A1 Journal article (refereed)
Managing the communicative organization : a qualitative analysis of knowledge-intensive companies (2020)
Pekkala, K. (2020). Managing the communicative organization : a qualitative analysis of knowledge-intensive companies. Corporate Communications, 25(3), 551-571. https://doi.org/10.1108/ccij-02-2020-0040
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Pekkala, Kaisa
Journal or series: Corporate Communications
ISSN: 1356-3289
eISSN: 1758-6046
Publication year: 2020
Publication date: 13/07/2020
Volume: 25
Issue number: 3
Pages range: 551-571
Publisher: Emerald
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/ccij-02-2020-0040
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/73642
Abstract
Design/methodology/approach – The study was conducted by applying an exploratory, qualitative approach. The data were collected from six knowledge-intensive organizations operating in the professional service sector in Finland, and the data set used included altogether 23 interviews.
Findings – The interviews confirmed that employees’ work-related communication on social media is regarded as an increasingly important area, and that it has required companies to establish new managerial processes that are aimed to affect employees’ communication behaviors (ECB) either as enablers or motivators. How companies apply these processes depends on contextual factors, and three different managerial approaches were identified, namely, individual-, corporate- and business-oriented approaches.
Research limitations/implications – Based on the findings, this article proposes a new field for the communication management literature, management of the communicative organization (MCO), which builds on behavior management knowledge and focuses on managing employee communicators in multivocal organizational communication systems (MOCSs) that are dependent on employee-generated content.
Originality/value – The study advances the field of communication management and ECB by empirically proving that organizations manage their employees’ work-related communication and the management processes and practices identified derive from behavioral management tradition. The proposed MCO framework introduces a novel area for academic discussion on how communication management affects ECB and attitudes, such as motivation.
Keywords: organisational communication and public relations; social media; employees; organisational behaviour; leadership (activity)
Free keywords: communication management; social media; communicative organization; employees’ communication behavior
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2020
JUFO rating: 1