Are important corporate policies understood by employees?

Abstract

Purpose-This paper aims to present the results of a study into the effectiveness of the communication of anti-sectarian legislation in four of the largest public and private sector organizations in Northern Ireland (NI). The study had two related central objectives. Firstly, to ascertain the level of employee understanding of anti-sectarian rules and regulations in NI workplaces, and, secondly, to evaluate the relevance of an Episodic Communication Channels in Organization (ECCO) approach to the investigation of this key aspect of organizational practice. Design/methodology/approach-An ECCO questionnaire was used to evaluate and track employee understanding of existing legislation, and chart the sources, channels, location and timing of information dissemination. Findings-A clear finding was that there was a paucity of employee understanding of existing policies and procedures with regard to sectarianism. Practical implications-The results are discussed in relation to the importance of effective information flow on key organizational issues. Originality/value-The efficacy of ECCO as a communication audit tool for charting information dissemination is evaluated.

The Policy Communication Index

“…We realize that the PCI is not the only communication survey available for examining organizational communication regarding policies. For example, researchers and practitioners report using the Episodic Communication Channels in Organizations (ECCO) audit (Davis, 1953) to investigate policy (Downs & Adrian, 2004; Hargie & Dickson, 2007). Although there are many benefits to that instrument, it is based on the assumption that recall of textual information is the same as knowledge and limits questions to sources (people) and channels rather than processes.…”

“…Development of the Policy Communication Index (PCI) began by reviewing qualitative data regarding policy processes collected by the first author (Canary, 2007) as well as findings reported by other researchers in published policy studies (Buzzanell & Liu, 2005; DeNobile & McCormick, 2008; Dillon, Hamilton, Thomas, & Usry, 2008; Hargie & Dickson, 2007; Kirby & Krone, 2002). The authors independently generated lists of specific policy communication behaviors and mediating elements reflected by these behaviors, resulting in an initial list of 134 communication behaviors.…”

Arts and Older People Strategy 2010–2013, Arts Council of Northern Ireland

“…Its capital city Belfast has more 'peace walls' now (barriers dividing one community from the next) than when the Agreement was signed in 1998 (Nolan, 2012, p.71). Indeed such is the extent of the division, that many people living in NI only come into contact with people from the other side of the sectarian divide in the workplace (Hargie & Dickson, 2007). Division is particularly prevalent in NI when it comes to the arts and culture, with sport being a particularly strong example.…”