The introduction of the Internet and computers into the work environment have changed the news industry. New models of revenues for spreading the news, and the reachability and accessibility of the news has grown tremendously. These implications have influenced the way media company’s employees have to work, from multi-skilling to communicating with each other efficiently. This research seeks to investigate the current state of the internal communication flow in a Swedish media company called Hallpressen AB and to find opportunities for improving the internal communication flow inside the company. In order to fully understand the existing situation in the company, the authors observed nine of the company’s departments, held 14 interviews with managers and executive committee members, and conducted two focus groups. Based on the data collection, the authors created a communication channel model of the existing communication inside the media company, and performed a qualitative content analysis to summarize the findings from the observations and interviews. The focus groups were performed in order to examine an existing communication tool called “Slack”, and to understand the general perception that the company’s employees held of it. From the findings, the authors suggested possible improvements for the company’s internal communication flows. First, what could be improved in the management of communication inside the company, such as opening of a communication department or hiring an internal communicator. Second, what could be improved in already existing communication channels, such as creation of special part on the intranet for every department and etc.

Audits of organizational communication have been viewed as an efficient means for collecting data and diagnosing common communication problems (Meyer, 2002), and evaluating employee communication satisfaction has proven to be a vital component of the auditor’s overall goal of assessing communication effectiveness. While communication audits have been used for the past 50 years by practitioners and scholars alike to evaluate the effectiveness of both external and internal communications, this particular analysis will explore the internal communications of a business-to-business sales division within a major U.S. credit reporting agency. Using Goldhaber’s (2002) method for administering Web-based communication surveys and a combination of Downs & Hazen’s (1977) Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire and Gayeski’s (2000) Information Systems Analysis, this study will assess how the salesperson’s satisfaction of the company’s electronic sales communications relates to perceived productivity.

It has long been established that “communication is of fundamental importance in the operation of all organizations, and a knowledge of the efficiency of the general communication system is vital to achieve high levels of organizational effectiveness” (Greenbaum, Clampitt, & Willihnganz, 1988, p. 245). With this in mind, over the past forty years many organizations have turned to communication audits to identify strategies to improve their organizations’ communication practices. One such organization is the State Bar of Georgia. Using Downs and Hazen’s (1977) Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire, this study assessed the health/effectiveness of the Bar’s formal and informal communication channels, identified problems and made recommendations for improvement. In addition to gaining a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the Bar’s existing communication channels, the audit showed how communication practices at the Bar relate to employee job satisfaction.

The thesis focuses on the analysis of work activities including the communication audit of Schäfer Menk company. The goal is to analyse daily duties of all purchase department staff and also to research internal communication within the company. Such research will be done according to the information flow, the use of all communication channels within the company and also according to the information resources. The methodological apparatus of individual observation and interview were selected as tools for the analysis of all job duties. The ICA questionnaire was selected as an instrument of the communication audit and its more detailed description will be a vital part of the methodological section of the work. All conclusions coming from the job duties analysis will lead into the improvement of job description in company structure and also it can be used for the improvement of internal procedures modifications within the purchase department of the company. The results of the communication audit can also lead into the improvement of the effective communication within the company.

This study presents the results of an external communication audit of the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), a congressionally chartered nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of tropical plant diversity. Information was gathered during the communication audit through interviews with NTBG's key decision makers, content analyses of NTBG's primary publications, and a questionnaire measuring the public-organization relationship. The audit assesses NTBG's external communication policies, practices, capabilities, and needs in the context of systems theory and external relations strategic planning theories. The findings of the audit identify who NTBG considers its target publics and how well they are reaching certain audiences. The results also indicate in which areas NTBG's current communication system is meeting or not meeting the objectives of the organization. The study concludes with a series of recommendations for how NTBG can improve its external communication system.

