′The book is a theoretically rich and sophisticated contribution to the development of knowledge society studies and to the analysis of the many puzzles of intellectual innovation. It will surely become a sourcebook for anyone interested in creativity and knowledge production′ - Karin Knorr Cetina, University of Chicago and University of Konstanz ′Gathers together some of the most interesting social-scientific thinking currently underway in Europe and North America... presents sociology in its most engaging and contemporary form′ - Canadian Journal of Sociology Knowledge, communication and creativity are obsessions of contemporary modern societies. The rhetoric of information, imagination, improvisation and play have invaded our daily lives and work spaces. However, little attention has been paid to the sociological relationships among these elements, let alone their impacts as processes driving social change. This book offers penetrating explorations into the creative processes that are tied to knowledge production, shedding new light on: " the impact of a general increase in knowledge on individuals, lifestyles, institutions and technologies; " how new communication and information technologies are transforming social relationships, communities and the international public sphere; and " understanding the ties between creativity, communication and the production of knowledge.

This book addresses some of the key questions that scientists have been asking themselves for centuries: what is knowledge? What is information? How do we know that we know something? How do we construct meaning from the perceptions of things? Although no consensus exists on a common definition of the concepts of information and communication, few can reject the hypothesis that information – whether perceived as « object » or as « process » - is a pre-condition for knowledge. Epistemology is the study of how we know things (anglophone meaning) or the study of how scientific knowledge is arrived at and validated (francophone conception). To adopt an epistemological stance is to commit oneself to render an account of what constitutes knowledge or in procedural terms, to render an account of when one can claim to know something. An epistemological theory imposes constraints on the interpretation of human cognitive interaction with the world. It goes without saying that different epistemological theories will have more or less restrictive criteria to distinguish what constitutes knowledge from what is not. If information is a pre-condition for knowledge acquisition, giving an account of how knowledge is acquired should impact our comprehension of information and communication as concepts. While a lot has been written on the definition of these concepts, less research has attempted to establish explicit links between differing theoretical conceptions of these concepts and the underlying epistemological stances. This is what this volume attempts to do. It offers a multidisciplinary exploration of information and communication as perceived in different disciplines and how those perceptions affect theories of knowledge.

The book examines key topics such as interpersonal and family relationships in old age, media portrayals of aging, cultural variations in intergenerational communication, and health communication in old age.

This book provides an overview of communication-centered theory and research regarding organizational knowledge and learning. It brings the work of scholars in communication, management, information technology, and other disciplines together in a coherent volume that represents existing research and theory on communication-related knowledge work. Chapters address what constitutes knowledge, how knowledge functions within and across organizations, and how organizational members develop and manage knowledge for organizational purposes. The book also provides a forum for these scholars to pose directions for future research and theorizing. It will serve as a reference tool for scholars and practitioners to identify and understand communicative features of organizational knowledge processes.

With the establishment of the innovation economy, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is becoming a reality. As this occurs, new forms of leadership arise, generated by the interaction between leadership functions and neurology. This innovative book asks the question: what are the key value creation processes in the innovation economy?

This book offers a unique and unified approach to competence and the basic processes of human communication backed by skill assessment. Beginning with the premise that all forms of communication have the potential to be viewed as competent depending on the context or situation, the text helps readers develop a framework for choosing among communication messages that will allow them to act competently. The theoretically-based and skills-oriented framework emphasizes the basic themes of motivation, knowledge and skills across interpersonal communication, electronically mediated communication, small group communication, and public speaking.

Information and knowledge have fundamentally transformed the way business and social institutions work. Knowledge management promises concepts and instruments that help organizations to provide an environment supportive of knowledge generation, sharing and application. Information and communication technology (ICT) is often regarded as the enabler for the effective and especially the efficient implementation of knowledge management. The book presents an almost encyclopedic treatise of the many important facets, concepts and theories that have influenced knowledge management and integrates them into a general knowledge management framework consisting of strategy, organization, systems and economics. The book also contains the state of practice of knowledge management on the basis of a comprehensive empirical study, and concludes with four scenarios of the successful application of ICT in knowledge management initiatives.

Science and technology are embedded in virtually every aspect of modern life. As a result, people face an increasing need to integrate information from science with their personal values and other considerations as they make important life decisions about medical care, the safety of foods, what to do about climate change, and many other issues. Communicating science effectively, however, is a complex task and an acquired skill. Moreover, the approaches to communicating science that will be most effective for specific audiences and circumstances are not obvious. Fortunately, there is an expanding science base from diverse disciplines that can support science communicators in making these determinations. Communicating Science Effectively offers a research agenda for science communicators and researchers seeking to apply this research and fill gaps in knowledge about how to communicate effectively about science, focusing in particular on issues that are contentious in the public sphere. To inform this research agenda, this publication identifies important influences â€" psychological, economic, political, social, cultural, and media-related â€" on how science related to such issues is understood, perceived, and used.

Building 21st Century communication skills Students are expected to be innovators, creative thinkers, and problem solvers. But what if they can't communicate their ideas persuasively? Knowing how to share ideas is as crucial as the ideas themselves. Unfortunately, many students don’t get explicit opportunities to hone this skill. Cultivating Communication in the Classroom will help educators design authentic learning experiences that allow students to practice their skills. Readers will find: Real world insights into how students will be expected to communicate in their future careers and education Strategies for teaching communication skills throughout the curriculum Communication Catchers for igniting ideas

The book is covers all the aspects of the subject, including basics of communication, English language, listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Due to its exhaustive coverage and practical approach, it is suitable for students of diploma courses too.