The relevance of internal communication in innovation processes: the Bosch case study

Abstract

Technology, innovation and communication are three interconnected phenomena with great relevance for contemporary companies that caught the attention of Organizational Communication theorists. To expand knowledge on this topic, an action-research was developed in the project management department of a Bosch factory in Portugal. The first phase of the research (diagnosis) is here presented in order to discuss (1st) some of the most frequent communication barriers existing in team work mediated by technological channels and (2nd) the challenges of innovation communication, here related to the introduction of a new digital communication system. Interviews were conducted - with managers and team members – to portray the department’s communication system. This diagnosis made it possible to identify significant obstacles to interaction between team members, such as the excess or misuse of channels or the prevalence of a reductionist view of the role of communication in organizations, as a mere support for task information. From the results, guidelines about the future intervention plan are given.