Intra-organizational communication as an enabler of internal integration

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual model that can be used in future research to empirically
evaluate to which extent formal and informal intra-organizational communication mediates the links among key
antecedents and internal integration.

Design/methodology/approach
To build up the conceptual model, literature review has been conducted. We also provide a number of
hypothesized relationships that can be empirically examined by using structural equation modeling method.

Findings
The result of this paper is the conceptual model and ten hypothesized relationships that can be used to
empirically test the links between three key antecedents centralized organizational structure, cross-functional
teams and facility layout, the mediator formal and informal intra-organizational communication and the
outcome internal integration.

Research limitations
In this research we only develop the conceptual model and the hypotheses. In the future research it is planned
to empirically test the model. Furthermore, for the future research we suggest to include incentives and reward
system as an additional mediator of antecedents to internal integration. The relationship between internal
integration and firm performance should also be tested.