There is global agreement that in today's business environment an integrated approach to communication is a necessity. Although there is a need to evaluate the application and quality of integrated communication, after almost 20 years of existence, it is still viewed as a difficult concept to implement. Definitions of integrated communication still vary, with no universal consensus. Although the literature on communications does propose various implementation models for evaluating integrated communication, these models are predominantly marketing-related, with parameters pertaining to the customer-experience. As such, these models have serious shortcomings when it comes to measuring the employee-experience. In this study, employee relationships are seen as the building blocks of the strategic management of communication between an organisation and its external publics. Recognising this significance of employee relationships two decades ago, Cutlip, Center, and Broom (1985) proposed that no organisational relationships are as important as those with employees. They advocated that the first step in promoting positive external relationships is achieving good internal communication. The central thrust is that employees who are truly customer-focused need to work within an employee-centric environment. Customarily, the traditional internal communication audit is used to evaluate the employee environment, employee perceptions of communication and employee attitudes. However, traditional audits have limitations when it comes to measuring integration. Traditional audits do not evaluate the role of the employee in building customer relationships, or the extent to which employees are integrated into an organisation. There is, therefore, a need to extend the traditional internal communication audit, so as to evaluate integrated internal communication and its application and quality. Duncan (2001) maintains that integrated communication must first exist internally if a company is to effectively communicate externally. Therefore, the primary research objective of this study was to develop a measuring instrument (using elements from existing audits and models) to evaluate integrated internal communication. This entailed a literature review to determine the theoretical status of the concept of integrated communication and internal communication. A measuring instrument was then developed to evaluate integrated internal communication. The second objective was to apply the developed instrument so as to measure employee perceptions of communication at the International Colleges Group (ICG). These perceptions were measured through a group administered perception survey and personal interviews. Research results where used to determine the extent of integrated internal communication at ICG in accordance with four identifiable stages. Findings signifyed some success in the first stage of integrated communication. However, there was no indication of integrated communication in the later stages. The final objective was to test the shortcomings of the proposed instrument. / Communication Science / M.A. (specialisation in Organisational Communication Research and Practice)

There is global agreement that in today's business environment an integrated approach to communication is a necessity. Although there is a need to evaluate the application and quality of integrated communication, after almost 20 years of existence, it is still viewed as a difficult concept to implement. Definitions of integrated communication still vary, with no universal consensus. Although the literature on communications does propose various implementation models for evaluating integrated communication, these models are predominantly marketing-related, with parameters pertaining to the customer-experience. As such, these models have serious shortcomings when it comes to measuring the employee-experience. In this study, employee relationships are seen as the building blocks of the strategic management of communication between an organisation and its external publics. Recognising this significance of employee relationships two decades ago, Cutlip, Center, and Broom (1985) proposed that no organisational relationships are as important as those with employees. They advocated that the first step in promoting positive external relationships is achieving good internal communication. The central thrust is that employees who are truly customer-focused need to work within an employee-centric environment. Customarily, the traditional internal communication audit is used to evaluate the employee environment, employee perceptions of communication and employee attitudes. However, traditional audits have limitations when it comes to measuring integration. Traditional audits do not evaluate the role of the employee in building customer relationships, or the extent to which employees are integrated into an organisation. There is, therefore, a need to extend the traditional internal communication audit, so as to evaluate integrated internal communication and its application and quality. Duncan (2001) maintains that integrated communication must first exist internally if a company is to effectively communicate externally. Therefore, the primary research objective of this study was to develop a measuring instrument (using elements from existing audits and models) to evaluate integrated internal communication. This entailed a literature review to determine the theoretical status of the concept of integrated communication and internal communication. A measuring instrument was then developed to evaluate integrated internal communication. The second objective was to apply the developed instrument so as to measure employee perceptions of communication at the International Colleges Group (ICG). These perceptions were measured through a group administered perception survey and personal interviews. Research results where used to determine the extent of integrated internal communication at ICG in accordance with four identifiable stages. Findings signifyed some success in the first stage of integrated communication. However, there was no indication of integrated communication in the later stages. The final objective was to test the shortcomings of the proposed instrument. / Communication Science / M.A. (specialisation in Organisational Communication Research and Practice)

