Organizational Communication Processes Research Articles

Blog: ferramenta estratégica de comunicação organizacional

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/198346594809This study aimed to discuss the general importance of the blogs as a tool for internal and external organizational communication, highlighting as a new mode of communication that can help the information management and build a competitive corporate image, motivating the workforce customer loyalty. It is a case study, qualitative in nature, a literature review, a documentary and a field research. The documentary research was done in a site related to GoogleDocs tool. In the field research was used content analysis. As a result, it is observed that companies are implementing organizational communication processes more participative and strategic. From this perspective, it was concluded that blogs are tools with organizational power of instant two-way communication, able to ensure an interaction of information between the organization and its stakeholders, being a strategy to strengthen the image of the organization to the clients, functioning as a collaborative tool of information management.

Análisis de los procesos en la comunicación corporativa de los clubes deportivos profesionales españoles. Estudio exploratorio.

En la actualidad, el management de las entidades deportivas en España presenta un permanente estado de bancarrota y un notable retraso respecto a las tendencias de gestión empresarial. La Sociedad de la Información (Castells, 1998), el deporte en la era digital (Moragas, 2007), la gestión de intangibles como nuevo paradigma (Costa, 2008) y la necesidad de saneamiento del sector (Campos, 2006) representan el contexto de una práctica profesional cuya aportación por parte de las estancias académicas ha sido modesta a pesar de los valiosos precedentes de Hopwood (2005), Olabe (2009) o Ginesta (2009), entre otros. La investigación, a través de un estudio exploratorio, analiza los procesos de comunicación corporativa y marketing en el seno de las entidades deportivas profesionales (LFP y ACB) así como el establecimiento de una aproximación al estado del corporate (Villafañe; 2009), o función estratégica de la comunicación corporativa, en este sector. La metodología utilizada es cualitativa y se basa en trece entrevistas en profundidad a profesionales de siete clubes deportivos contrastadas por un panel de expertos. Las conclusiones revelan la asunción de proyectos basados en el corto plazo y la indeterminación de la identidad corporativa. No obstante, los profesionales desarrollan su trabajo a partir de una gran experiencia aplicando de forma instintiva principios del corporate.

Modelling communication processes in management accounting and control systems

The study is based on viewing management accounting and control systems (MACS) as dynamic, organisationally embedded social phenomena whose main objective is to generate and coordinate action. In organisational communication processes many different languages are used and people have to translate them. Translation is not only translating words from one language into another, but it is a universal and more complex process. The research question is: how do elements of the communication and translation process in MACS affect the action generation process within organisations? As a result, the study proposes a communication model of MACS. The communication model may be useful to academics and practitioners as an analytical tool that helps to identify, classify and examine factors in the MACS process. If we know how the action generation process works, we are better able to successfully implement MACS as tools for achieving organisational goals.

Competing through Flexible Organizations and Effective Communication

This paper focuses on the organizational structures and communication processes which become crucial factors of the company’s competitiveness. The article analyses, in particular, the implications of the environmental complexity on the organizational changes and human resources management. The main point of the paper is to present the numerous aspects of interdependency of the organizational system and forms of communication and, in consequence, the synergy of both organizational flexibility and communication ability to the company’s competitiveness. This means that communication becomes a strategic element in the creation and diffusion of knowledge which enables the managers a more effective respond to the challenges that the business management faces.

Is the merger necessary? The interactive effect of perceived necessity and sense of continuity on post-merger identification

The changes experienced during a merger often reduce post-merger organizational identification among the workforce, thereby undermining the strategic goals of the merger. While previous research has shown that employees’ post-merger identification suffers less when they experience a sense of continuity, the current article explores methods of preserving post-merger identification even when employees experience a sense of discontinuity. It is hypothesized that for these employees, the perceived necessity of the merger strongly influences post-merger identification, because a sense of necessity can reduce the uncertainty that typically inhibits post-merger identification. A field study is presented ( N = 144) to support this hypothesis. Finally, implications for the organizational pre-merger communication process are discussed.

