Organizational Communication Theory and Research: An Overview of Communication Climate and Network Research

Abstract

This review is designed to provide the reader with an understanding of the issues and problems facing two of the most important areas of contemporary organizational communication research: communication climates and communication networks. A number of conceptual and methodological difficulties constraining research in each area are presented, followed by a series of recommendations for future research. In addition, several explanations are suggested for the apparent lack of convergence of communication climate and network studies. It is concluded that both areas would benefit from a consolidation of their approaches into a unified framework of analysis. Finally a heuristic, integrated model of the dynamic interaction of organizational communication climates and networks is presented.