Good internal communication increases productivity

Internal communication has become an important factor in today's business world. The increased use of electronic media can, despite their obvious advantages, cause communication problems, i.e. information overload. By avoiding communication problems, the productivity of a company can be increased. The relation between internal communication and productivity has been subject of a number of surveys. Although different survey approaches have been used, all found that there is a positive impact of communication on productivity. Since different communication dimensions have a different impact on an employee's perceived productivity, effective and efficient internal communication has to be managed, therefore, in accordance with the situation of each company and its employees. -- In der heutigen Geschäftswelt gewinnt interne Kommunikation als Wettbewerbsfaktor eine zunehmende Bedeutung. Die vermehrte Anwendung von elektronischen Medien kann jedoch trotz ihrer Vorteile auch zu Kommunikationsproblemen, speziell zu Informationsflut, führen. Indem Kommunikationsprobleme vermieden werden, ist es möglich im Unternehmen die Produktivität zu erhöhen. Dieser Zusammenhang ist Gegenstand verschiedenster Studien, die trotz unterschiedlicher Ansätze alle einen positiven Einfluss von Kommunikation auf die Produktivität herausstellten. Aufgrund verschiedener Stellencharaktere und der damit verbundenen Nutzen bestimmter Informationen, beeinflussen vielfache Arten von Kommunikation die Produktivität von Angestellten unterschiedlich. Ebenso sind Unterschiede zwischen den Angestellten und verschiedenen Unternehmenstypologien zu verzeichnen. Folglich ist das Management von interner Kommunikation auf das spezielle Unternehmen und seine Mitarbeiter zuzuschneiden.Productivity,Internal Communication,Communication Methods,Communication Problems,Information Overload,Produktivität,Interne Kommunikation,Kommunikationsmethode,Kommunikationsprobleme,Informationsflut

The Minimized Face of Internal Communication: An Exploration of How Public Relations Agency Websites Frame Internal Communication and its Connection to Social Media

Internal communication is increasingly vital to organizational success due to the influence of social media, yet it remains understudied within public relations research. Using a qualitative content analysis of 181 websites, this study examines how leading public relations agency websites frame the value of internal communication and its connection to social media. Findings reveal internal communication is largely missing from the frame. When explicitly referenced, it is mostly framed as synonymous with employee communication as a means for management to communicate to employees, though some portrayals are more robust. Websites frame internal communication’s value as enhancing financial outcomes by improving workplace culture, employee engagement, and workers’ willingness to support management’s preferred organization brand or reputation. Social media are disconnected from internal communication and are mostly framed as tools that require additional employee training to use in order to reach external audiences. A handful of agencies urge organizations to include social media and internal stakeholders within the internal communication function. Recommendations are made for future internal communication research and practice

Mastering internal communication: Knowledge foundations and postgraduate education

Despite its importance to employee engagement and organisational effectiveness, little scholarly attention has been paid to internal communication education. Consequently there is a vacuum in guidance on particular knowledge required for effective internal communication practice. To tackle this gap, this empirical article analyses data collected in an online survey of communication professionals. The article contributes an empirically based specialist framework for internal communication knowledge, with components beyond those found in generalist frameworks

The importance of internal communication in organizational change: Case study of the structural change in a Belgian government agency

Internal communication is an essential element to create willingness to change in organizations (Elving 2005a, 2005b; Clampitt et al. 2000; Armenakis et al. 2007). In this paper, we present the results of a mixed method research assessing change communication in a Belgian governmental institution which recently implemented a change in its organizational structure. Our approach to the data was twofold. The descriptive, quantitative first part of the research relies on a survey of 718 staff members involved in the change. The survey consists of 30 questions assessing the internal communication about the change, and the staff’s willingness to change. The questionnaire is based on existing instruments - such as the ICA audit, the scales of Armenakis et al (2007) and Wanous et al (2000). We addressed the following research questions: RQ1 - To what extent are staff members willing to go along with the change? RQ2 - To what extent are staff members satisfied with the internal communication regarding the change? Second, we conducted 14 semi-structured in-depth interviews with staff members, in which we further explored notable findings of the survey. The interviews (each about 20 to 30 minutes) were conducted in the period from June 25, 2014 to July 9, 2014 and aimed at answering the following research question: RQ3 - To what extent has the internal communication had an impact on staff members’ willingness to change or change resistance ? Our findings confirm that a negative assessment of the internal communication correlates with a higher degree of change resistance, but also -if not more so- the results reveal the the extent to which individual self interest acts cause resistance to change. In conclusion, we open up the debate about the role of internal communication in signaling and preventing this from happening. __________ 50-word summary: This paper presents the results of a mixed method research assessing change communication in a Belgian governmental institution which recently implemented a change in its organizational structure. The main finding is that a crucial role is reserved for internal communication in preventing self-interest acts as a brake on change readiness

Internal communication and employee performance: The mediating role of motivation

