Internal Communication as an Engagement and Networking Tool : in Lääkärikeskus Aava

Abstract

In this study the role and quality of Lääkärikeskus Aava’s (Aava) internal communication was studied in relation to work engagement and networking of physicians (N = 8), who have had theirs doctor’s office in Aava less than one year. In addition to the interviews, the physicians answered the shortened Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES – 9) online. The study analyzed the role of the internal communication through three research questions: 1. What is the current state of the work engagement and networking of the physicians? 2. What is the quality of internal communication and how does it support networking and work engagement? 3. What kinds of internal communication tools are used and what kinds of improvements are needed?

The findings show internal communication plays a great role in networking and work engagement. In this practice-based study, Aava’s internal communication was noted to be inadequate to foster its physicians professional or non-professional networking, even though the physicians appreciate networking high and their desire to network was strong with the exception of one interviewee. Because of the low level of internal communication and internal advertising quality, the physicians did not know each other well and their colleagues’ specialties. This had a negative impact on part of the physicians patient volume and thus also for their work engagement. The work engagement was measured to be very high by UWES - 9, but the interviews didn´t fully support this result, by giving an image of only average-level of work engagement.

To support otherwise positive and warm communication climate, internal communication administration and tools should be modernized to meet the needs of expanded organization and high competence professionals. Modernization would require more dynamic internal communication approaches starting from effective internal advertising, transition to electronic data transfer and communication together with functioning electronic internal communication tools instead of usage of paper.

This study offers good starting points, when seeking ways to engage workers to organization through improved internal communication. However the study with a larger number interviewees, would give more generalized data to use in different organizations.