Text in English, abstract in English, Afrikaans and Venda / This study developed and tested an integrated internal communication audit (IICA) tool to evaluate the communication strengths and weaknesses of the Unisa Library. The existing communication audit instruments were explored, namely: the Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) and the International Communication Association (ICA) audit were adapted and complemented by the Organisational Culture Survey (OCS) and the Critical Incident Technique (CIT). The current trends and the trends in South Africa were also explored. The sequential mixed method design consisting of the semi-structured qualitative interviews and the quantitative surveys were used to collect data. The ATLAS.ti and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software packages were used to analyse qualitative and quantitative data. The results revealed the IICA as an appropriate tool for measuring the integrated internal communication of the Unisa Library. The IICA identified the communication needs of employees; the active and preferred communication channels; and the positive and negative communication experiences of employees. / Hierdie studie het ʼn geïntegreerde interne kommunikasie-oudit (IICA)-hulpmiddel ontwikkel en getoets om kommunikasie-sterkpunte en -swakhede van die Unisa-biblioteek te evalueer. Die bestaande kommunikasie-oudit-instrumente was ondersoek, naamlik: die Kommunikasietevredenheidsvraelys (CSQ) en die Internasionale Kommunikasievereniging (ICA) se oudit is aangepas en gekomplementeer deur die Organisasiekultuur-opname (OCS) en die Kritiese-insident-tegniek (CIT). Die sekwensiële gemengdemetode-ontwerp, bestaande uit die halfgestruktureerde kwalitatiewe onderhoude en die kwantitatiewe opnames, is gebruik om data in te samel. Die ATLAS.ti-programmatuurpakket en die Statistiese Pakket vir Sosiale Wetenskappe (SPSS)-programmatuur is gebruik om kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe data te ontleed. Die resultate gewys die IICA as ʼn geskikte hulpmiddel was in die meting van die geïntegreerde interne kommunikasie van die Biblioteek. Die IICA geïdentifiseer die kommunikasie behoeftes van werknemers; die aktiewe en voorkeur kommunikasie kanale; en die positiewe en negatiewe kommunikasie ervarings van werknemers. / Ngudo iyi yo bveledza na u linga tshishumiswa tsha u Sedzulusa Vhudavhidzani ha nga ngomu ho Ṱanganelaho (Integrated Internal Communication Audit (IICA), u ṱola vhuḓi na vhuvhi ha vhudavhidzani kha Ḽaiburari ya Univesithi ya Afrika Tshipembe. Zwishumiswa zwa u sedza vhudavhidzani zwi re hone zwo sedzuluswaho zwi katela: Mbudzisambekanywa dza Vhudavhidzani dzine dza fusha ṱhoḓea (Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire) (CSQ) na tshishumiswa tsha u sedzulusa vhudavhidzani tsha Dzangano ḽa Dzitshaka ḽa Vhudavhidzani (International Communication Association) (ICA). Zwishumiswa izwo zwo ḓadziswa nga tshishumiswa tsha Ṱhoḓisiso ya Mvelele ya Tshiimiswa (Organisational Culture Survey) (OCS) na Tshikalo tsha u ela Maitele a Zwithu zwa ndeme (Critical Incident Technique) (CIT). Pulane ya thevhekano ya maitele o ṱanganelaho o vhumbwaho nga maitele a ṱhoḓisiso ane a shumiswa kha saintsi dza matshilisano (qualitative) na maitele a ṱhoḓisiso ane a shumisa zwiṱatisiṱika na mbalo (quantitative) zwo shumiswa u kuvhanganya mawanwa. Phakhedzhi ya Sofuthiwea ya ATLAS.ti na phakhedzhi ya Siṱatisiṱika ya Saintsi dza Matshilisano (Statistical Package for Social Sciences - SPSS) dzo shumiswa u saukanya mawanwa a ṱhoḓisiso dza matshilisano na a ṱhoḓisiso dza zwiṱatisiṱika na mbalo. Mvelelo dzo bvisela khagala uri IICA ndi tshishumiswa tsho teaho u ela vhudavhidzani ho ṱanganelaho ha nga ngomu Ḽaiburari ya Univesithi ya Afrika Tshipembe. Tshishumiswa itshi tsho bvisela khagala thoḓea dza vhashumi dza vhudavhidzani, zwishumiswa zwa vhudavhidzani zwine zwa khou shumiswa na zwi takalelwaho; na tshenzhemo ya vhashumi kha vhudavhidzani havhudi and vhu si havhudi. / Communication Science / M. Comm (Communication Science)

M.A. (Health Studies) / The purpose of this study was to explore and describe communication effectiveness and communication satisfaction experienced by professional nurses in selected public health care services. Quantitative, explorative and descriptive research was conducted to determine the communication effectiveness and levels of communication satisfaction. The Downs and Adrian (2004) structured questionnaire was adapted and used to collect the data. The study population consisted of three groups of professional nurses, namely nurse managers (n=18), operational managers (n=22) and professional nurses (n=90). The study highlighted areas of effective and ineffective communication, as well as areas of communication satisfaction and dissatisfaction, among professional nurses. The findings revealed that although professional nurses are satisfied with their supervisor-subordinate communication, they are dissatisfied with personal feedback between all categories of professional nurses. Recommendations for the improvement of the communication effectiveness and communication satisfaction of professional nurses are aimed at creating an organisational atmosphere conducive to two-way communication. / Health Studies

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe communication effectiveness and communication satisfaction experienced by professional nurses in selected public health care services. Quantitative, explorative and descriptive research was conducted to determine the communication effectiveness and levels of communication satisfaction. The Downs and Adrian (2004) structured questionnaire was adapted and used to collect the data. The study population consisted of three groups of professional nurses, namely nurse managers (n=18), operational managers (n=22) and professional nurses (n=90). The study highlighted areas of effective and ineffective communication, as well as areas of communication satisfaction and dissatisfaction, among professional nurses. The findings revealed that although professional nurses are satisfied with their supervisor-subordinate communication, they are dissatisfied with personal feedback between all categories of professional nurses. Recommendations for the improvement of the communication effectiveness and communication satisfaction of professional nurses are aimed at creating an organisational atmosphere conducive to two-way communication. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)