The Determinants of Communication and Communication Structure in Large Organizations: A Review of Research

Abstract

Research findings from the literatures of administrative science, communication network analysis, industrial and personnel psychology, sociometry, social psychology, and sociology were combined in an attempt at generating principles regarding determinants of organizational communication structure which might have generality across organization types and methodologies. Studies were classified into two groups: those which considered only emergent structure, and those which compared an organization's emergent structure with its formally specified structure. Within each of these two groupings, studies were further subdivided into quantitative and qualitative sections according to the nature of the communication variables for which determinants were proposed. In the final section, 17 general statements were offered which summarize the best substantiated findings of the literature. Finally, several current shortcomings of the literature were noted and suggestions were made for future research.