Rapporten baseras på en fallstudie som gjordes på ett varuproducerande företag under vårterminen 2016. Rapporten är en C-uppsats skriven på informationslogistikprogrammet vid Linnéuniversitetet. Syftet med studien var att studera hur valet av kommunikationskanal och waste påverkar den upplevda kommunikationseffektiviteten bland de anställda på fallföretaget. Bakgrunden till studien grundar sig i att kommunikation är ett brett och viktigt område där det saknas forskning om kommunikationseffektivitetens påverkan av waste och kanalval. Kommunikationskanalerna utvecklas idag snabbare än teorierna som definierar dess användning, vilket gör uppsatsens ämne aktuellt. Teorierna som har använts i denna studie är Media richness theory [MRT] och Lean administration. Dessa har kombinerats och använts för att belysa hur den upplevda kommunikationsineffektiviteten kan ökas genom ett strukturerat kanalval på fallföretaget. Studien har haft en kvalitativ ansats med en abduktiv inriktning där resultatet kommer från individuella intervjuer med anställda på fallföretagets kontorsdel. Undersökningen visade att det finns brister i kommunikationen och att det påverkar kommunikationseffektiviteten på kontoret. Val av kanal görs individuellt utifrån vad personalen anser vara mest lämpligt då de inte ser helheten. Genom analysera och diskutera resultatet utifrån teorier framkom det att kommunikationseffektiviteten hade kunnat bli bättre om kanalvalen standardiserats. / The report is based on a case study made at a product producing company in the spring of 2016. The report is a bachelor thesis and is written by students from information logistic programme at Linnaeus University. The purpose of the thesis is to study what the effect of the choice of communication channel and waste could have on the employees at the company. Background to the study is that communication is a broad and important field where there is insufficient research on how waste and choice of communication channels affects communication effectiveness and efficiency. Development of new communication channels is faster than the studies about them and therefore lacks important information how and for what the new channels should be used for. This gap makes this study relevant. The theories that have been used in this study are Media richness theory [MRT] and Lean administration. These have been combined and used to show how the communication effectiveness and efficiency could improve if the company uses structured choice of channels for communication. The approach of the study has been qualitative with an abductive emphasis where the result comes from interviews with the employees at the company. The study is only carried out in the office at the company and will not include any other areas. The case study shows that there are deficits in the communication and that it affects communication effectiveness and efficiency at the office. The choice of channels to communicate through is done individually today. This because the employees are missing the big picture. The study has identified that a standardization of the communication would improve the communication effectiveness and efficiency. The result has been identified by using theories while analysing and discussing the result of the interviews.

Globala virtuella team (GVT) utgör ett konkurrenskraftigt alternativ till traditionella internationella uppdrag och blir därmed allt vanligare, inte minst i kölvattnet av covid-19- pandemin. Denna utveckling riskerar dock att bli på bekostnad av den interna kommunikationens effektivitet. Följande studie syftar till att undersöka möjligheter och utmaningar som finns kopplade till olika virtuella medier och därigenom utreda hur medieval påverkar kunskapsöverföringen inom GVT på multinationella teknologiföretag. Genom fyra djupgående intervjuer med GVT-medlemmar på multinationella teknologiföretag i kombination med en sekundär datainsamling har information samlats in och analyserats. Resultatet visar tydliga mönster i hur kunskapsöverföringen påverkas av medieval beroende på den kommunicerade informationens karaktär. Vidare indikerar studien att medievalet har stor betydelse för hur utmaningarna och möjligheterna med de olika medierna upplevs samt hur framgångsrik kommunikationen är inom GVT. Samtidigt saknas det i dagsläget rutiner och riktlinjer för hur medieval ska genomföras inom teknologiföretagen.

