University of Twente Student Theses
Bridging Gaps in Academic Communication : A Study of Internal Communication Infrastructure at the BMS Faculty
Zoet, Misha (2024) Bridging Gaps in Academic Communication : A Study of Internal Communication Infrastructure at the BMS Faculty.
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| Abstract: | Purpose: The present thesis assesses internal communication practices within the Behavioural, Management & Social Sciences (BMS) faculty at the University of Twente. The following research question will thus be answered: how do the faculty board, middle managers, and employees of the BMS faculty perceive internal communication in relation to communication channels, information dissemination, decision-making, and faculty structure? Method: A qualitative communication audit was conducted with, in total, 35 semi-structured interviews. 15 members of the managerial staff were interviewed, alongside 20 employees of all sections of the faculty. Participants were selected purposefully to capture diverse perspectives across all layers of the faculty. Results: Several main findings were identified in the data: (1) the usage of communication channels was perceived to be fragmented, with information being dispersed across multiple channels, leading to difficulties in getting to important information, (2) unclear role responsibilities lead to ambiguity in expectations and accountability, especially in middle management, (3) decision-making processes are perceived to be slow due to the involvement of numerous different parties, and (4) the layered and complex structure of the faculty contributed to communication inefficiencies, with employees feeling more connected to their immediate sections rather than the faculty as a whole, highlighting a lack of centrality. Conclusion: By focusing on internal communication within a higher education context, this research adds to the growing body of literature on organizational communication in academic settings, particularly in decentralized and layered institutions like universities. Besides, the study provides actionable recommendations for the faculty board, including implementing centralized communication tools, enhancing bottom-up communication opportunities, and addressing structural inefficiencies. The findings aim thus aim to guide future initiatives to optimize communication practices within, and outside of the faculty. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 05 communication studies |
| Programme: | Communication Science MSc (60713) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/104737 |
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