Project communication in a strategic internal perspective

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the concept of project communication. What is currently understood by project communication? How and to what degree is it being discussed within the field of corporate communication and project management? And finally, what is the potential of interpersonal project communication?Design/methodology/approachBased on a literature review of the two above‐mentioned fields of research, the discussion of the potential of interpersonal project communication is put in relation to concepts of power relations in an organisation, use of networks in communication and the trends and perspectives in contemporary project management.FindingsThe term project communication is emerging in the literature on project management and has a very limited place in the literature on external corporate communication. In the literature on internal corporate communication there is no mentioning of project communication. Despite the acknowledged need to focus on communication as a whole in projects there is no indication in the literature that any collaboration exists between the field of corporate communication and the field of project management – creating a gap at the intersection of the two fields of research.Research limitations/implicationsGiven the early stage of this project, the empirical data collection has not yet taken place.Practical implicationsUsing interpersonal project communication to strengthen project communication by integrating know‐how and principles from corporate communication.Originality/valueThe paper is of value by challenging the use of the term “project communication” and extending the concept by defining the aspect of interpersonal project communication and its potential in creating synthesis between the research fields corporate communication and project management.