The Role of Formal Internal Communication In Organizational Identification : A case study of two Swedish offices

Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to examine the formal internal communication in business organizations, in particular the role of communication channels, providing managers with insights about employee OI. Problem The match between individuals and their organizations, organizational identification (OI), increases employees’ job motivation and satisfaction. This topic therefore deserves to be studied since strong employee OI carries important value in improving and influencing not only individual employee performance, but also the overall performance of businesses. Internal communication from management to employees leads to common thoughts about the organization that further provides members with the feeling of being part of and identifying with the organization. Since current research lacks evidence on which particular formal internal communication channels managers use to impact OI in employees, a clear gap in the literature is identified. Method A combination of primary- and secondary research has been used in order to fulfill the purpose of this study. A Triangulation approach has been applied consisting of semi-structured interviews with managers at two case companies and questionnaires filled in by the employees in those offices. This has provided valuable empirical insights for the analysis and conclusion. Conclusion The authors of this thesis have found that the greater the level of formality a channel has, the greater OI the employees perceive. Also, the size of a company matters. The larger a company is, the more frequent use of formal internal communication channels is necessary. The findings in this thesis further show that managers have an evident opportunity to affect OI in their employees. By choosing the most suitable communication channel in accordance to the specific situation, managers can affect employee OI in a positive way. It is also proven that receiving information and instructions directly from the managers can enhance OI in employees.