Organizational Structure and Communication Processes: A Study of Change

Abstract

The objective of this research was to examine the influence of a change in organizational structure on the functional communication processes and goals of an organization. The change in structure involved a modification of commun ication activities in an industrial organization by the institution of a work- group meeting program pursuant to six specific objectives of management. The functional communication processes were identified asfour major communica tion subsystems: (1) the regulative-task network, (2) the adaptive-innovative network, (3) the integrative-maintenance network, and (4) the informative- instructive network. As a study of workgroups in natural settings, this article represents a report on a change process, with data secured via attitudinal and behavioral instruments.