Organizational Communication Research: Time for Reflection?

Abstract

Several reviews of organizational communication theory have been published recently in the Communication Yearbook and elsewhere (Richetto, 1977; Dennis, Goldhaber, & Yates. 1978; Redding. 1979; Jablin, 1980). They give a detailed summary of North American research results and theory building. However, very little other than American research is discussed. Relevant research has also been done in the field in Europe for quite a long time. It would seem fruitful to try combining these results with the American research tradition to attempt at least some degree of synthesis in this unusually diversified branch of communication research. Organizational communication overviews have so far been very cautious in their interpretation of research results—and with good reason. The reviewers very correctly point out that there is little integration in the various theoretical and methodological approaches. In the following we discuss some organizational communication research findings in different countries using the general frame of reference of the contingency approach. We shall mainly concentrate on our own research findings based on organizational climate studies using three different communication audit systems. Reference is made to other relevant research whenever possible and when known to us.