Internal communication is an important function in an organization in relation to human resource management. This research examined the employee-perceived internal communication and investigated the role of internal communication and employee motivation on employee performance. The mediating influence of motivation in influence of internal communication on organizational performance was also investigated. Questionnaires were distributed to employees of BPJS Malang City to collect the data of this study. Path Analysis was performed to analyze the data, which results revealed that internal communication could improve employee performance. Internal communication was also found to enhance employee motivation, which in turn would affect the employee performance. Internal communication will encourage organization-employee relationship. Employees should understand the company's core business to make them aware of the targets to achieve. Through effective internal communication, employees would have better comprehension on the importance of their performance. Future researchers are encouraged to examine job satisfaction as a mediating variable in the relationship between internal communication and employee performanceInternal communication is an important function in an organization in relation to human resource management. This research examined the employee-perceived internal communication and investigated the role of internal communication and employee motivation on employee performance. The mediating influence of motivation in influence of internal communication on organizational performance was also investigated. Questionnaires were distributed to employees of BPJS Malang City to collect the data of this study. Path Analysis was performed to analyze the data, which results revealed that internal communication could improve employee performance. Internal communication was also found to enhance employee motivation, which in turn would affect the employee performance. Internal communication will encourage organization-employee relationship. Employees should understand the company's core business to make them aware of the targets to achieve. Through effective internal communication, employees would have better comprehension on the importance of their performance. Future researchers are encouraged to examine job satisfaction as a mediating variable in the relationship between internal communication and employee performanc

STRATEGIC INTERNAL COMMUNICATION: ANALYSIS OF THE PRACTICE OF REGIONAL HIGER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF LATVIA

In the organization's strategic management, internal communication is one of the main components enabling the strategic management process to be carried out. Its role is important in both the planning and implementation of the strategy. Still, in practice, the internal communication’s potential remains untapped, resulting in the pursuit of organizations' strategic objectives. In developing the doctoral thesis, the author has an interest in investigating not only businesses, but also higher education institutions (HEIs), as they are similar organizations to other sectoral institutions, and their processes must be similar. The purpose of this study is to analyse who currently manages the internal communication function of four Latvian regional universities and to what extent the internal communication can be considered strategic. The study reviews international literature on the strategic management of organizations and the strategic management of internal communication. It uses a combined research strategy involving questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with respondents indicating that their university has developed an internal communication strategy.The results show that the internal communication management practices of universities differ since some universities do not clearly define the purpose of internal communication, strategies, and plans, as well as those which merely indicate the existence of internal communication management practices. In all four universities, specialists carry out internal communication in the field of marketing, communication, or human resources management who demonstrate that private business practices are being applied – implementing internal communication in fragmented ways without acknowledging it as a management’s function. The research participants have indicated that internal communication should be managed by the administrative vice-rector. Since the analysed articles show that the employee responsible for the internal communication function should be part of the decision-making process, more in-depth research should be continued which would allow making conclusions whether the administrative vice-rector at the university should take on the strategic management function of internal communication.

Internal communication education: A historical study

This historical analysis investigates treatment of the important discipline of internal communication in a number of globally influential public relations education frameworks over time. Developing this insight is important since it has the potential to inform future professional development programmes. The conceptual framework for the study is set via discussion of the historical approach, internal communication, professionalization and knowledge. The historical analysis research methodology is used to study data sources including professional body reports and archival documentation. Deductive and inductive coding is combined with template analysis to ensure rigorous qualitative data analysis. The study finds inconsistent treatment of the internal communication discipline in public relations education frameworks over time. Distinct inclusion was found in early frameworks, clear recognition of the growing importance of internal communication was evident in later guidelines, but the study discovers that the discipline has been excluded from recent frameworks. While the study draws on relevant data sources credited with international influence, it is limited to sources published in English. Practical educational and methodological implications of the research are discussed along with avenues for further research including surveys or qualitative research to investigate contemporary views held by practitioners and educators on internal communication curricula. Social and management implications are discussed including a call for the reinstatement of internal communication in globally influential public relations education frameworks. The discipline of internal communication is still understudied which is surprising given its impact on organisational effectiveness. Furthermore, little previous attention has been paid to the history of internal communication education. This article tackles that void, finds inconsistent treatment of the discipline in education frameworks over time, and contributes discussion on why these inconsistencies have occurred

Internal Communication in Creating Performance Synergrity

In supporting the quality of human life, it continues to develop and carry out communication activities. Communication activities have an important role for anyone who runs them. Communication activities within the organization also support the process of employee synergy. In the organizational communication order, communication patterns are used to achieve the same organizational communication goals, from what has been mutually agreed upon. Internal communication is a communication process that runs for each individual, determining the quality of performance for the individual within it

Creating an Effective Internal Communication Environment

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of internal communication on employee morale and job satisfaction, identify the best methods of communication for information retention, and propose suggestions to improve the perception of internal communication within an office or organization. Effective internal communication has long been identified as a required component of effective and successful organizations; however, how organizations utilized communication channels and mediums varied greatly. Development of an efficient communication environment had positive impacts on an organization emotionally and financially (Sprague & Del Brocco, 2002). Media richness theory and media synchronicity theory were reviewed to determine the impact of communication comprehension in relation to specific mediums. A survey was completed at UNH Business Services to determine the current internal communication climate and preferred methods of communication. The survey results and reviewed literature were used to propose potential changes to the communication practices within the office

Internal Communication Perception, Impact And Improvement

CEMSConsidering the importance of internal communication (IC) on a company’s corporate culture and profitability, this project’s objective was to analyze the current state of IC at Millennium and establish a strategic plan on how to improve it. The methodology consisted on interviews, Intranet’s data analysis, a survey and a focus group. Among other results, there is no systematic and correct analysis of publications, neither people know how to extract value from them. Several recommendations to improve the Intranet channel are presented. Additionally, there is a deeper academic discussion on the IC topic that addresses its different academic definitions and purposes