Transcript Communication in Internet Age

Communication in Internet
Age
Phil Rogers
Mark Klein
Tech Advances
Advancements in technology have
led to an decrease in interpersonal
communication between managers
and employees
 Survey work at General Electric and
Hewlett-Packard in the 1980s

Survey Results
"Rarely does research speak in such
a consistent voice: Employees prefer
hearing information from their
supervisors"
 The conclusion: The better the
managers' communication, the more
satisfied the employees were with all
aspects of their work life.

Mass Media Usage
Downsizing
 Lack of skill
 Global scattering
 Training
 Time

Yet another survey




My immediate manager gives me feedback
on my performance on a regular basis.
My immediate manager is usually helpful
when I request assistance with a problem
related to my job.
My immediate manager communicates
well on a one-to-one basis.
My immediate manager is accessible.
Survey continued




I think my job performance is evaluated
fairly.
I am kept well informed about matters
that affect me and my job.
From what I see in my entity, employees
are willing to go to management with bad
news about work.
The communication processes in my
organization are working well.
Results

Managerial communication
effectiveness correlates to employee
job performance.
Important questions
1.
 2.
 3.
 4.
 5.
 6.

What's my job?
How am I doing?
Does anyone care?
How are we doing?
Where are we headed?
How can I help?
Employee’s info concerns
Credibility
 Accuracy
 Completeness

Stats
Communication Source
Credibility
Preference
Use
Face to face with immediate manager
1
0.9
0.75
Companywide intranet portal
0.82
1
0.89
E-mail from business unit exec
0.71
0.72
0.48
Coffee talk with business unit exec
0.7
0.68
0.18
TV, radio, newspaper, Internet
0.53
0.32
1
E-mail from my immediate manager
0.41
0.3
0.3
E-mail from CEO
0.38
0.33
0.27
Grapevine, coworkers
0.37
0.31
0.95
Business unit intranet site
0.31
0.29
0.23
0.19
0.18
0.17
Video message from CEO
0.19
0.21
0.03
Audio conference with biz unit exec
0.17
0.14
0.06
Broadcast voicemail from biz unit
exec

”Electric communication will never be
a substitute for the face of someone
who with their soul encourages
another person to be brave and true.
“ --Charles Dickens
Source
Management communication:
unlocking higher employee
performance
Communication World, March-April,
2005 by Brad Whitworth, Betsy
Riccomini
