An exploratory analysis of internal communication in times of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Communication is a key element for the success of any organization. The present study aims to construct and validate a scale of perception of internal communication. It is also intended to assess whether there are differences in internal communication between employees who are teleworking and those who are in-person work in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The methodology used is quantitative in nature based on a questionnaire survey, with the sample consisting of 837 Portuguese individuals in a work context. The results show that the structure of the scale of perception of internal communication is composed of three factors: organizational information, communication with supervisors, and communication between colleagues. The perception of internal communication in the factor organizational information showed higher levels in workers who are in telecommuting situations. It is hoped that this work will enrich the academy and enable managers to use communication more effectively so that the organizations they manage become more competitive.