Corporate communication problems – A study to find obstacles and chances

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

1.1 Objectives and Observations

1.2 Research Background

1.3 Scope and Structure

1.4 Focus and Limitations

2 Existing approaches to improve communication and cooperation

2.1 Interdisciplinary education approaches

2.2 Agile Software Development

2.3 The learning organization

2.4 Thesis from existing approaches

3 Theories on the causes of communication problems

3.1 Communication theory

3.2 Models of conflicts in communication

3.3 Personality and Values in communication

3.4 Motives

3.4.1 McClelland Achievement-Power-Affiliation theory

3.4.2 Muslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

3.4.3 Summary of motivation theories

3.4.4 Motivation priorities of professionals

3.5 Competence at work

3.5.1 Definition of competencies

3.5.2 Competencies of non technical staff

3.5.3 Competencies of technical staff

3.5.4 Key differences in competencies between technical and non-technical staff

3.6 Key findings of previous research

4 Study on finding communication obstacles and chances

4.1 Tentative Hypotheses

4.2 Block A Interviewee Background

4.3 Block B Competencies

4.4 Block C Motivation

4.5 Block D opinions on corporate communication and cooperation

5 Conclusion and further research

Research Objectives and Themes

This master's thesis examines the underlying obstacles and opportunities within corporate communication, with a specific focus on the interaction between IT departments and other business units. The research explores why technical and non-technical project participants often experience misunderstandings despite being skilled professionals, seeking to uncover root causes related to psychological, motivational, and competence-based factors.

• Analysis of communication models and the nature of professional conflict.
• Evaluation of personality, core values, and motivation theories in a business context.
• Comparative assessment of competencies between technical and non-technical staff.
• Empirical qualitative study based on interviews within a retail company.
• Development of recommendations to foster better cross-departmental cooperation.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1 Introduction: Outlines the motivation for the study, which stems from frequent communication breakdowns observed in IT projects, and defines the scope and research background.

2 Existing approaches to improve communication and cooperation: Reviews current organizational and educational frameworks, such as Agile Development and the Learning Organization, aimed at bridging the gap between technical and business staff.

3 Theories on the causes of communication problems: Provides a theoretical foundation covering communication models, conflict types, personality theories, motivation models, and specific competency profiles for different professional groups.

4 Study on finding communication obstacles and chances: Presents an empirical qualitative study conducted within a mid-sized retail company, validating theoretical hypotheses through interviews with IT and non-IT staff.

5 Conclusion and further research: Synthesizes the study's findings, offering recommendations for improving corporate communication and suggesting directions for future research in organizational behavior.

Keywords

Corporate communication, IT projects, communication problems, interpersonal relations, conflict management, McClelland, Maslow, professional competencies, Agile software development, organizational culture, technical staff, non-technical staff, motivation, soft skills, transparency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this thesis?

The thesis investigates why communication often fails between IT departments and other business departments, exploring beyond technical skill sets into interpersonal dynamics and psychological factors.

What are the primary themes discussed?

Key themes include communication theory, conflict models in organizations, motivation theories (McClelland/Maslow), and the comparative analysis of competencies for technical vs. non-technical employees.

What is the main objective of the research?

The goal is to identify both the obstacles that hinder cooperation and the chances for optimization in cross-departmental communication within a corporate setting.

Which scientific methodology was utilized?

The research combines a literature-based theoretical analysis with an interpretative, qualitative empirical study consisting of open interviews with 10 participants from a retail company.

What is covered in the main body of the work?

The main body moves from theoretical frameworks regarding communication and personality to an empirical block that tests these theories against the real-world experiences of IT and non-IT professionals.

Which keywords characterize this work?

The work is characterized by terms such as corporate communication, IT-business cooperation, organizational psychology, competency profiles, and interpersonal conflict.

How do "specialists from beyond" impact the IT department?

The study suggests that hiring IT professionals with diverse educational backgrounds—rather than just technical ones—can lead to a more open-minded environment and better customer service orientation.

What role does "interpersonal relationship" play in communication success?

The research concludes that strong interpersonal relations can act as a crucial buffer, dampening other negative communication modifiers and helping to compensate for gaps in formal organizational structure.