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When Theory Meets Practice: Sensemaking and Change Communication in a Communicatively Expert Organisation

Selander, Jack LU and Mutell, Saga (2026) SKOK11 20261
Department of Strategic Communication
Abstract
This thesis explores how sensemaking is constructed and negotiated in internal change communication during an organisational merger, specifically within an institution where communicative expertise is central to its professional identity.
The study draws on Weick’s sensemaking theory, Gioia and Chittipeddi’s sensegiving, and Lewis’s communication-centered approach to organisational change to analyse how formal and informal communication shape meaning during a centrally initiated merger. The empirical material consists of six semi-structured interviews with leadership, academic staff, and middle management, complemented by project documentation and decision records. The research adopts a qualitative single case study design, interpretivist... (More)
This thesis explores how sensemaking is constructed and negotiated in internal change communication during an organisational merger, specifically within an institution where communicative expertise is central to its professional identity.
The study draws on Weick’s sensemaking theory, Gioia and Chittipeddi’s sensegiving, and Lewis’s communication-centered approach to organisational change to analyse how formal and informal communication shape meaning during a centrally initiated merger. The empirical material consists of six semi-structured interviews with leadership, academic staff, and middle management, complemented by project documentation and decision records. The research adopts a qualitative single case study design, interpretivist epistemology, and an abductive approach.
The findings show a clear disconnect between leadership’s formal narratives and employees’ sensemaking. Despite high communicative expertise, the process was marked by information gaps, rumors, and symbolic ambiguity. Employees used their communicative skills to critically assess leadership’s sensegiving, questioning both content and framing. The study concludes that communication expertise does not guarantee effective internal change communication. Centralised narratives emphasizing structural necessity increased skepticism, and sensemaking primarily arose through informal interaction and symbolic action, not managerial directives. The findings highlight how communicative competence among recipients changes the dynamics of sensegiving in public knowledge organisations. (Less)
Popular Abstract (Swedish)
Den här uppsatsen undersöker hur meningsskapande konstrueras och förhandlas i intern förändrings­kommunikation under en organisationssammanslagning, specifikt inom en institution där kommunikativ kompetens är central för den professionella identiteten.
Studien utgår från Weicks teori om meningsskapande, Gioia och Chittipeddis begrepp sensegiving samt Lewis kommunikationsorienterade perspektiv på organisationsförändring, för att analysera hur formell och informell kommunikation formar förståelse under en centralt initierad sammanslagning. Det empiriska underlaget består av sex semistrukturerade intervjuer med ledning, akademisk personal och mellanchefer, kompletterat med projektdokumentation och besluts­underlag. Studien tillämpar en... (More)
Den här uppsatsen undersöker hur meningsskapande konstrueras och förhandlas i intern förändrings­kommunikation under en organisationssammanslagning, specifikt inom en institution där kommunikativ kompetens är central för den professionella identiteten.
Studien utgår från Weicks teori om meningsskapande, Gioia och Chittipeddis begrepp sensegiving samt Lewis kommunikationsorienterade perspektiv på organisationsförändring, för att analysera hur formell och informell kommunikation formar förståelse under en centralt initierad sammanslagning. Det empiriska underlaget består av sex semistrukturerade intervjuer med ledning, akademisk personal och mellanchefer, kompletterat med projektdokumentation och besluts­underlag. Studien tillämpar en kvalitativ enfallsdesign, interpretivistisk epistemologi och ett abduktivt angreppssätt.
Resultaten visar på en tydlig diskrepans mellan ledningens formella narrativ och medarbetarnas meningsskapande. Trots hög kommunikativ kompetens präglades processen av informationsluckor, ryktesspridning och symbolisk tvetydighet. Medarbetarna använde sina kommunikativa förmågor för att kritiskt granska ledningens meningsgivande och ifrågasätta både innehåll och inramning. Studien drar slutsatsen att kommunikativ expertis inte per automatik leder till effektiv intern förändringskommunikation. Centraliserade narrativ som betonade strukturell nödvändighet förstärkte snarare skepsisen, och meningsskapandet uppstod framför allt genom informella samtal och symboliska handlingar, inte genom direktiv från ledningen. Resultaten belyser hur kommunikativ kompetens hos mottagarna förändrar dynamiken i meningsgivande inom offentliga kunskapsorganisationer. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Selander, Jack LU and Mutell, Saga
supervisor
organization
alternative title
När teori möter praktik: Meningsskapande och förändringskommunikation i en organisation av kommunikativ expertis.
course
SKOK11 20261
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
strategic communication, change communication, sensemaking, sensegiving, public organisation, formal and informal communication, institution merger, knowledge organisation
language
Swedish
id
9230110
date added to LUP
2026-07-13 11:53:04
date last changed
2026-07-13 11:53:04
@misc{9230110,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores how sensemaking is constructed and negotiated in internal change communication during an organisational merger, specifically within an institution where communicative expertise is central to its professional identity.
The study draws on Weick’s sensemaking theory, Gioia and Chittipeddi’s sensegiving, and Lewis’s communication-centered approach to organisational change to analyse how formal and informal communication shape meaning during a centrally initiated merger. The empirical material consists of six semi-structured interviews with leadership, academic staff, and middle management, complemented by project documentation and decision records. The research adopts a qualitative single case study design, interpretivist epistemology, and an abductive approach.
The findings show a clear disconnect between leadership’s formal narratives and employees’ sensemaking. Despite high communicative expertise, the process was marked by information gaps, rumors, and symbolic ambiguity. Employees used their communicative skills to critically assess leadership’s sensegiving, questioning both content and framing. The study concludes that communication expertise does not guarantee effective internal change communication. Centralised narratives emphasizing structural necessity increased skepticism, and sensemaking primarily arose through informal interaction and symbolic action, not managerial directives. The findings highlight how communicative competence among recipients changes the dynamics of sensegiving in public knowledge organisations.}},
  author       = {{Selander, Jack and Mutell, Saga}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{When Theory Meets Practice: Sensemaking and Change Communication in a Communicatively Expert Organisation}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}