The communication strategic process of e-learning in the Brazilian touristic corporation

In this article, it is searched to reflect on the Education in the distance, more specifically in relation to one of these modalities of education: the e-learning, come back toward the tourism. For this, it was looked through a bibliographical revision, to approach relevant aspects, to iden-tify existing gaps that not only justified the relevance of the subject, but also propitiated interest for the opening of ways that will be conducting wires for future quarrels. The questionings considered in this article evidence the necessity of making a deep research on this subject, not only for understanding, but, mainly, for making possible the analysis of the characteristics of the or-ganizational communication process of e-learning applied in the Tourism, besides comparing them with other forms of communication, more used in the traditional corporative qualification of the sector.

Audit committee effectiveness: informal processes and behavioural effects

PurposeThis paper seeks to investigate the conditions and processes affecting the operation and potential effectiveness of audit committees (ACs), with particular focus on the interaction between the AC, individuals from financial reporting and internal audit functions and the external auditors.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach is employed, based on direct engagement with participants in AC activities, including the AC chair, external auditors, internal auditors, and senior management.FindingsThe authors find that informal networks between AC participants condition the impact of the AC and that the most significant effects of the AC on governance outcomes occur outside the formal structures and processes. An AC has pervasive behavioural effects within the organization and may be used as a threat, an ally and an arbiter in bringing solutions to issues and conflicts. ACs are used in organizational politics, communication processes and power plays and also affect interpretations of events and cultural values.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research on AC and governance processes is needed to develop better understanding of effectiveness. Longitudinal studies, focusing on the organizational and institutional context of AC operations, can examine how historical events in an organization and significant changes in the regulatory environment affect current structures and processes.Originality/valueThe case analysis highlights a number of significant factors which are not fully recognised either in theorizing the governance role of ACs or in the development of policy and regulations concerning ACs but which impinge on their governance contribution. They include the importance of informal processes around the AC; its influence on power relations between organizational participants; the relevance of the historical development of governance in an organization; and the possibility that the AC's impact on governance may be greatest in non‐routine situations.

Organisational relationship quality and service employee acceptance of change in SMEs: A social exchange perspective

AbstractThe paper used a social exchange lens to explore the impact of the quality of the relationship between supervisors and service employees on individual and organisational outcomes. The findings provide further evidence that the quality of the relationship between supervisors and service employees is a significant factor - in this case explaining almost half of the reasons as to why employees accepted or rejected organisational changes. Using the social exchange lens, the theory argues that the same characteristics evident in high quality leader–member exchange (LMX) relationships (effective levels of information, feedback and respect) are also likely to provide the ideal conditions for employees' to address their fears and answer their questions about potential organisational changes. As a result, service employees are more likely to accept the organisational changes. In addition, this study suggests that approximately half of job productivity and satisfaction is affected by the way LMX firstly affects employees' satisfaction with organisational communication processes, and secondly, their acceptance of organisational changes within SMEs.

Organisational relationship quality and service employee acceptance of change in SMEs: A social exchange perspective

AbstractThe paper used a social exchange lens to explore the impact of the quality of the relationship between supervisors and service employees on individual and organisational outcomes. The findings provide further evidence that the quality of the relationship between supervisors and service employees is a significant factor - in this case explaining almost half of the reasons as to why employees accepted or rejected organisational changes. Using the social exchange lens, the theory argues that the same characteristics evident in high quality leader–member exchange (LMX) relationships (effective levels of information, feedback and respect) are also likely to provide the ideal conditions for employees' to address their fears and answer their questions about potential organisational changes. As a result, service employees are more likely to accept the organisational changes. In addition, this study suggests that approximately half of job productivity and satisfaction is affected by the way LMX firstly affects employees' satisfaction with organisational communication processes, and secondly, their acceptance of organisational changes within SMEs.

Multidimensional Organizational Communication as a Vehicle for Successful Schools?

This article explores how principals and teachers view their organizational communication processes, in successful and less successful schools. By dividing the organizational communication process into three dimensions—information, affirmation, and interpretation—different actions and expressions are visualized. To meet organizational needs, all three parts ought to be visible in the communication process. The empirical data are gathered through interviews with principals and teachers in eight Swedish secondary schools.

