This document outlines the agenda and activities for a workshop on reconstructing organizational communication theory and practice through play. Participants are divided into groups to discuss challenges in the field using LEGO structures. Groups then propose solutions to the identified challenges. Representatives from each group will present their challenge and solution to the full workshop. The document discusses using play to explore meta-theoretical, conceptual, and intergenerational perspectives on the discipline and possibilities for subsequent collaboration.

2. De- and Re-constructing
Organizational Communication Theory & Practice
• Design Thinking
• Empathize
• Point of View
• Ideate
• Prototype
(Carlgren et al., 2016; Johansson-
Sköldberg et al., 2013; Kimbell, 2011)
• Flow Experience through
Tactile Engagement
• Flow = Simultaneously
experienced feelings,
emergent in an activity
corridor of high experienced
balanced challenges and
skills (Csikszentmihalyi, 2014)

3. Table of Contents
1. Introduction to the Field and to the Volume
Jamie McDonald and Rahul Mitra
2. Organizational Structures, Processes, and Agency
Timothy R. Kuhn and Jared Kopczynski
3. Organizing Power and Resistance
Dennis K. Mumby and Mie Plotnikof
4. Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sustainability
Steven K. May, Jeremy Fyke, and Katharine E. Miller
5. Identity, Identification, and Branding
George Cheney and Katie Sullivan
6. Organizational Culture and Socialization
Michael W. Kramer and Stephanie L. Dailey
7. Gender and Sexuality
Jessica A. Pauly and Patrice M. Buzzanell
8. Difference, Diversity, and Inclusion
Patricia S. Parker and Jamie McDonald
9. Emotion and Relationships in the Workplace
Sarah J. Tracy and Shawna Malvini Redden
10. Group Decision Making and Collaboration
Jennifer Ervin and Joann Keyton
11. Leadership
Guowei Jian and Gail T. Fairhurst
12. Change and Change Management
Laurie Lewis and Surabhi Sahay
13. Networks and Technology
William C. Barley and Marshall Scott Poole
14. Crisis and Resilience
Matthew W. Seeger and Rahul Mitra
15. Moving Forward: Future Directions in Organizational Communication
Rahul Mitra and Jamie McDonald

4. Guiding Questions for our Play
• Meta-theoretical play: How can “play” among different meta-
theoretical and methodological approaches result in critical and
rigorous research?
• Conceptual play: How can a “playful” spirit help energize existing
and new concepts, theories, and tensions in innovative ways?
• Inter-generational play: How does the academic institution look
from different generational perspectives? How can an organizational
communication-informed dialogue about contemporary academe
help us to navigate institutional changes effectively, and help to shape
future academic trends in positive ways?

5. Play Plan
• Audience breaks up into 6 groups (2 groups per questions), each led
by a Facilitator Pair (or Triad)
• Facilitators will use their Guiding Question to encourage discussion
among group members about state of the discipline, and various
challenges facing the underlying goals.
• Task 1 (20 min): Each group should use provided LEGO pieces to
construct a structure/mosaic/representation that represents a
key “Challenge" identified by this discussion.
• Please take pictures of your group's Challenge Structure, and text/
email to: 419-575-9850, OR Rahul.mitra@wayne.edu (Let us know
your group name, please.)

6. Play Facilitators
Meta-Theoretical Play Conceptual Play Inter-Generational Play
#1 Timothy R. Kuhn #1 Michael W. Kramer #1 George Cheney
#1 Jared Kopczynski #1 Stephanie Dailey #1 Katie Sullivan
#1 Guowei Jian
#2 Sarah J. Tracy #2 Patrice M. Buzzanell #2 Steve K. May
#2 Shawna Malvini
Redden
#2 Jessica A Pauly #2 Jeremy P. Fyke
#2 Katharine Miller

7. Play Plan Continued
• Task 2 (20 min): Brainstorm about possible Solutions to the
constructed challenge, and using the same LEGO pieces, please create
a NEW structure that represents this solution.
• Please take pictures of your group's Solution Structure, and text/
email to: 419-575-9850, OR Rahul.mitra@wayne.edu (Let us know
your group name, please.)
• Task 3 (25 min): Please elect a representative from each group to
explain your thinking and discussion about the challenge and solution
to the broader assemblage. (4 min per speaker)

8. Meta-Theoretical Group #1

9. Meta-Theoretical Group #2

10. Conceptual Group #1

11. Conceptual Group #2

12. Inter-Generational Group #1

13. Inter-Generational Group #2

14. Next Steps: What Shall we Do?
• Workshop?
• Preconference?
• Professional Development Programming?
• Special Issue of Journal?
• Special Forum of Journal (MCQ, JACR,…?) ?
• Collaborative Article for Journal Submission?