The Communication Audit: Information Flow and the Organization

Abstract

The Communication Audit is a process of exploring, examining, monitoring, and evaluating the communication process in organizations. In organizational settings, discourse serves either to maintain established policies, procedures, and operations or to facilitate change. Members of organizations, at all levels, have preferences for when, from whom, and in what media they receive information and provide feedback. Rhetorical theory and discourse analysis include audience and setting in a review of the process of communication. Recently, researchers in organizational behaviour have proposed formal reviews of the communication process, particularly from the perspective of staff who receive messages. Often preferences vary. In different instances, different forms and sources of communication are the most salient, informative, valued, and preferred.