Startups Unveiled: Exploring Organisational Identity in Startups through Strategic Internal Communication
(2024) SKOM12 20241Department of Strategic Communication
- Abstract
- Startups play a crucial role in the world economy by driving innovation and financial growth. Yet, they face significant challenges, with a high percentage failing within their first few years of life. To answer this problem, much attention has been given to external communication strategies, while the internal communication dynamics and constitution within startups remain underexplored, despite the creation of organisational identity outlined as vital for the survival of startup firms. This research investigates how internal strategic communication among startup members contributes to the co-creation of organisational identity, focusing on informal communication actions. Drawing on previous literature and empirical data analysis through... (More)
- Startups play a crucial role in the world economy by driving innovation and financial growth. Yet, they face significant challenges, with a high percentage failing within their first few years of life. To answer this problem, much attention has been given to external communication strategies, while the internal communication dynamics and constitution within startups remain underexplored, despite the creation of organisational identity outlined as vital for the survival of startup firms. This research investigates how internal strategic communication among startup members contributes to the co-creation of organisational identity, focusing on informal communication actions. Drawing on previous literature and empirical data analysis through 15 semi-structured interviews with startup members, the multilayered study examines the communicative roles of startup members, the influence of communication challenges on identity constitution, and it depicts the insights gained from applying the four flows of communication theory, by McPhee and Zaug (2000), to the examination of startups’ internal communication. The semi-structured interviews reveal that members actively shape organisational identity primarily through informal channels, emphasizing the importance of founder involvement and the malleable nature of startups’ identity. Communication challenges highlight the need for central, active communication processes, while the application of the four flows of communication theory shows the continuous cycle of interaction and evolution within startups, emphasizing the importance of communication-based structuration. This research contributes to understanding the role of internal strategic communication in the constitution of startup organisational identity, and it provides practical insights for fostering cohesive organisational identity in dynamic startup environments. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9156671
- author
- Mascagni, Giulia LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SKOM12 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- internal communication, startup, four flows of communication, organisational identity, communicative constitution of organisation (CCO)
- language
- English
- id
- 9156671
- date added to LUP
- 2024-06-14 16:18:48
- date last changed
- 2024-06-14 16:18:48
@misc{9156671,
abstract = {{Startups play a crucial role in the world economy by driving innovation and financial growth. Yet, they face significant challenges, with a high percentage failing within their first few years of life. To answer this problem, much attention has been given to external communication strategies, while the internal communication dynamics and constitution within startups remain underexplored, despite the creation of organisational identity outlined as vital for the survival of startup firms. This research investigates how internal strategic communication among startup members contributes to the co-creation of organisational identity, focusing on informal communication actions. Drawing on previous literature and empirical data analysis through 15 semi-structured interviews with startup members, the multilayered study examines the communicative roles of startup members, the influence of communication challenges on identity constitution, and it depicts the insights gained from applying the four flows of communication theory, by McPhee and Zaug (2000), to the examination of startups’ internal communication. The semi-structured interviews reveal that members actively shape organisational identity primarily through informal channels, emphasizing the importance of founder involvement and the malleable nature of startups’ identity. Communication challenges highlight the need for central, active communication processes, while the application of the four flows of communication theory shows the continuous cycle of interaction and evolution within startups, emphasizing the importance of communication-based structuration. This research contributes to understanding the role of internal strategic communication in the constitution of startup organisational identity, and it provides practical insights for fostering cohesive organisational identity in dynamic startup environments.}},
author = {{Mascagni, Giulia}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Startups Unveiled: Exploring Organisational Identity in Startups through Strategic Internal Communication}},
year = {{2024}},
}