Michael Lissack
Values Language that expresses fundamental principles guiding organizational behavior. This ethical foundation establishes behavioral expectations and decision criteria that apply across different stakeholder relationships. Identity Language that captures the organization’s distinctive char- acter and culture. This language establishes a recognizable personality that remains consistent despite contextual variations in communication style. When these core language elements maintain consistency while other aspects adapt appropriately to different contexts and stakeholders, orga- nizations create what might be called “coherent variation”—communi- cation that feels authentic to each audience while maintaining sufficient alignment to establish organizational integrity. Generative AI and Organizational Language The rapid emergence of generative AI capabilities has introduced a new dimension to organizational language dynamics. Large language models can now draft emails, generate reports, suggest responses, create content, and even engage directly with customers through chatbots and virtual assistants. This technological evolution raises profound questions about the relationship between human and algorithmic language in orga- nizational contexts. These AI systems don’t merely automate existing communication— they introduce their own linguistic patterns, capabilities, and limitations. An email drafted by GPT-4 reads differently than one written entirely by a human, even when carefully prompted. A chatbot’s responses follow different conversational patterns than a human customer service represen- tative’s. And employee communications drafted with AI assistance reflect a hybrid voice combining human intention with algorithmic execution. This hybridization creates both opportunities and challenges for lin- guistic coherence. AI systems can help standardize certain communica- tion elements across an organization, ensuring consistent terminology, tone, and messaging in appropriate contexts. They can help non-native
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