Hide Assignment InformationInstructions
Communication Audit Project – HRMN 302
CONNECTIONS
Core competencies:
Analytic Inquiry
Use of Information Resources
This assignment allows you to demonstrate mastery of the course
outcomes :
Apply communication theories to organizational communication challenges
Analyze and assess the communication dynamics of an organization
through the completion of a communication audit
SHRM Competency:
Consultation – The ability to provide guidance to organizational
stakeholders.
PROBLEM
What are the communication challenges organizations face today? Once
they are identified, how does an organization overcome these challenges
and improve their communication flow? In this three-part assignment, you
will first conduct a communication audit to assess organizational
communication within an organization of your choice. A communication
audit is a method of research that reveals how your stakeholders view your
organization’s communication methods and effectiveness. We will provide
you with a survey (below) that you will use to measure this perception, and
you will administer it in your organization.
You will then analyze and synthesize the results of the data obtained from
your audit efforts and select one critical communication challenge in your
organization, conduct research and develop suggestions for addressing
that specific communication challenge. Last, you will present the result of
your audit, your research, and suggestions for improvement in a
presentation.
Your goals:
•
Administer the communication audit in your organization. This should
be an organization you work for or have access to such as a school or
church organization.
•
Analyze and synthesize the results of the data from the
communication audit.
•
Based on the communication audit identify one critical communication
challenge that needs to be addressed within your organization.
•
Create and deliver a presentation that provides the results of your
audit with suggestions for improvement based on the data obtained
from the audit and the literature on organizational communication.
Directions:
Assume you are the Director of Human Resources at your chosen
organization. You are tasked with conducting a communication audit and
presenting the results to leadership. Your goal in conducting the
communication audit is to identify one main communication challenge
within an organization that needs to be addressed.
You will complete the following tasks:
1. Conduct a communication audit survey. In order to obtain valid
results, you want to survey between 8 to 10 people. You may print out
the survey and distribute it in person for completion, or you may
administer it online, for example, using Survey Monkey or Google
Forms. The survey includes questions that tap into five different areas
of organizational communication: (1) Receiving information from
others, (2) Sending information to others, (3) Sources of information,
(4) Timeliness of information, and (5) Channels of communication.
Within these five areas of organizational communication, identify one
major area of concern to address based on the responses from the
survey.
2. You will then analyze and synthesize the results of the data obtained
from your audit effort and create your Audit Report using the format
below.
3. Based on the communication audit identify one critical communication
challenge that needs to be addressed within your organization.
Research the scholarly literature for recommendations about how the
organization can address this issue.
4. Create and deliver a presentation that provides the results of your
audit with suggestions for improvement based on the data obtained
from the audit and the literature on organizational communication.
FORMAT
Audit Report:
Communicate the results of the Communication Audit by developing an
audit report, using APA format. Include a title slide with your project title
(e.g., “Communication Audit”), the organization’s name, your name, class,
instructor, and date.
Present an introduction that describes your research methodology and
provides details of the survey administration, response rate, and
characteristics of the survey population. Develop a professionally-written
narrative in which you show the data using appropriate tables, charts, and
graphs. Include a detailed analysis followed by a summary of your findings,
using the example in the “Collecting and Analyzing Data” file in the content
area. Identify the top communication challenge from your survey, and
present your recommendations to strengthen this communication
challenge, based on the scholarly literature. In the appendix, present the
survey questions and the number of responses for each question.
Your report should be professional and creative. You must have a minimum
of 3 reliable sources in your citations. Use APA format for the in-text
citations you use to support your arguments. Don’t forget to check your
spelling! As a friendly reminder, all words must be yours and your own
typing. You may not copy text directly from a source.
Presentation:
Communicate the results of the Communication Audit by developing a
presentation, using APA format. Include a title slide with your project title
(e.g., “Communication Audit”), the organization’s name, your name, class,
instructor, and date.
Present an introduction that describes your research methodology,
providing details of the survey administration, response rate, and
characteristics of the survey population. Clearly present a narrative to
describe the data using appropriate tables, charts, and graphs. Include a
detailed analysis followed by your findings. Identify the top communication
challenge from your survey, and present your recommendations to
strengthen this communication challenge, based on the scholarly literature.
