Change Management and Internal Communication

Excellence in Internal Communication Management is a 10-chapter book published by Business Expert Press in 2017 and written by Rita Linjuan Men, Associate Professor of Public Relations at the University of Florida, and Shannon A. Bowen, Professor of Public Relations at the University of Southern California. The authors combine theories, research insights, practices, as well as current issues and cases into a comprehensive guide for internal communication managers and organizational leaders on how to communicate effectively with internal stakeholders, build ethical organizational cultures, and engage employees in a rapidly-changing business environment. In Chapter 8, the authors discuss the role of strategic internal communication in change initiatives. They argue that communication reduces uncertainty, helps an organization overcome resistance to change, facilitates employee participation, and builds shared understanding and mutual interpretation. Change communication requires an understanding of the change process in question and the ways in which communication strategies can help. The authors conclude that communication that emphasizes ethics, transparency, openness, listening, and upward communication facilitates strategic change and that strong leadership is crucial to successful change. They also suggest that two-way communication channels like face-to-face meetings and social media communication are good ways to foster mutual understanding among employees affected by change.

• Stakeholder relations
• Internal communication
• Business ethics
• Employee engagement
• Communication strategy
• Organizational behavior
• Business communication