Audit Committee Effectiveness: Informal Processes and Behavioural Effects

Purpose of this paper - This paper seeks to investigate the conditions and processes affecting the operation and potential effectiveness of audit committees, with particular focus on the interaction between the audit committee, individuals from financial reporting and internal audit functions and the external auditors. Design/methodology/approach - A case study approach is employed, based on direct engagement with participants in audit committee activities, including the audit committee chair, external auditors, internal auditors, and senior management. Findings - We find that informal networks between audit committee participants condition the impact of the audit committee and that the most significant effects of the audit committee on governance outcomes occur outside the formal structures and processes. An audit committee has pervasive behavioural effects within the organization and may be used as a threat, an ally and an arbiter in bringing solutions to issues and conflicts. Audit committees are used in organizational politics, communication processes and power plays and also affect interpretations of events and cultural values. Research limitations/implications - Further research on audit committee and governance processes is needed to develop better understanding of effectiveness. Longitudinal studies, focusing on the organizational and institutional context of audit committee operations, can examine how historical events in an organization and significant changes in the regulatory environment affect current structures and processes. Originality/value - The case analysis highlights a number of significant factors which are not fully recognised either in theorizing the governance role of audit committees or in the development of policy and regulations concerning audit committees but which impinge on their governance contribution. They include (i) the importance of informal processes around the audit committee; (ii) its influence on power relations between organizational participants; (iii) the relevance of the historical development of governance in an organization; (iv) and the possibility that the audit committee's impact on governance may be greatest in non-routine situations.

A Comparison of the Administrative Subculture of Public and Private Sector Service Employees

This article compares the effectiveness of the administrative subculture of public and private sector employees by comparing the efficacy of their organizational processes. The paper provides some evidence that assumptions about the superiority of private sector administrative subculture (as measured by comparing the effectiveness of organizational communication processes in reducing task ambiguity) are probably not warranted. The perception that private sector administrative subculture is more results-orientated than public sector practices appears not to have been substantiated in this study. In contrast, ambiguity with respect to customers, promotion, superiors, and ethical situations was evident across both public and private groups however; the impact on job satisfaction outcomes was greater for public sector employees in general.

Bullying at School and in the Workplace: A Challenge for Communication Research

In this chapter, previous literature concerning school bullying and workplace harassment is reviewed from a communication perspective. The chapter details the seriousness and extensiveness of bullying, among both children at school and adults at work. We intend to provoke discussion of how communication research and theory might help us in understanding and explaining bullying. As elaborated here, bullying appears in interaction situations, mostly in the forms of verbal and nonverbal communication; it exists in the interpersonal relationship of bully and victim, and it can be associated with group communication processes and the structuration of groups, as well as with organizational and cultural communication processes. The benefits of applying communication theories and constructs to research focusing on bullying are demonstrated, and suggestions for future studies are made.

IMPLEMENTING BUSINESS POLICIES WITHIN THE AUSTRALIAN CONTEXT: THE ROLE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS WITHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

One strategy used by some Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) governments to stimulate national competitiveness is to encourage innovation via programmes aimed at assisting firms to collaborate. Economic Development Officers operate within a multi-government bureaucratic maze in order to implement these programmes. This paper examines what factors affect the way Economic Development Officers implement an array of government policies that foster collaboration amongst firms and the implications of those factors. The findings suggest that a number of factors compromise their ability to implement these policies effectively, especially since the implementation of New Public Management. In particular, the findings suggest that organisational bureaucratic communication processes moderate the way Economic Development Officers' perceive a chronic lack of resources and multi-stakeholder accountability. The findings reiterate the importance of ensuring that there is synergy between business policy goals and resourcing and accountability mechanisms for those expected to implement the programmes intended to foster collaboration amongst firms.

