This hierarchy is important to the class so the students know exactly what is expected of them based on their position. This can be explained by the Structural Contingency Theory, which says that the position within the organizational structure is determined by the performance of the individual (Mierzejewska, 2010, p. 16). These individual positions that are “above the line” and “below the line” are in place for a reason. In the world of television production, the positions are in place for the sole reason for the overall look of the show. Although some in the field of production are not in favor of this model, there is no other model that is more effective than the hierarchy (Donaldson, 1996). According to the show’s treatment, the goal of The Calumet Roundtable is “to provide the target audience of educators and intellectuals with meaningful discussions about public sphere issues and to enhance the reputation of Purdue University Calumet as an academic community by …show more content…
After nearly a semester of looking at the communication patterns, I have chosen the best lens to observe the themes and trends of the practicum class. The three trends that were noticed were the use of holism, the manipulation of power based on position on The Calumet Roundtable hierarchy and different leadership styles among the producers. According to the textbook, holism can be defined as “[the] principle that which elements in a system function interdependently, the result is different from the sum of the parts” (Mumby, 2013, p. 108). In other words, holism refers to the individual parts collectively working together to form a whole. For instance, individual parts of a car are useless until they are constructed together to create a tangible, drivable vehicle. If an internal part, such as the rotate belt or spark plug, is damaged or missing, the entire car would not