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Verktyg för informations- och kommunikationsteknik (IKT-verktyg) får en viktigare roll inom organisationer, både då medarbetare befinner sig på samma arbetsplats såväl på distans. Att arbeta på distans innebär nya förutsättningar för chefer och kommunikation, något som upplevs vara komplicerat (DeRosa et al., 2004; Alistoun & Upfold, 2012; Van Quaquebeke & Felps, 2018). IKT-verktyg är en grundförutsättning för kommunikation på distans (Sivunen, 2008; Kraft, 2019; Darics, 2020) och kännedom om vilka kommunikationskanaler som används av chefer vid vilka kommunikationstillfällen kan vara ett sätt att förbättra kommunikation (Kayworth & Leidner, 2000). Syftet med studien är därför att öka förståelsen för chefers kommunikation med hjälp av IKT-verktyg vid distansledarskap. Som delsyfte vill vi undersöka om det finns likheter och skillnader mellan distansledarskap och ledarskap på plats vad gäller kommunikation och val av kommunikationskanaler. Studiens ansats är kvalitativ, abduktiv och hermeneutisk. Semistrukturerade intervjuer med tolv chefer från tio organisationer genomfördes. Urvalet utgjordes av en kombination av ett målstyrt, snöbolls- och bekvämlighetsurval. Dataanalysen utgjordes av en tematisk analys.  Sex kommunikationstillfällen identifierades på distans och på plats. Kommunikationstillfällena var desamma både på distans och på plats. Ytterligare fem teman för likheter och skillnader skapades. Det vi kunnat uttyda är att distansledarskap och ledarskap på plats inte skiljer sig åt gällande kommunikationstillfällena utan att skillnaden snarare återfinns i hur kommunikationen sker. Vi har därtill funnit att kommunikation vid distansledarskap innebär fler utmaningar än kommunikation på plats.  Studien visar även att kommunikation kan underlättas om uttryckssymboler används i högre utsträckning vid skriftlig kommunikation samt om videosamtal nyttjas då det behövs på distans, eftersom icke-verbal kommunikation förstärker och förtydligar budskap. Kommunikationen kan på så vis bli mer effektiv då färre missförstånd uppstår då ömsesidig mening av budskapet enklare skapas. Videosamtal kan även leda till att kommunikationen blir mer tidseffektiv då mindre tid behöver läggas på att reda ut missförstånd. Dock används videosamtal i låg utsträckning vilket vi funnit kan bero på ovana att använda verktyget. Nya beteenden behöver därför skapas för att forma nya vanor om hur IKT-verktyg kan nyttjas vid distansledarskap. Därtill fann vi att chefer regelbundet behöver träffa sina distansmedarbetare fysiskt eftersom relationen upplevs bli bättre vid fysiska möten. En god relation har vi funnit är av vikt för att kommunikationen på distans ska vara effektiv. / Information and communication technology (ICT) tools are getting more important in organizations, both when employees are working at the same location as their manager as well as when employees are working remotely at other locations. Working remotely have led to new conditions for managers and communication, something perceived more complicated than when employees are at the same location as managers (DeRosa et al., 2004; Alistoun & Upfold, 2012; Van Quaquebeke & Felps, 2018). ICT tools are a prerequisite for communication when employees are working remotely (Sivunen, 2008; Kraft, 2019; Darics, 2020) and knowledge of which communication channels are used by managers at what occasions may be a way of improving communication (Kayworth & Leidner, 2000). The purpose of the study is therefore to increase the understanding of managers communication with ICT tools. Further, we want to investigate if there are similarities and differences regarding managers communication and choice of communication channel when employees are working remotely or on-site. The study's approach is qualitative, abductive and hermeneutic. Semi-structured interviews with twelve managers from ten organizations were conducted. The sampling consisted of a combination of purposive, snowball and convenience sampling. The data analysis was thematic analysis.  Six occasions for communication were identified. The occasions for communication were the same both remotely and on site. Another five themes for similarities and differences were detected. We found that the occasions for communication does not differ depending on distance, but rather that the difference lies in how the communication is carried out. In addition, we have found that communication at distance leadership poses more challenges than on-site communication.  The study also show that communication may be easier if emoticons are used more frequently and if video calls are used when needed, that is, when non-verbal communication reinforces and clarifies the message. In this way, communication can become more effective as fewer misunderstandings arise since it is easier to establish mutual meaning. Video calls may also make communication more time efficient as less time is needed for clearing up misunderstandings. However, video calls are not commonly used due to lack of habit using the tool. Therefore, new behaviors and habits should be created in order for managers to make efficient use of ICT tools. In addition, we have found that a good relationship is important for communication remotely to be effective. Therefore, managers regularly need to physically meet their employees working remotely as the relationship is perceived to get better with physical meetings.

