to happen that pilots suddenly experienced fatal difficulties flying the latest model of one of the world ’ s most-used passenger jets ?
At the core of these disasters was an organizational culture gone wrong ! The crashes exposed a shocking pattern of malfeasant organizational culture , leading to the biggest crisis in the company ’ s history that led to a costly corporate scandal . Interviews by former employees revealed that Alan Mullaly ’ s leadership was excellent , during his tenure they did not take shortcuts because it wasn ’ t in the organizational culture , the culture emphasized on doing right , building quality / safety and profits would follow , but when the new CEO McDonnel Douglas joined , values and priorities changed , it was all about speed over quality , employees had no say in whatever happened within the organization , communication became one way , it was all about profits and taking shortcuts was the order of the day .
The main lesson that we can learn from this is that a shift in the corporate culture can weigh heavily on the reputation of the organization . However , a working culture with open communication channels and supportive leadership will be the ultimate success of any organization .
Organizational communication is an evolutionary , culturally dependent process of sharing information and forming relationships in work environments that are designed for manageable , cooperative , purposeful behavior . It is the flow and impact of messages within a network of interactional relationships which could be networks linking the three hierarchical levels of top management , middle management , and employees together
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Employees ’ feelings about their role , the company ’ s direction , and the level of equality and fairness at work are all influenced by top-down communication , with the understanding that each action shapes the culture in which they operate .
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A company determines the headline of its story through the corporate strategy and the language through culture .
to facilitate productivity within the organization .
The goals of communication in an organization are to enhance coordinated action across teams and facilitate sharing of information about organizational goals , task efforts , and decision making . Positive communication encourages a culture in which employees can freely express themselves by taking part in decision making . This in turn , helps to create a good public image and reputation for the organization , inside out .
The strategic decisions in an organization are made using the same values , beliefs , and principles set through the organizational culture . They provide purpose and direction on how to achieve the goals , which are essential components to the performance of the company .
However , strategy can only be implemented through effective communication across different channels within the organization . The effectiveness of the communication can be measured by people ’ s responses and the overall performance of the company . Strategic communication is a key ingredient in a company ’ s culture as it sets the direction , gives elaborate plans , and a formal environment for goals to be achieved by encompassing them in the organization ’ s shared values and beliefs .
Leaders have a tremendous impact on the company culture both explicitly and implicitly through the beliefs , values , and assumptions they hold . They set the agenda , prioritize work , manage , lead , and delegate . Strong leaders provide a sense of vision , purpose , and communicate the same to those they lead . Communication , therefore , cultivates the foundation of a culture that empowers employees to achieve the company objectives and realize how vital each of their contributions is in accomplishing goals .
The single most visible factor that distinguishes major cultural changes that succeed from those that fail is competent leadership at the top . They are responsible for demonstrating , communicating the company ’ s beliefs , and reinforcing behaviors that reflect those values . Leaders who understand their place within the existing culture can drive change more effectively by using the right channels of communication because they are the bearers of the vision .
Communication strategies can influence the energy levels for change and improvement through internal systems . Systems are the interrelated sets of procedures that organizations use to support their core activities and to solve problems . They have a significant impact on how work is done and how people behave . Effective communication leverages on and is integrated into the company ’ s systems and processes . This ensures that everyone is focused on their goals and priorities while providing feedback on progress .
People play a significant role in implementing the company culture through distinct strategies and a clear purpose . An organization cannot achieve its vision or exceptional results without people . People are the reason strategies fail or succeed , culture on the other hand moderates and controls the entire workforce through communication .
A high-performance organization is made up of people who actively live the organization ’ s values and bring with them unique skills , which contribute to the culture and success of the company . Employees with a sound sense of direction / belonging and shared vision of success are produced by a company culture , which enables the business to grow and accomplish its goals .
In conclusion , communication plays a significant role in upholding the organizational culture . Creating a positive organizational culture is critical to growth and improved performance . This can only be achieved through constant communication of the values , beliefs , and desired attributes to the employees . Setting good examples of behavior from the top down , engaging with and listening to staff . Organizations with enhanced communication channels supporting organizational cultures will be the ones to survive and thrive in the twenty-first century .
Irene Mbonge is the Group Head , Corporate Communication & Public Affairs at CPF Group . You can commune with her on this or related issues via mail at : Mbonge . Irene @ gmail . com .