In the appendix, present the survey questions and the number of responses
for each question.
Your presentation should be professional and creative. Adding
audio and/or visual elements on the slides is highly recommended. Text
should be the proper size for viewing during a presentation. Your
presentation will need title and citation slides. You must have a minimum
of 3 reliable sources in your citations. Use APA format for your
citations. Don’t forget to check your spelling! As a friendly reminder, all
words must be yours and your own typing. You may not copy text directly
from a source.
You may use presentation software of your choice. Examples include (but
are not limited to):
•
o
Powerpoint
o
Powerpoint with audio recording
o
Animot0
o
Google Docs- presentation
o
GoAnimate
o
Prezi
PLEASE NOTE: Your presentation software should not incur any costs. You
are responsible for understanding how to use the software. You will need to
submit your work in a format that can be easily opened by your colleagues
and the instructor. You need to include the results of your survey.
** Be sure to review the rubric for grading criteria before you begin
working on and submitting this assignment**
Due Date
Nov 30, 2021 11:59 PM
Collecting and Analyzing the Data from Your survey
In this handout you will see an example of a chart with the responses from 8 participants. Note that I
have color coded the questions to make it easier for you to identify which area of communication these
questions address (there are 5 areas that the survey addresses):
1-7
Receiving Information from Others
8-14
Sending Information to Others
15-23 Sources of Information
24-29 Timeliness
30-37 Channels of Information
If you look at the average score for each item, you will be able to tell where the organization scored low.
For example, note that in the second section (Sending Information to Others) several items were scored
very low, including # 9, # 11 and # 13.
Thus, I can say that this organization seems to have some gaps in the first area – Sending Information to
Others .
My second step would be to go to the literature and see what can we do about this? What are some
suggestions to specifically improve these areas? I would give recommendations USING SCHOLARLY
SOURCES.
What are two other areas that scored low? Remember that for this assignment you need to identify ONE
area of concern, as shown by the data, and then give recommendations.
Remember to add your table similar to this one in the appendix so that the reader can see the scores
and confirm that you have really identified the areas that scored low.
Person Person Person
Person
Person
Person
Person
Person
Questions 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Average
1
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
2.875
2
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
4
3.625
3
2
2
3
3
3
2
3
3
2.625
4
4
4
5
4
4
5
4
4
4.25
5
1
2
2
4
3
2
2
2
2.25
6
5
4
4
4
5
3
4
4
4.125
7
3
2
3
2
1
2
3
3
2.375
8
5
5
5
4
3
3
4
5
4.25
9
1
1
1
3
2
2
2
1
1.625
10
5
5
4
4
5
4
4
5
4.5
11
3
1
2
1
3
1
1
3
1.875
12
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
4.875
13
1
1
1
2
1
3
3
1
1.625
14
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
5
4.75
15
1
3
1
1
1
1
2
1
1.375
16
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
5
4.75
17
2
1
1
1
3
1
2
2
1.625
18
5
5
4
5
3
5
2
5
4.25
19
1
1
3
1
3
2
2
1
1.75
20
5
5
5
5
2
5
4
5
4.5
21
1
2
3
1
3
1
1
1
1.625
22
5
5
5
2
3
5
5
5
4.375
23
1
1
1
5
3
1
3
5
2.5
24
5
5
5
5
2
5
3
2
4
25
1
1
1
3
1
5
4
5
2.625
26
2
5
5
3
3
2
2
1
2.875
27
5
5
2
5
1
5
4
5
4
28
5
2
5
4
5
1
2
1
3.125
29
3
5
1
2
1
5
2
5
3
30
3
1
5
1
5
1
2
1
2.375
31
5
5
1
1
1
5
2
5
3.125
32
5
1
5
4
4
1
4
1
3.125
33
2
5
5
5
4
5
4
2
4
34
4
1
2
3
2
1
2
5
2.5
35
2
5
5
2
3
2
3
5
3.375
36
4
1
1
4
3
5
3
3
3
37
1
2
5
3
1
5
1
3
2.625
COMMUNICATION AUDIT
SURVEY
Based on the Questionnaire Survey by the International
Communication Association
Instructions
Please circle your responses on the survey form. Please answer all questions since each is important
for possibly improving the operation of your organization. If there are any questions which do not
apply to you, leave them blank. If there are questions which you do not understand, please ask us
about them. We appreciate your patience for this important survey. There is a total of 37 questions
divided into 5 sections:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Receiving information from others
Sending information to others
Sources of information
Timeliness of information
Channels of communication
PLEASE MARK ONLY ONE RESPONSE TO EACH QUESTION
3
Communication Audit Survey
Receiving Information from Others
Instructions for Questions 1 through 7
1 = Very Little
2 = Little
3 = Some
4 = Great
5 = Very Great
This is the amount
of information I
receive now
1.
