Investigates how organizational and communicative factors differ for a technical innovation and a community-based innovation within a large, technically-oriented governmental organization. Finds that complexity, persuasion, interpersonal channel use, and interpersonal channel utility were rated more highly for the technical innovation, and…

Compares three differing explanations of the dynamic interrelationships between internal and external innovation-related communication in a new organizational form. Considers how the "communication stars" explanation suggests that individuals maintain similar levels of communication in both networks. Indicates that there was a lagged…

Investigates differences between networks, based on importance, response satisfaction, and frequency within the same functional communication network. Finds few differences in networks generated by these different methods for determining strengths of linkages, and a number of difficulties associated with current methodologies for examining more…

Studies the conference as a strategic communication tool used to facilitate complex interorganizational business relationships. Develops and tests a model of the necessary prior conditions for conference success, conference process variables, conference outcomes, and the long-term consequences of effective integration for an organization. (SR)

Compares formal and informal organizational communication structures within a large, technically oriented midwestern state governmental agency, specifically focusing on salience, channel factors, and channel usage. Suggests that informal channels in this organization were more highly evaluated in general. (SR)

After organizations decide upon innovations these innovations must be implemented. The likelihood and the ease of getting an adoption unit (the segment of the organization responsible for translating decisions into action) to implement an innovation desired by a decision unit depend upon a number of factors: (1) the adoption unit's perception of…

Compares two contrasting perspectives of social contagion processes (structural equivalence and cohesion) associated with the organizational outcome variables of commitment and role ambiguity in organizations. Finds that structural equivalence was more associated with role ambiguity and that commitment was more associated with cohesion. (MS)

A study developed and tested a communication and physical environment scale (CAPES) that consisted of items formulated from previous theoretical and empirical research. Subjects, 52 workers in a warehouse and its offices, completed questionnaires about information dissemination in their organization, the quality of organizational relationships,…

A study examined the interrelationships among communicative response satisfaction (positive affective tone associated with an information source), communicative work dependency (the degree to which individuals perceive that they rely on others for the accomplishment of tasks), and physical structure (aspects of design that regulate social…

A comprehensive model of information seeking which contained antecedents, information carrier factors, and information-seeking actions was developed and tested. Results of the tests suggest that the most important variables were those related to an individual's existing information base. (80 references) (AEF)

Two studies examined the relationship between various indicators of communicative work dependency and response satisfaction. Work dependency is a structural variable that influences individual information processing needs, while response satisfaction is a relational variable pertaining to the communication climate of organizations. For Study One,…

Due to their increasing complexity, modern organizations require more effective integrating mechanisms. The conference, which can be a very positive thing for an organization as it provides rewards for members while performing a crucial communication function for the whole, is one possible mechanism. Communication is not only an inherent part of…