Internal organisational communication and change management : a glocal perspective

Abstract

Communication is the heartbeat of any organisation and forms a fundamental part of managing emergent change in dynamic organisations. With communication models still largely being influenced and guided by post-colonial, western and eastern influences, a glocal approach to the communication process is better positioned as an appropriate solution for a diverse workforce. Added to this is the impact external changes have on an organisation, such as globalization, technological changes, social and economic changes. Organizations now more than ever have been forced to either adapt or die. Although communication is viewed as important, internal organisational communication is often overlooked by management as an important tool in managing emergent change in diverse workforces. Cultural and organisational capacities, as dynamic variables are instrumental in influencing and informing the process and thus efficiency of internal organisational communication. To explore the application of the Chaos Theory as a framework for integrating South African culture into the internal communication processes, the study used a quantitative research method to survey a selected automotive group in KwaZulu-Natal. It explored the communication processes and practices of various hierarchical levels of the organisation under study and used two different sampling strategies; namely, criterion for management and maximum variation sampling for staff in non-management positions. A multivariant statistical method was used to analyze the data. The findings from the study revealed that current models of internal organisational communication are limited in terms of their appropriateness from a glocal perspective. Furthermore, the findings confirmed the appropriateness of the Chaos Theory as a framework for using internal organisational communication as a tool for managing emergent change within a diverse workforce. Based on the presented gaps in literature and findings from the study, the study presented the original contribution to the body of knowledge: A Glocal Process for Managing Emergent Change with Internal Organisational Communication