Internal communication in a diverse and developing world context: Challenges for corporate South Africa
Authors: Sutton, L.B.-M., le Roux, T. and Fourie, M.
Journal: COMMUNICARE-JOURNAL FOR COMMUNICATION SCIENCES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
Volume: 41
Issue: 2
Pages: 90-102
ISSN: 0259-0069
DOI: 10.36615/jcsa.v41i2.1452
Source: Web of Science (Lite)
Internal communication in a diverse and developing world context: Challenges for corporate South Africa
Authors: Le Roux, T., Sutton, L.B.-M. and Fourie, L.M.
Editors: Oksiutycz, A.
Journal: Communicare: Journal of Communication Sciences
Volume: 41
Issue: 2
Publisher: University of Johannesburg
ISSN: 0259-0069
DOI: 10.36615/jcsa.v41i2.1452
Abstract:Internal communication plays a pivotal part in an organisation’s survival. It is regarded as an investment in an organisation’s success and underpins organisational effectiveness. However, when organisations face internal communication challenges, these can threaten internal relationships, with dire consequences for the organisation. This is particularly so in the volatile, uncertain, complicated and ambiguous South African corporate context, which presents direct challenges for internal communication management.
Internationally there has been an increase in studies exploring challenges for internal communication, with various authors indicating a need for further research. Our study addresses this gap by probing the internal communication challenges experienced in the South African corporate environment as a developing world view, to make recommendations for mitigating action.
This exploratory qualitative interview-based study focused on the perceptions of practitioners working in large organisations, as well as consultants with acknowledged expertise in the field of internal communication.
The findings confirmed that internal communication is a complex and multifaceted profession full of challenges. We identified 12 challenges, grouped into four clusters, namely access to technology, lack of formal communication training, parameters for inclusion of internal stakeholders, and management styles and structures. Contributions include recommendations for practice, together with suggestions for further research.
Source: Manual