The importance of corporate communication is even more highlighted nowadays than it has been couple years ago. The reason behind is that companies are constantly growing and effective employee communication within such companies is becoming more difficult. This Diploma thesis aimed to find out how to improve internal communication in selected company. For this purpose a solid communication theory has been presented and a real company chosen to be examined in the analytical part. The analytical part examined and wraped up outcomes from questionnaire and interviews. The outcome of the thesis offers an answer to a research question How can multinational company improve its employee communication and revealed opportunities for improvement. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Without question, it is apparent that organizations are predominantly dependent on the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) to conduct their daily operations. As a result, information is rapidly flowing throughout the workplace and being exchanged at a rate unlike ever before. Unfortunately, this rapid flow of information has increased the potential for information overload to occur among employees. Through a phenomenological based approach, this study explored the experiences of information overload that occur as a result of CMC use in the workplace, from the subjective point of view of ten participants. Findings indicated that the experiences described among these participants can be understood through the examination of four descriptive themes: Constant Communication, Unpredictability, Miscommunication, and lastly Increased Workload and Responsibilities. Furthermore, two theories: Media Richness Theory (MRT) and Social Influence Theory (SIT), served as the theoretical framework for this study.

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Reputation is an important asset for organisations worldwide. Many researchers have attempted to develop a measurement construct to assess an organisation’s reputation, with the RepTrak System being recognised to be the world’s first tool that assess reputation across multiple stakeholders and areas of the organisation. Nevertheless, the characteristics, methods and stakeholders to include within an assessment of this intangible asset continues to be widely debated. Organisations are under intense scrutiny by their stakeholders, with reputation being an organisational asset on which many opinions are formed. Universities in the UK are no different, as they compete for students from around the world, with the institutions thought to have the best reputations, attracting more students. Nevertheless, no agreed measure for assessing a university’s reputation exists, with many organisations relying solely on league table rankings. Thus, this thesis evaluated existing reputation measurement characteristics, to determine their applicability in assessing the reputation of a UK university. The antecedents of reputation are also widely debated. Authors suggest that stakeholders’ prior knowledge and experience, and communication they receive from an organisation contributes to their perceptions of that organisation’s reputation. The Media Richness Theory suggests a hierarchy to this communication, with face-to-face communication recognised to be of increasing importance due to its ‘rich’ nature. Consequently, the use of events as a strategic communication tool for marketing and public relations purposes has become increasingly popular. Nevertheless, the impact of these events on an organisation’s reputation has yet to be assessed. Thus, the aim of x this thesis is to evaluate the impact that these events have on stakeholders’ perceptions of a UK university’s reputation. A case study methodology, using mixed methods, and underpinned by a pragmatic philosophical perspective was adopted. Five semi-structured interviews were held with senior managers during the first phase of data collection and analysis. Results from these interviews were used to determine the strategic purpose of events as a communication tool. In phase two of the research, the study’s main variables (Reputation, Event Influence, Knowledge and Familiarity, Future Intentions) are combined into a model to assess their relationships. These are tested using Structural Equation Modelling, and data collected from 23 university events and 592 event attendees, using a quantitative questonniare. This study contributes to our knowledge and understanding of the benefits of using events as a form of communication, and highlights the necessity of using a variety of communication channels to inform different stakeholder groups. Findings within this research contradict existing knowledge within the UK Higher Education Industry, by suggesting that university league tables were not the most frequently used method of assessing a university’s reputation, and that rather stakeholders base their perceptions on their personal experience with the institution. Consequently, attending events is found to have a positive influence on attendees’ perceptions of the university’s reputation, however a threshold level exists for stakeholders with high levels of familiarity with the university. Therefore, evidence of the impact of using events as a communication tool is found with a positive return on investment in terms of reputation gains. Thus, findings can be used to inform communication strategy within the higher education industry within the UK.

