CHAPTER 0NE
- Introduction
This research would enable to know why organisations made changes to their communication structure and how it is reacted to. For a change in structure there must have been problems. This paper also examines the issue that was being faced in department of an institution. During my research questions does it mean that the department could not thrive with the old structure?
Organisations go through changes in other to innovate or adapt to a new process. An example is the use of equipment for farming; although it might make the work easier for the farmers it does not necessarily mean it will make them more profit. The American university recently restructured its communications department by adding a unit called the University relations. This unit now handles the university internal affairs.
Elving talks about how communication is important between organisations and employees.
Elving states “effective communication reduces employee uncertainty and a negative correlation exists between uncertainty and employees willingness to accept change” (Wittig)
Change is not something that is welcomed by everyone, employees might feel a certain way towards change and this could affect their effectiveness and communication. Change in communication strategy and processing is important for
organisations to grow and this affects how the departments in the organisation would function.
Wanberg & Banas talk on how without communication employees are not properly introduced
According to Wanberg & Banas “The amount and quality of information that is communicated to employee can influence how employee react” (Wittig)
The American University of Nigeria recently made changes to the structure of its communication department, by adding a new unit called University relations. This department deals with the university relations, public affairs of the university to its stakeholders. The university might have made these changes to increase the efficiency of its operations and communication with the community and stakeholders.
Change is always constant for businesses to grow and keep up with the competition that is why new measures are put in place by organisations to keep up. An example is the change in technology to improve effectiveness. Sometimes employees might see change as being negative an example could be the refusal to start using computers for fear of job loss without thinking of the overall benefit of technology change.
Momina and Anna talk about how leadership is important to drive change.
Äccording to Momina “Thus leadership not only influences change management efforts but also drives them” (Novitskaya)
- Statement of the Problem
The restructured communication department of the American University of Nigeria has affected organisational performance of the department. The employee’s reaction and adjustment to new communication process is vital for the department success. This paper is to examine employee’s perception to the changes made.
- Objectives of the Study
To find out if the restructuring of the department has had any impact on the organisation? To analyse how the restructuring has affected employee attitude?
To find out if the restructuring has had any effect on employee performance? To know the perception of staff involved after change.
- Research Questions
- How has the organisation reacted to the change in communications department structure?
- How has the changes made affected the employee and graduating students perception at the communications department?
- Significance of the Study
Employee’s perception towards changes has an effect the organisational performance. It helps make communication better between subordinates. This research is important because it could help the university with decision making in future endeavours through analysis of the new implementations to the organisation structure.
