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The current study tests key variables of anxiety uncertainty management (AUM), a well-known theory of interpersonal communication, within the context of Pakistan. Previous research has been more concerned with the extension of AUM rather empirically testing its major components; plus, previous studies were conducted primarily in Western cultural contexts. This study proposes a direct effect of anxiety, uncertainty, and mindfulness on intercultural communication effectiveness (ICE). In addition, interaction (moderating) effects are proposed for mindfulness on the relationships between anxiety, uncertainty, and ICE. This study incorporates a quantitative research design to address the relationships between the variables. Data were collected from a survey technique of students (N = 549) of the capital city of Pakistan through convenient sampling. Findings reveal that anxiety and uncertainty have a negative influence on ICE. However, mindfulness has a positive impact on ICE. Furthermore, mindfulness significantly moderated the relationship between anxiety, uncertainty, and ICE. Even though this study considered a new cultural context (Pakistan), still the findings were in accordance with the predictions of AUM. This study empirically validates the theoretical framework and axioms of AUM within the context of Pakistan. This study is useful for the policy makers of Pakistan to develop new policies regarding internationals. Furthermore, they can train their nationals how to manage anxiety and uncertainty and to be mindful during intercultural interactions to avoid problems and confusions among people., Author(s): Muhammad Umar Nadeem [sup.1] , Matthew A. Koschmann [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.412117.0, 0000 0001 2234 2376, Department of Mass Communication, School of Social Sciences and Humanities (S3H), National [...]

Despite significant advances in strengthening post-disaster recovery efforts, misaligned strategy and inefficient resource allocation are far too often the norm for infrastructure reconstruction. To examine the inter-organizational networks that form to coordinate resources for infrastructure reconstruction, we employed social network analysis in 19 communities in the Philippines following Super Typhoon Haiyan, at 6 and 12 months post-disaster. To build these networks, we analysed interview, field observation and documentation data collected from non-governmental organizations, local governments and communities. A survey questionnaire was also administered to organizations working in selected communities to validate networks. Results from network analysis established that information was the most commonly shared resource by organizations, followed by financial, material and human resources. Government agencies had the highest actor centralities; however, qualitative data suggest that these roles were the result of obligatory consultations by international organizations and lacked legitimacy in practice. Findings further demonstrate that networks become more decentralized over time as actors leave and roles become more established, influenced by short-term expatriate contracts and the termination of United Nations supported cluster coordination. Findings could help organizations strengthen humanitarian response efforts by attending to resource allocation and knowledge sharing with other organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Increasingly, human rights collaboration involves faith-based organizations whose members see social activism as an extension of their religious identities. This raises an immediate tension because collaboration requires negotiation of identities, challenging the convictions that motivate religious believers' involvement. Thus human rights collaboration offers an important context to explore tensions of identity and religious faith. This study reports on a human trafficking collaboration in Mexico, with a particular emphasis on the communicative tensions of integrating a distinct religious identity while collaborating with others. Grounded Practical Theory is used to identify practical challenges, communicative responses, and situated ideals that constitute this problem domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reconceptualizes collective identity from a communication perspective using a constitutive model of communication as a theoretical framework. A longitudinal case study is used to explain the complications and inaction of a social services interorganizational collaboration as a lack of collective identity, also tracing the emergence of a new collective identity. Collective identity is theorized as an authoritative text that emerges through communicative practice and is drawn on for certain strategic ends. A communicative model of organizational constitution—based on the ‘Montreal School’ theory of coorientation—shows how textual representations of situated conversations can gain authority through abstraction and reification, providing a mechanism to organize and direct the voluntary actions of diverse stakeholders. Implications for theory and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the authors' insights on the effect of organizational communication scholarship on nonprofit and voluntary organizations (NPVOs). They cite essays such as one from M.L. Sanders which encourage scholars to be attentive to tension and contradiction and directions for future research in NPVOs. They add that the essays highlight contributions organizational communication scholarship can give to NPVOs.

An essay is presented on the development of theoretical perspectives of nonprofit organizations and the nonprofit sector in terms of communication. He argues that a communication perspective in nonprofit sectors and organizations involves placing communication at the foundation of their investigation. He also suggests that communication theorization of nonprofits require focus on lived experiences, languages, and discourses.