How well I am doing in my job
1 2 3 4 5
2.
My job duties.
1 2 3 4 5
3.
Organizational policies
1 2 3 4 5
4.
Pay and benefits.
1 2 3 4 5
5.
How technological changes affect my job
1 2 3 4 5
6.
Mistakes and failures of my organization
1 2 3 4 5
7.
How I am being judged
1 2 3 4 5
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4
Communication Audit Survey
Sending Information to Others
Instructions for Questions 8 through 14
1 = Very Little
2 = Little
3 = Some
4 = Great
5 = Very Great
This is the amount
of information I
receive now
8.
Reporting what I am doing in my job
1 2 3 4 5
9.
Reporting what I think my job requires me to do
1 2 3 4 5
10. Reporting job-related problems
1 2 3 4 5
11. Complaining about my job and/or working
1 2 3 4 5
12. Requesting information necessary to do my job
1 2 3 4 5
13. Evaluating the performance of my immediate
supervisor
1 2 3 4 5
14. Asking for clearer work instructions
1 2 3 4 5
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5
Communication Audit Survey
Sources of Information
You not only receive various kinds of information, but can receive such information from various sources within the
organization.
Instructions for Questions 15 through 23
1 = Very Little
2 = Little
3 = Some
4 = Great
5 = Very Great
This is the amount
of information I
receive now
15. Subordinates (if applicable)
1 2 3 4 5
16. Co-workers in my own unit or department
1 2 3 4 5
17. Individuals in other units or departments in my
organization
1 2 3 4 5
18. Immediate supervisor
1 2 3 4 5
19. Department meetings
1 2 3 4 5
20. Middle Management
1 2 3 4 5
21. Formal management presentations
1 2 3 4 5
22. Top management
1 2 3 4 5
23. The “grapevine”
1 2 3 4 5
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6
Communication Audit Survey
Timeliness of Information
Indicate the extent to which information from the following sources is usually timely (you get information when you
need it — not too early, not too late).
Instructions for Questions 24 through 29
1 = Very Little
2 = Little
3 = Some
4 = Great
5 = Very Great
This is the amount
of information I
receive now
24. Subordinates (if applicable)
1 2 3 4 5
25. Co-workers
1 2 3 4 5
26. Immediate supervisor
1 2 3 4 5
27. Middle management
1 2 3 4 5
28. Top management
1 2 3 4 5
29. The “grapevine”
1 2 3 4 5
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7
Communication Audit Survey
Channels of Communication
The following questions list a variety of channels through which information is transmitted to employees. Please
circle the response which best indicates: (1) the amount of information you are receiving through that channel
Instructions for Questions 30 through 37
1 = Very Little
2 = Little
3 = Some
4 = Great
5 = Very Great
This is the amount
of information I
receive now
Topic Area
30. Face-to-face contact between two people
1 2 3 4 5
31. Face-to-face contact among more than two people
1 2 3 4 5
32. Telephone
1 2 3 4 5
33. Written (memos, letters)
1 2 3 4 5
34. Bulletin Boards
1 2 3 4 5
35. Internal Publications
1 2 3 4 5
36. Internal Audio-Visual Media (Videotape, Films,
Slides)
1 2 3 4 5
37. External Media (TV, Radio, Newspapers)
1 2 3 4 5
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