Module 3
Communication, Perception,
and Learning
MGMT5100
Welcome to Module 3
Communication, Perception and
Learning
MGMT 5100
3
Road Map for Module 3
3.0 Welcome
• 3.1 Perception and Communication
• What is perception?
• Self-fulfilling prophecy
• Perceptual errors
• 3.2 Communication Models
• Choosing Channels
• Barriers to Communication
• 3.3 Learning
• Organizational Learning
• What is Knowledge?
• Individual Learning
• Types of learning
• Group Learning
Module 3 Learning Objectives and MPO Challenge
At the end of this module students will be able to:
• Identify the fundamental theories related to Managing People and Organizations
communication perception and learning (C01, CO4) Discussion of Challenges
• Describe a challenge related to managing
perceptions, communication, and learning in Who is the best communicator you
organizations that is relevant to your career (CO1, have worked with?
CO2)
• Analyze your own perceptual biases and the impact
on your behaviour (C01, CO2, CO3)
• Demonstrate effective communication and analyze
real world managerial challenges using theories
related to communication (CO2, CO3)
• Analyze how learning theories can enhance
employee development in organizations (C02, C03)
Module 3.1
Perception and
Communication
What is Perception?
• Def: The process by which individuals select, organize, and interpret their impressions in order
to give meaning to their environment.
– The world that is perceived is the world that is behaviorally important
• Selection (Salience)
• Organization (Schemas)
• Evaluation (Subjective)
• Give an example that explains what perception is:
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
6
Paradigms
A paradigm is a basic belief system and theoretical framework with
assumptions about 1) ontology, 2) epistemology, 3) methodology and
4) methods. It is our way of understanding the reality of the world and
studying it.
• A "dominant paradigm" refers to the values, or system of
thought, in a society that are most standard and widely held at a
given time,
• Paradigm paralysis: the inability or refusal to see beyond the
current models of thinking
• Confirmation Bias: the seeking or interpreting of evidence in
ways that are partial to existing beliefs, expectations, or a
hypothesis in hand
• Semmelweis reflex is a human behavioral tendency to stick to
preexisting beliefs and to reject fresh ideas that contradict them
(despite adequate evidence).
• Association fallacy: asserts that the qualities of one thing are
inherently qualities another, merely by an irrelevant association.
Reality
Check
Perceptions in the Business World
The world as it is perceived is the world that is
behaviourally important!
❑Are you a hard worker?
❑Are you a leader?
❑Do you have a bad attitude?
• How will your perception guide your behaviour as you
go to get a job?
• How will others’ perception of you guide your
behaviour as you start a new job?
Remember this!!!
• Manage people’s perceptions and you will manage
their behaviour!
10
The Power of Perception Social Identity Theory
Social identity theory is based on the belief that
people tend to:
1. Perceive themselves and others in terms of
social categories rather than as individuals.
2. Assess the relative worth of groups and
individuals by comparing them.
3. Perceive and respond to the work not as
detached observers but in terms of their
social identity.
– Other things being equal, the higher the
degree of similarity of perception among
individuals, the more frequent and easier
communication among them is likely to be
The Power of Perception: Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Self-fulfilling prophecy (or Pygmalion effect)
▪ “A” Student: If you are perceived as an A
student you are more likely to behave like an A
student.
▪ Res Party Animal: Each residence floor is full of
people behaving how they think they need to
behave in order to fit into other peoples
expectations
▪ Bad Attitude: A basketball recruit becomes an
attitude problem – it starts with misinterpreting
a lack of confidence for laziness or a bad
attitude.
Attribution Theory
Social Perception: According to
attribution theory when people
observe behavior, they attempt to
determine whether it is internally
or externally caused
– Selection (observation)
– Organization (interpretation)
– Evaluation (attribution of
cause)
Common Perceptual Errors in the Workplace
Fundamental Halo Effect
Attribution Error Self-Serving Bias: Selective is most often encountered when
The tendency to underestimate The tendency to attribute one’s Perception perceived traits are ambiguous,
external factors and overestimate successes to internal factors when moral issues are related,
while putting the blame for is a lot like speed reading, a very and when the perceiver is
internal factors when making
failures on external factors. necessary perception tool inexperienced with the situation
judgments about others’
behaviour. example: or the traits.
Contrast (Recency)
Effect: Primacy Effect: Stereotyping: Central Tendency
tendency to avoid extreme
perceptions of a person based on
First impressions tend to stick judgements. Easier to stick to
example, your grade on an perceptions of the group to which
out. the average, then justify a fair
assignment or exam can be that person belongs
increase in rating
influenced by perceptual errors.
“Situations that are Perceptual Defence Implicit Person
perceived to be real filtering out that which we do not
want to see. cheating in a
theories
are real in their relationship, stealing in a Personal theories about what
corporate setting, often arises personality traits and abilities
consequences.” - when our true perceptions would occur together and how these
force us to alter our own self attributes are manifested in
W.I. Thomas image behavior.
13
Perception and the Perceiver
• Personality and Emotion
– Help you to assign meaning to the perceived world
– Helps to guide your behaviour
• Personality
– The stable patterns of behaviour and consistent internal states that determine how an
individual reacts to and interacts with others
• Emotions
– Intense feelings that are directed at someone or something.
14
Check your bias!
https://www.teachthought.com/critical-thinking/cognitive-biases
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Self-Perception
The Johari Window
• Self-Awareness: the ability to
both seek feedback from others
and to disclose one’s own
feelings and thoughts.
– may be the most important
competency that managers
can develop.
– Perception has a major impact
on communication.
End of Module 3.1
Thank you!
