y’all already having?" implying evolving community dynamics early in the semester.
    • Upperclassman dorm context (PDX): fewer expectations than freshman dorms; residents have been on campus longer and may know what they’re doing, but issues persist.
    • Reflection on how experiences affect the view of the job and the dynamics of communication within the dorm (see third-person narrative).
    • Personal impact of messages: "active member" status and how what was said affected girls rushing through the houses; potential effects on attitudes toward sororities or organizations.
  • Takeaway:
    • Messages shape attitudes and organizational climates; communication strategies matter in managing group dynamics.

Business Environments: Turbulence, Competition, and Culture

  • Why turbulence matters:
    • Companies may seek to create a turbulent environment to gain an advantage (e.g., strategic takeovers, introducing new services).
    • Example: Meta’s Threads introduced to compete with Twitter/X as a case of strategic market entry.
    • Turbulence can be intentional or unintentional and affects market positioning and adaptability.
  • Market scanning:
    • Market scanning is the process of looking at your field to identify trends, changes, and directions to inform future decisions.
    • Example anecdote: The instructor noticed a shift in how students read for pleasure, with some bringing physical books to class more often, suggesting a potential shift toward physical media or a blip influenced by book-related trends.
    • Note: The observation is anecdotal and not backed by formal research; it illustrates how market scanning can generate hypotheses.
    • Possible interpretations:
    • A rise in physical book sales could benefit publishers or indicate a broader trend; or
    • It could be a temporary blip influenced by influencers or other factors (e.g., book-talk communities).
  • Global competition and digital marketplaces:
    • Online marketplaces (e.g., Amazon) enable competition that erodes the advantage of local stores.
    • Small, local businesses increasingly compete with large, international franchises.
  • Workforce diversity:
    • A diverse workforce includes varied cultural backgrounds, languages, personal experiences, and disciplinary majors.
    • With diversity comes potential misunderstandings; detecting and addressing these problems early improves communication effectiveness.
  • Communication technologies:
    • Tools like ChatGPT, Google, Zoom have dramatically altered access to information and modes of communication.
    • Over the past roughly 30 years, these technologies have reshaped business and education.
  • Practical implications for leaders:
    • Scanning the market helps anticipate changes and adapt strategies.
    • Leaders should build capabilities to navigate diverse teams and rapidly evolving tech environments.

Market Scanning in Practice: An Honors Undergraduate Lens

  • Prompt:
    • Use your familiarity as an honors undergraduate to conduct market scanning.
    • Group up to 3- to 4-person teams and use your device to access information.
  • Purpose:
    • Develop hands-on skills to observe trends, evaluate sources, and anticipate future developments in your field.

Connections to Core Concepts and Real-World Relevance

  • Ethical considerations:
    • Plagiarism is not only a classroom issue but relates to integrity in professional settings; proper citation practices are essential for credibility and trust.
  • Foundational communication principles:
    • Attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors shape how messages are received and interpreted.
    • Effective communication must acknowledge audience beliefs and potential biases.
  • Real-world relevance:
    • Understanding market dynamics, global competition, and technology-driven change is critical for career readiness.
    • Skills in market scanning and ethical communication translate into practical decision-making in business, academia, and public life.

Practical and Ethical Implications Summary

  • Ethical implications:
    • Avoiding plagiarism preserves integrity and trust; proper citation is a practical skill with ethical dimension.
  • Philosophical implications:
    • How we know what counts as common knowledge influences our responsibility to cite and to question assumptions.
  • Practical implications:
    • Start early, track sources, cite both orally and on reference pages, and stay aware of evolving communication technologies and market conditions.
  • Formulas and numbers referenced in context:
    • Market observation and change timelines are discussed over extended periods such as 10- to 20-year horizons and the more recent 30-year window for technology changes.
  • Group work and collaboration:
    • Group sizes of 3 to 4 foster diverse perspectives and collaborative analysis, mirroring real-world team dynamics.

Exercise and Next Steps

  • Engage in a market scanning activity with peers to practice the concepts covered.
  • Be prepared to discuss how your own messages affect others and how you interpret others’ messages in a group setting.
  • Reflect on how changes in technology and global competition might influence your field of study and future career.