Information and Communication with Business or Organization: A Thematic Case Study Analysis of Two Communication Challenges

In this research, the breakdown of communication in organizational contexts is examined, with attention to the structural, interpersonal, and contextual determinants of such failures. The work is intended to characterize the nature of two major communication challenges, determine their causes and effects, and generate implications for enhancing communication practice. This study employed a qualitative, multiple-case study design and investigated two actual communication issues: (1) project delay due to inter-team miscommunication, and (2) external conflict arising from unclear role expectations in client interactions. Data were gathered via 14 semi-structured interviews and documents (e.g., emails, meeting minutes), and analyzed through Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis framework. The findings identify communication breakdowns to be rooted in ambiguous role ownership, absence of formal communication guidelines, and excessive use of informal or asynchronous means. Emotional effects involved frustration, blame shifting, and broken trust, both intra- and extra-organization. Cross-case themes emphasized the systemic character of communications issues due to organizational culture and structure. This research makes an original contribution by combining Role Theory and Sensemaking Theory to describe how structural ambiguity and interpretive gaps create genuine communication breakdowns. The results provide practical implications for communication policy, leadership development, and system design in complex organizational settings.

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Publication Details

Journal
El Profesional de la Informacion
Published
2025-03-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2025.ene.34110
Primary Topic
Knowledge Management and Sharing
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Information and Communication with Business or Organization: A Thematic Case Study Analysis of Two Communication Challenges

Shishi Kumar Piaralal, Maisoon Ghaleb
1 links
El Profesional de la Informacion
Knowledge Management and Sharing
article

Information and Communication with Business or Organization: A Thematic Case Study Analysis of Two Communication Challenges

Shishi Kumar Piaralal, Maisoon Ghaleb
article en

Abstract

In this research, the breakdown of communication in organizational contexts is examined, with attention to the structural, interpersonal, and contextual determinants of such failures. The work is intended to characterize the nature of two major communication challenges, determine their causes and effects, and generate implications for enhancing communication practice. This study employed a qualitative, multiple-case study design and investigated two actual communication issues: (1) project delay due to inter-team miscommunication, and (2) external conflict arising from unclear role expectations in client interactions. Data were gathered via 14 semi-structured interviews and documents (e.g., emails, meeting minutes), and analyzed through Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis framework. The findings identify communication breakdowns to be rooted in ambiguous role ownership, absence of formal communication guidelines, and excessive use of informal or asynchronous means. Emotional effects involved frustration, blame shifting, and broken trust, both intra- and extra-organization. Cross-case themes emphasized the systemic character of communications issues due to organizational culture and structure. This research makes an original contribution by combining Role Theory and Sensemaking Theory to describe how structural ambiguity and interpretive gaps create genuine communication breakdowns. The results provide practical implications for communication policy, leadership development, and system design in complex organizational settings.

El Profesional de la InformacionVol. 34(1)
King Faisal University (SA), Open University Malaysia (MY)
Openalex Percentile: Top 79%
Knowledge Management and Sharing
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