Addressing the Often-Forgotten Stakeholder: The Impact of Employee Communication Satisfaction on Organizational Identification During Organizational Crisis

Organizational crises are inevitable. No organization is immune, with many organizations experiencing multiple crises simultaneously. As the frequency of crises increases, so does the risk for organizations working to manage crises and mitigate negative consequences (Coombs, 2018). Although employees are often forgotten stakeholders, past research has shown employees to be essential stakeholders, especially when organizations are dealing with an organizational crisis (Coombs, 2018; Y. Lee et al., 2019; Men, 2014.; Jen et al., 2018). As employee organizational identification increases, the likelihood increases that employees will serve as advocates for their organization, speaking positively about the organization and defending it against attacks, such as those in the media (Riketta, 2005; Ashforth et al., 2008; Iyer et al., 1997). Given the prevalence of organizational crises and benefits of organizational identification, the purpose of this study was to examine how organizational communication satisfaction can positively impact employees’ connection to their organization, their organizational identification, during a publicly known crisis (Downs & Hazen, 1977; Mael & Ashforth, 1992; PwC, 2019; Smith, 2006). This study used a quantitative research design with correlational and multiple regression data analyses. The researcher examined the direction, magnitude, and statistical significance of the relationship between organizational identification and organizational communication satisfaction during a publicly known organizational crisis. This study’s findings inform practice and theory regarding the importance of organizational communication in developing strong organizational identification in employees during organizational crisis. This study also offers insight into the dimensions of communication that most influence organizational identification during crisis and therefore should receive more attention by organizational leaders, communication practitioners and human resource professionals.

Author

• Scott Nelson, Melissa

Language

• en

Keyword

• Organizational Communication
• Communication Satisfaction
• Crisis Management
• Organizational Identification
• Communication
• Organizational Crisis

Date created

• 2023

Type of Work

• Dissertation

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Human & Organizational Learning

Degree

• Ed.D.

Advisor

• Khilji, Shaista E

Committee Member(s)

• Jules, Claudy
• Adams, Corey

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/p8418p034