The Audit of Organizational Communication.

The objective of this paper is to provide a conceptual and methodological structure for the examination of organizational communication processes. To fulfill this purpose, there is presented, first, a logic for the identification of communication systems, and then, a method by which these systems can be examined, audited, or evaluated. Organizational communication is defined as a system in terms of purpose, operational procedures, and structure. The achievement of organizational goals is stated as the purpose of organizational communication; and for the particular organization unit, this is accomplished through the appropriate employment of communication networks, communication policies, and communication activities. Four communication networks are identified: (1) regulative, (2) innovative, (3) integrative (maintenance), and (4) informative-instructive. To further the explicit identification of the organizational communication system, an exploratory taxonomy of communication activities is exhibited. It is suggested that an examination of communication effectiveness is best approached by initially considering the overall communication system and later studying individual communication activities. Appraisal workplans are detailed for both the overall communication system and individual communication activities; also, there is noted the application of various measurement techniques with selected illustrations provided from an actual case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]