The Study of Communication Networks and Communication Structure in Large Organizations.

Communication networks consist of the regular patterns of interpersonal communication contacts which develop among people within an organization as they use various forms of communication face-to-face meetings, memos, telephone calls, etc. to accomplish the daily activities of an organization. Information regarding the functioning of the various types of human networks is important since it can be used to understand the organizational process and to assess its effectiveness and efficiency. The report describes a set of procedures for analyzing these networks in large organizations. These include 1 identification and evaluation of various kinds of networks, 2 assessment of the organizational hierarchy, 3 appraisal of various departments within the organization, and 4 evaluation of individual communication behavior. Modified author abstract