Communication Strategies Used During Organizational Change in a Health Care Organization

• Main Author: Smith, Amber Rose
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: ScholarWorks 2017
• Subjects: Business; Communication; EHR; Health care; Information Technology; Trust
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4561; https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5665&context=dissertations

More than 4.9 million businesses exist in the United States, and leaders within these businesses have to acclimate to change. Clear and effective communication is vital to the success of an organization. According to scholars and health care leaders focusing on strategies to communicate change during organizational change is a critical aspect of sustainability and profitability. The conceptual framework of this study was communication theory. The purpose of this single case study was to explore successful strategies that some health care leaders used to communicate during organizational change in a health care organization in El Paso, Texas. The data collection process consisted of collecting data from semistructured interviews and organizational documents, and the analysis process included grouping key words and reconstructing data into themes. The 4 key themes that emerged from this process included building trust through organizational communication is critical during change, the use of technologies, as a tool for communication is key during change, 2-way communication needs to occur during organizational change, and communication about change is vital through comprehensive organizational meetings. Health care leaders provided insights on management and communication strategies and responsibilities leaders and employees go through during organizational change. The implications for positive social change include strategies to improve communication that could help health care leaders with their employees and their patients during organizational change, which could increase the profitability of the organization and potentially generate a more thriving and healthy community.