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 editorsPekkala, Kaisa

Journal or seriesCorporate Communications

ISSN1356-3289

eISSN1758-6046

Publication year2020

Publication date13/07/2020

Volume25

Issue number3

Pages range551-571

PublisherEmerald

Publication countryUnited Kingdom

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/ccij-02-2020-0040

Publication open accessNot open

Publication channel open access

Publication is parallel published (JYX)https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/73642


Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how employees’ work-related communication is managed in knowledge-intensive organizations.
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.


Keywordsorganisational communication and public relationssocial mediaemployeesorganisational behaviourleadership (activity)

Free keywordscommunication management; social media; communicative organization; employees’ communication behavior


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

Reporting Year2020

JUFO rating1


Last updated on 2024-26-03 at 09:18