The Organized Communicators

1. The Organized Communicators An Analysis of Christmas in the Park By: Jessica May, Ronnie Hansen, Donna Kosanovich, Jacque Kuhny, Emily Mello

2. Introduction • The purpose of our project: • Explore internal and external communication • Content analysis • We went through a process of gathering information, analyzing and interpreting data and developing an action plan that could improve the organizational communication. • We wanted to offer a meaningful service to a community organization.

3. Description of Organization • The two-acre park is transformed into a holiday fantasy with over 60 musical and animated exhibits and glittering lights and the 60-foot Community Giving Tree. The Lima Train, melting snowman, caroling mice and elf woodcrafters. A 25-foot Christmas Tree, Santa's Den welcome park visitors. Guests enter a winter wonderland of lights, songs.

4. Literature Review

5. Chapter 6: Communication Networks • non profits communication flows differently from business org. • horizontal communication • serial distortion/ sharpening • horizontal communication can be taken for granted

6. Chapter 7Culture & Climate - Climate can determine failure or success - Relaxed environment is favorable

7. Descriptions of Research Methods Collecting data • By interviews • Board members and volunteers • Focal Area Questions

8. Research Findings, Focal Areas with Action Plan

9. Focal Area 1: Internal Communication • Findings: Frequency of meetings, satisfactions of meeting time, and improvements.   • Conclusions: Mutually satisfied with meeting time, room for improvement with efficiency.

10. Internal Comm. Cont’d • Action Plan: 1.)  Outline and Organize 2.)  Have a secretary 3.)  Make adjustments, be open to new ideas 

11. Internal Comm. Cont’d • Theory Y: 1.)  Workers seek responsibility 2.)  Workers are self-motivated 3.)  Workers are creative

12. Focal Area 2:How Decisions Are Made? Findings & Theory Y - Theory Y states workers are self-motivated -Try to find as many volunteers as they can - Disagree? Lets vote on it! -Each president runs the board differently

13. How decisions are made Cont’d Conclusions -Making decisions goes off experience - There is an executive board that makes final decisions if needed - They know what they are doing

14. How decisions are made Cont’d Action Plan -End of every meeting ask if anyone is really unsatisfied with a certain decision that was made and talk about it. -That way each board member could feel they had a chance to speak their mind and contribute.

15. Focal Area 3:External Communication Findings & Theory Y • Advertised to public • Press releases • Local colleges • Mainly word of mouth 30+ years, word of mouth is strongest  • External Communication is not a huge part of their strategic planning each year • Informing people they are not ran by City of SJ

16. External Comm. Cont’d Conclusions  • “Of course the organization could use more public relations…it is like asking someone if they want more money in their account.” • Not the biggest need, if had more money may not go towards external communication

17. External Comm. Cont’d Action plan • Established themselves in the community • Professional public relations would be a big boost for the company. • Change by charging • New attractions (rides) • Times are charging in our world and society-to stay up, you must change with the times- like it or not.

18. Focal Area 4:Downward & Upward Communication Findings • Learned that communication flows horizontally • Technology still does not help with communication • Lack of autonomy kills workers

19. Downward & Upward Cont’d • Systems Theory • Action Plan More meetings and designated person that controls flow of information

20. Focal Area 5:Culture Findings • The organizational socialization is very active • The organization has a supportive organizational climate • The organization uses high performance goals to increase employee self worth and stratification

21. Culture Cont’d Conclusions -Organizational identification is advanced at Christmas in the Park -The organization uses supportive communication

22. Culture Cont’d Action Plan -Stronger leadership -Higher emphasis on goals

23. Major Learnings • Communication can be situational • Set Goals => happier & more dedicated employees • Horizontal communication can be taken advantage of • Limited resources, people=no problem!

24. References & Demographics Name: JoAnnCymanski Age: 64 Gender: Female Ethnicity: Caucasian Position: no position at the moment Years with Christmas in The Park: 32 years Name: Kim Christian Age: 52 Gender: Female Ethnicity: caucasian Position: Event Coordinator-Santa Booth Years with Christmas in The Park: 4 years Name: Vince Lima Age: 27 Gender: Male Ethnicity: Caucasian Position: Vice President Years with Christmas in the Park: 4th years on board, 10 years active Name: Julie Mello Age:55 Gender: Female Ethnicity: Caucasian Position: Board Member/ Santa booth coordinator Years with Christmas in the Park: 15+years Name: John Hersbauch Age: 64 Gender: Male Ethnicity: Caucasian Position: Board Member Years with Christmas in the Park: Since 1993 Name: Les Yeffa Age: 78 Gender: Male Position: Board Member

25. Open Now! Go See it For Yourself!