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Foreword The communication that takes place in an organization is an important influence in the success of that organization. Therefore, a good book on organizational communication can be a valuable resource for all kinds of students-managers who want to be effective communicators, as well as academic students who want to understand how organizations work. Phil Clampitt has written such a book. Over the years, I have evaluated a number of manuscripts offered to various publishers, and many of them have good coverage of rather standard materials that are commonly covered about organizational communication. What Phil Clampitt has done, however, is to write a book that is original and interesting. What strikes me most about his work is its freshness. The quotations that begin each chapter are not typical organizational literature; they demonstrate how well read Phil Clampitt is and how this breadth of resources have led him to think about organizational life in some innovative ways. He also demonstrates great originality in the way that he uses metaphor to explain how communication works. For example, although I love to dance, I would never have thought of using dance as a metaphor for the way organizational communication works. Yet, Clampitt does so in a convincing way. Furthermore, he is able to coin new phrases that are rich in explanatory power. I also like the way Clampitt makes this book a statement of his theory about organizational communication. It is not merely a report on the research about a topic. He includes basic propositions and clarifies some of his basic assumptions. He also makes a major addition by describing some common problem areas and then telling his reader "what to do" about them. Finally, he adds some important areas that are often overlooked. His work with communication audits has prompted him to add chapters on facilitating boundary spanning and cultivating an innovative spirit. One of the great rewards of being a university professor is being able to watch exceptional graduate students become major contributors to one's discipline. Phil Clampitt is doing this with his book. There are many gems in these chapters, and I am delighted to recommend it. Cal Downs
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