The expansion of YouTube into the mainstream media and its place as the second most-used website in the world makes it a prime place for health information seeking. However, content can be created and uploaded by anyone and thus, the threat of misinformation on YouTube is high. Medical researchers have established that videos created by health professionals on YouTube promote accurate information whereas videos by non-professionals promote generally inaccurate or misleading information. Yet, videos created by non-professionals have more views and higher relevance rankings on YouTube. To begin to understand this phenomenon, a descriptive study is used to lay a foundation for this area of health communication This study focused on the ostomy community of non-professional content creators on YouTube to. The goal of this study was to thoroughly describe the innate features of the videos using media richness theory, and to describe social support and illness narrative using the framework of social presence theory. The results from the study provide deep description into this particular community of non-professional health influencers and make way for a new line of research in the communication of health information.

This thesis explores the factors that influence the extent to which the World Wide Web (henceforth web) is utilised by corporations in an environmentally sensitive industry to communicate with their stakeholders in relation to environmental issues. The study initially establishes, in theory, the communication potential of the web and possible factors which can impact on the extent to which this potential is utilised for environmental communication. Subsequently, it examines the use of the web by specific companies in the Australian minerals industry for communicating environmental issues to their stakeholders over time. Explanations for current practices are established through an analysis of the impact of the factors established in theory on web based environmental communication in the Australian minerals industry.¶ A model was established to guide the research process for this study. Drawing upon media richness theory (Daft & Lengel, 1984, 1986; Sproull, 1991; Valacich et al., 1993), the Media Richness Framework was developed to provide criteria for assessing the communication potential of the web. It was also posited that the extent to which this potential is utilised in practice is dependent on management’s web based communication needs. These needs incorporate timeliness, accessibility, presentation and organisation, and interaction. Contextual factors, which include limitations of web based technologies, economic, internal organisational and external stakeholder issues, influence these needs.¶ Case study research (Hagg & Hedlund, 1979; Yin, 2003a, 2003b; Scapens, 2004) was used as the methodological approach for this thesis in order to obtain an in-depth understanding of current web based environmental communication practices. An evaluation of the websites of mining companies was used as the basis for selecting three companies as cases. These cases involved a triangulation of approaches towards data collection: monitoring corporate websites on a regular basis; interviewing appropriate personnel in these organisations; and evaluating documents related to the companies’ environmental communication practice. Data gathered from interviews, websites and documents were analysed for individual cases and then through cross-case comparisons. The intention was to confirm the research model and to potentially extend it through a consideration of other factors not identified in theory but evident in current practices.¶ The findings of this research indicate that even though the web has the potential to enhance environmental communication in an environmentally sensitive industry that is subject to extensive stakeholder pressures, there is variation in its use by companies in the Australian minerals industry. An evaluation of the practices of the three chosen companies highlighted that while the web is used extensively by these companies in comparison with other corporations in the industry, the case study companies were at different stages of web based environmental communication.¶ Management’s web based environmental communication needs and the influence of contextual factors on these needs explained the variation in web based environmental communication across all three companies. Moreover, two other factors emerged from the field; these are referred to as the double-edged sword and change in management philosophy. These findings from the field highlight that the need for communication through the web could have unintended consequences while a change in management could alter the current approach towards web based environmental communication.¶ This study into the use of the web in the Australian minerals industry highlights that the medium has an impact on environmental communication practice. Further research could assess the communication potential of the various media used for environmental communication in order to extend the explanatory power of the current study. This study also outlines arguments in support of extending theorisation in environmental communication. Existing theories for social and environmental accounting, such as stakeholder and legitimacy theory (Roberts, 1992; Lindblom, 1993; Deegan, 2002) need to be accompanied by other theoretical perspectives in order to capture a range of potential factors that could impact environmental communication practices. Such insights could provide a comprehensive understanding of environmental communication in different contexts.