Communication: a Way of Viewing Organizations.

Abstract

By using a questionnaire designed to assess 15 aspects of communication, data was collected from 327 respondents in 10 branch organizations (5 in the U.S. and 5 in the U.K.) of similar size, staffing, function, and physical plant. Analyses demonstrated that it was possible to differentiate these apparently homogeneous units based on perceptions of communication. Differences were found between U.S. and U.K. units and among each of the subsamples. For example, a trend was reported which showed U.S. firms perceiving information transmission as less accurate with greater summarization and gatekeeping of information. These differences were further corroborated when organizational climate data from the same branches were examined, showing U.K. firms as generally providing a more supportive and less defensive work environment. Additional support for the importance of communication was found with the analysis of financial and personnel performance data from the U.S. branches. When units were rank ordered on performance and facets of communication, a number of significant relationships were uncovered. The general findings of this research demonstrate that even similar appearing organizations may be differentiated on communication dimensions. These differences, in turn, appear to be related to both organizational climate and organizational performance.