Strategic Communication MIT Sloan Management

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Communication MIT Sloan Management. Answer: Introduction: The importance of strategic communication in the day-to-day operation of business activities cannot be overemphasized. It should be remembered that it is strategic communication alone that helps the employees comprehend the goals and strategies of the organization, and work towards accomplishing the same. However, in order to assess and critically analyze the importance of strategic communication in business, a number of peer-reviewed journal articles have been considered and evaluated here (Thomas Stephens, 2015). Importance of Strategic Communication from the Perspective of the Organization: In the article named, The Strategic Communication Imperative, the authors point out the importance of strategic communication by claiming it as the most effective method of ensuring organizational success (Argenti et al., 2015). While a change in organizational structure or a new target is to be introduced, the CEO or other senior managers must introduce the change by communicating the long-term goals of the company and aligning the short-term benefits of the employees with the same. Thus, if a company wants to increase its share of profitability in the next six months, through strategic communication, it will communicate the goal of the company while also announce financial incentives, like bonuses and salary hike for employees achieving the same. The author states: Strategic communication means functional integration, and this clearly suggests how strategic communication helps an organization achieve its goals in an effective way, while as it largely helps in aligning the goals of the company with the personal benefits and interests of each individual employee. This in turn ensures greater chances of success. Importance of Strategic Communication from the Perspective of the Employees: Unlike the first article, the article named Towards Responsible Dialogue: Searching for the Missing Piece of Strategic Employee Communication, the authors claim that strategic communication is needed not only to ensure that the business message is being communicated from the top layer of management to the grassroots level, but it also helps in motivating the employees (Juholin et al., 2015). As and when an organization communicates its strategies to the employees, the employees start feeling motivated and empowered. It gives them the freedom to question the managerial decision or even offer personal recommendation that in turn facilitates the constructive criticism. The author states: It allows raising questions, to challenge and to disagree but also disallows not to share information and observations, nor to keep quiet when issues should be brought up. It allows to constructive criticism, i.e., suggesting solutions which not only benefits the organization but also motivates the empl oyees. As a result of strategic communication, the employees feel motivated as it enables them to be actively involved in managerial decisions, and this helps in developing employee-employer relation as well. Importance of Strategic Communication during Organizational Crisis: In the article The Value of Communication during a Crisis: Insights from Strategic Communication Research, the authors claim that strategic communication also plays a highly important role during times of crisis. In case of financial or legal crisis, the strategic communication helps an organization communicate with its external and internal stakeholders, and this helps in loyalty and trust of the employees or shareholders towards the company- Adjusting information includes efforts to help stakeholders cope psychologically with a crisis (Coombs, 2015). Conclusion: As it is evident from the above discussion, strategic communication does help a company achieve organizational goals by improving relationship with the shareholders, empowering the employees and allowing a free flow of communication. However, a systematically organized method of communication should be followed at regular periodical intervals, so as to ensure organizational success of the respective company. Reference List: Argenti, P. A., Howell, R. A., Beck, K. A. (2005). The strategic communication imperative.MIT Sloan management review,46(3), 83. Coombs, W. T. (2015). The value of communication during a crisis: Insights from strategic communication research.Business Horizons,58(2), 141-148. Juholin, E., berg, L., Aula, P. (2015). Towards responsible dialogue: Searching for the missing piece of strategic employee communication.Communication ethics in a connected world. Brussels: Peter Lang. Thomas, G. F., Stephens, K. J. (2015). An introduction to strategic communication.