 When describing someone as a competent communicator (communcation competence: communicating in ways that are effective and approapriate for a given situation (26)) it would be the opposite of Michael Scott, Dunder Mifflin Paper Co. Branch Manager. Throughout the entire series, majority of the time, Michael Scott does not communicate like a professional boss. His main objective in the workplace is to obtain friendships and to be known as funny, and much of the time he does this at other peoples expense, hence he communicates unethically. An example of this is in the "Business Ethics" episode which is Episode 3 in Season 5. Holly Flax, the new H.R. rep. is required to give an Ethics Seminar for the entire office. While in the seminar, Holly is reading straight from a binder filled with Ethics (a code of morality or a set of ideas about what is right (30)) information. Michael (who has a major crush on Holly, also unethical for a boss and H.R. rep.) interrupts her during her presentation, telling her she needs to spice it up a bit, make it fun for the office. Michael takes over and asks if anyone has even been unethical in the office and that they have complete immunity, anything they say will not be held against them. Holly tries to stop him knowing that there really is no such thing in the workplace, but Michael refuses, because his only objective is to make it fun for his employees, not being a professional boss. Yet, this backfires. Many people admit to petty unethical occurrences they have been apart of but Meredith, another office employee, drops a bomb. She admits, very openly (not a good competent communicator), that she has been sleeping with a supplier for discount on office supplies and for Outback Steakhouse coupons. Everyone realizes how unethical this is, yet Michael pretends it is not. Holly, knowing it is her job, she communicates the seriousness of this issue. Michael, Meredith, and Holly hold a private meeting to get to the bottom of it. Holly asks Meredith more questions in hopes that there is anyway the end result is not termination for Meredith. Michael, tries to convince Meredith to tell Holly that there is "nothing unethical about this situation" but Meredith, thinking she has complete immunity (like Michael stated earlier) tells the brutally honest truth, doing nothing but dig herself a deeper hole. Meredith states, "I wouldn't do it if it wasn't for the discount paper. Not a lot of fruit in those looms in you know what I mean" which is yet another example of a incompetent communication. The workplace, clearly being a situation where sexual references should not be made, especially in front of your boss and H.R. representative. Michael fights Holly on this situation because, quoting Michael, "I just don't want my employees to think they have a job strictly based on job performance." In the end, the subject is dropped, the head of Human Resources scolds Holly because he does not want to address a situation where the company is benefiting from a discount in a tough time-- unethical. After this is all said and done, Holly still has not finished the Ethics Seminar and begs the office to join her in the conference room. They refuse, so Michael steps in: "If you are not in the conference room in five minutes I am going to KILL YOU!" They listen, probably because their boss threatens to... well... kill them.  See Notes for Pictures F&G. |
