Internal Communication to Enact Active Communication Behaviour

This paper draws on the resource-based view of the firm, which highlights the central role of trust relationships and communication as interaction in the knowledge creation process. This approach calls for a concept of communication as constructivism and enactment that, in turn, relies on the active communicational behaviours of all organizational members. Based on this background, the paper suggests a definition of internal communication as the interactive process aimed at creating the two catalyst resources for organizing: knowledge and allegiance. The findings of a qualitative and explorative research based on 10 semi-structured interviews to internal communication managers and professionals support the resource-based model of internal communication. The companies studied show a great awareness of first, the relevance of intangible resources such as knowledge and employees’ attitude to contribute to the company’s success; and second, the necessity of active communication behaviours at all levels in organization.