Strategic communication

Strategic communication

Introduction

A strategic communication audit can be defined as a methodical review that contains evaluative and decisive value. These values facilitate the determination of the organization’s smooth running, the problems and difficulties experienced, and the possible adjustments. As a result, different approaches and analyses are included in a strategic audit. It is, therefore, very essential to identify and define these approaches and analysis as well as their strength and weaknesses and how best they can be applied in a workplace.

The strategic communication audit includes a questionnaire approach, interview approach, focus group approach, data collection and long-sheet methods, communication network analysis, and electronic and social media analysis.

Questionnaire approach:

This is a job scrutiny method done by jobholders and approved by their leaders. This method can use either open-ended or ordered questionnaires or both.

Strengths:

It is fast and easily manageable, permeates the workers’ participation, and is affordable.

Weaknesses:

The quality of the information depends heavily on the quality of the questionnaires, it must be conducted by a person who can read and write, demands a follow-up of other interviews and observations, has a low response rate, might have incomplete responses, and may be hard to compile.

How to apply it in the workplace: It can be done occasionally, and all workers are required to fill out a questionnaire either in a group or individually.

Interview approach:

This is an official meeting whereby a group or individual questions, confers with, or assesses the employees or the managers in an organization with the aim of obtaining the desired information.

Strengths:

It allows the interviewers to obtain thorough information, and it is easy to document the results.

Weaknesses:

Demands skillful and qualified interviewers, if done in a hurry, it may be invasive to study those being interviewed and its time and energy consuming especially for information administration and evaluation.

How can it apply in the workplace? A group of employees and employers should be interviewed separately

Focus group approach,

This is a well-organized, realistic, and applicable approach to gathering information.

Strengths:

It is of use for weighing the variety of judgments and values about the organization; it is easily adaptable to aid the outcome and useful while investigating the matters at hand.

Weaknesses:

The acquired information can not stand on its own, presents complexity in information administration and assessment, and is time-consuming when there is a language barrier.

How can it apply in the workplace? The group of employees should be given questions and requested to write their responses

Data collection and long-sheet methods:

This is a kind of research study aimed at obtaining information inside the organization. This method may require the researcher to participate in the setting, observe directly, interview in depth and analyze documentation and materials.

Strengths:

it is a thorough method, it is practical, and can encompass many areas of study.

Weaknesses:

It may not be accurate, time-consuming, and demands a skillful and well-trained researcher.

How can it apply in the workplace? Each person in the organization is obliged to fill in some information pertaining to work on a daily basis.

Communication network analysis and electronic and social media analysis.

This is a method that uses a digital mechanism to obtain the information. It demands the use of private or public domains for information gathering.

Strengths:

It is easy to compile, can involve a lot of people, and it is reliable.

Weaknesses:

A person conducting the research and those used to obtain information must be in a networked area; it is not always accurate.

How can it apply in the workplace? Employees are encouraged to join social media groups for the organization’s discussion and sharing of essential and frustrating information. Other applicable methods:

Sample survey:

it is a method that uses samples for data gathering

Strengths:

It is reliable, and it is easy to get the actual feelings of the participants.

Weaknesses:

Information might not be accurate due to mixed feelings.

How can it be applied in the workplace? The employees and the managers are given a case study or a scenario and asked to analyze and then give their feedback.

Conclusion:

A strategic communication audit is a vital necessity for its facilities change and expansion of the organization in the right direction.

References:

Borysowich, C. (2008, March 20). Identifying problems with current business processes.

Retrieved April 8, 2014, from toolbox.com: http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/enterprise-solutions/identifying-problems-with-current-business-processes-23203

Fieber·, T. (2013, February 4). What is the real problem? Retrieved April 9, 2014, from

Youtube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgWXWzMlOeg

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