To read this content please select one of the options below:

A question of quality: perceptions of internal communication during the Covid-19 pandemic in Germany

Sarah Ecklebe (Department of Communication, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany)
Natascha Löffler (Department of Communication, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany)

Journal of Communication Management

ISSN: 1363-254X

Article publication date: 10 June 2021

Issue publication date: 20 July 2021

1470

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore employees' perceptions of the quality of internal communication in German organizations during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this context, the paper aims to identify antecedents and outcomes of high-quality internal communication during the pandemic. In doing so, it draws important practical and theoretical implications for pandemic-era communication, particularly surrounding issues such as employees' needs and strategic approaches to communication during the pandemic, as well as the effects of successful internal (crisis) communication.

Design/methodology/approach

A representative survey was conducted on employees (n = 934) working at different types of organizations in Germany. After a dimensionality check was conducted through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the proposed hypotheses were tested by conducting a structural equation model (SEM) using the R package lavaan.

Findings

This study identifies several antecedents of high-quality internal communication during the Covid-19 crisis, such as the frequency of communication at the beginning and during the pandemic, the dissemination of substantial information, participative communication and a clear rejection of secrecy. Furthermore, the findings show that high-quality internal communication has a positive impact on the employee–organization relationship (EOR).

Originality/value

This study suggests that strategic alignment of internal communications during the Covid-19 pandemic is crucial: by considering a number of factors, organizations can positively influence employees' perceptions of the quality of their internal communication. In terms of theoretical implications, this study discusses how the concept of high-quality internal communication can be operationalized and explores the outcomes that this can generate.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

A Question of Quality: Perception of Internal Communication during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Germany.

Funding: This research was supported by the Research Training group “Trust and Communication in a Digitized World”, grant number 1712/2, of the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Citation

Ecklebe, S. and Löffler, N. (2021), "A question of quality: perceptions of internal communication during the Covid-19 pandemic in Germany", Journal of Communication Management, Vol. 25 No. 3, pp. 214-232. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCOM-09-2020-0101

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles