Strategic communication:

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Institution:

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 smooth running, the problems and difficulties experienced and the possible adjustments. As a result, different approaches and analysis 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 either use open- ended or ordered questionnaires or both.

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

Weaknesses: the quality of the information depends heavily on the quality of the questionnaires, must be conducted by a person who can read and write, demands a follow-up of other interviews and observations, it 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 whereby all workers are required to fill a questionnaire either in a group or individually.

Interview approach:

This is an official meeting whereby a group or individual question, confer with, or assess the employee’s or the managers in an organization with an aim of obtaining a desired information.

Strengths: 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 of 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 time consuming while 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 a 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, its practical and can encompass many areas of study.

Weaknesses: It may not be accurate, time consuming, 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 domain 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 the social media groups for the organization 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, it is easy to get the actual feeling of the participants.

Weaknesses: information might not be accurate due to the 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:

Strategic communication audit is a vital necessity for its facilities change and expansion of the organization towards 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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