Implementing Ethics in Business Organizations

In view of the scope and scale of the latest scandals, e.g. Enron's maximum breaking bankruptcy, the re-discovery of ethics in business has received an impressive boost. By now even car salesmen have written ethics, “a Code of Conduct”, e.g. in the USA or Poland. But there is no clear aim of the role ethics obtains in organizational settings as we may show in some small cases of practical approaches to deal with ethics in organizations. We discuss how ethics is the prerequisite to conduct any business and what advantages may be realized if a clear set of ethics is followed. We will discuss three practical examples. In cases of ethics-based values-added management of Siemens (Germany), Boeing (U.S.) and SAP (Germany) we explain the mechanisms of ethics in management to strengthen organizational success. We emphasize the importance of clear ethics-related communication processes in organizations. We explain the use of communication theories inside organizational processes to clarify communication about such an abstract topic as ethics. Finally, we point out how a management of ethical ideas and cultural values should be designed in business enterprises.

RURAL URGENT CARE MODELS: WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF?

ABSTRACT: The study aimed to identify the elements that constitute rural urgent care systems. Participation in the study was sought from health professionals, welfare and emergency services sectors, and community members. Primary data were collected from informants through interviews and focus groups in five rural communities of different sizes. Twelve common elements to rural urgent care systems were identified and divided into two categories: (i) infrastructure; and (ii) personnel. Infrastructure included organisational support, community support, transport, communication and coordination processes, facilities and equipment, and community knowledge and information. Personnel included nurses, doctors, community leaders, health and welfare professionals, emergency service workers and ambulance officers. The study's major outcome was the recognition that rural urgent care systems consist of a balance of interrelated elements. These elements are context driven, with geographical, social and economic environments having a substantial impact on the ability of rural communities to develop and sustain their urgent care systems.

Rural urgent care models: what are they made of?

The study aimed to identify the elements that constitute rural urgent care systems. Participation in the study was sought from health professionals, welfare and emergency services sectors, and community members. Primary data were collected from informants through interviews and focus groups in five rural communities of different sizes. Twelve common elements to rural urgent care systems were identified and divided into two categories: (i) infrastructure; and (ii) personnel. Infrastructure included organisational support, community support, transport, communication and coordination processes, facilities and equipment, and community knowledge and information. Personnel included nurses, doctors, community leaders, health and welfare professionals, emergency service workers and ambulance officers. The study's major outcome was the recognition that rural urgent care systems consist of a balance of interrelated elements. These elements are context driven, with geographical, social and economic environments having a substantial impact on the ability of rural communities to develop and sustain their urgent care systems.

Factors that influence technical communication in distributed product development: an empirical study in the telecommunications industry

Understanding the communication process in product development organizations has been recognized as a key element to improve product development performance. It is particularly interesting to study information exchanges in geographically distributed product development teams because of the highly interdependent nature of design organizations. Additionally, the use of electronic-based communication media has changed how development teams communicate. By studying the way product development teams use various communication media (face-to-face, telephone, and e-mail), the authors assess how the process of exchanging technical information is influenced by factors such as geographic dispersion, organizational bonds, and degree of team interdependence. They present a model that allows us to formulate several hypotheses about how these factors influence both communication frequency and media choice. They use empirical evidence from the telecommunications industry to test their hypotheses. They confirm previous results about the obstructive influence of distance on technical communication. However, they found that such negative effects may be mitigated by other factors such as the recognizing of highly interdependent team members, the existence of strong organizational bonds and the use of electronic communication media.

The process of organizational communication: a model and field study

Research in computer-mediated communication has usually emphasized the cognitive over the social aspects of communication, the medium over the message, and the product of communication over the process. In contrast, this paper emphasizes three constructs of the communication process: goal-based communication strategies, message form and medium. We seek to balance cognitive and social communication strategies and to combine new and old measures of the message form (organization, formality and size). A field study in an academic institution examined the content of text-based communication delivered by letter, memo, fax and e-mail. As expected, people preferred certain message and medium attributes for certain strategies. These findings are further investigated using open-ended interviews. We conclude with examples of practical implications on designing and implementing computer-mediated communication.

An EAP Approach to Managing Organizational Downsizing

Summary This chapter addresses multifaceted ways in which EAP professionals can be helpful related to organizational layoff realities. Suggestions are made pursuant to services appropriate for the downsized employees, as well as those remaining within the organization; “survivors” as it were. An appeal is also made for organizational communication processes which are inclusive and conducive to community building within the workplace.