Using E-Mails in Studying the Graduate Employee Organization

Abstract

The study investigated the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO) in its political image, and in the process, the grounded theory was used. The participants involved in the study were GEO members who were also graduate students. Digital E-mail correspondence took the bulk of the data, which was later analysed with interviews in order to gain a better understating of the union, given that politics is inevitable in organizational life. There has always been issues of vested interest, conflicts and struggle for power in addition to a number of visible political activities on campus. The literature reviewed enhanced the impression of the political frame as a lens in describing the organization. International students have appreciated the fact that there are no constraints for participating in union matters since the union is a complex organ with students coming from more than 25 different nations, speaking different languages and with diverse cultural backgrounds. Additionally, collegial feelings among GEO members have been enhanced. There are a few GEO members who are working around the clock to ensure that the GEO appeals to the outside world. The study developed six categories of the life of the organization. One of them is the bargaining process, which is the lifeblood of the union as pointed out in the data. The GEO leadership and the stewards work towards creating a viable trade union at the University with the motto “Excellence within your reach.” It is to be noted that E-mails and other digital forms of communication have largely replaced letters and memos. Finally, despite its good work, the article has identified some challenges that might need to be addressed in subsequent studies, to make the organization even better.