Situational dependence of internal communication channels

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of face-to-face and digital channels in internal communication within a large telecommunications company from the perspectives of media richness and affordance. In three experiments, the two types of channels were compared in terms of satisfaction, engagement, emotional and mental fatigue, and retention in contexts in which the topic of communication was emotionally neutral ("healthy eating habits in the workplace") or negative ("unhealthy eating habits observed among employees"). In the neutral context, face-to-face communication fostered engagement with the message and information retention, consistent with its ability to offer richness and immediacy that can enhance impact on the listener. Conversely, video-based digital communication outperformed face-to-face communication in the negative context by reducing emotional intensity and enhancing retention, emphasizing the importance of emotional detachment in effective communication. These findings highlight that the effectiveness of a given channel of internal communication depends on the situation and that face-to-face communication may not always be the most effective channel for emotionally negative situations. Our work demonstrates the need to adopt the employee's perspective when theorizing and implementing internal communication strategies.