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Aalto University School of Business Master's Theses are now in the Aaltodoc publication archive (Aalto University institutional repository)
School of Business | Department of Communication | International Business Communication | 2014
Thesis number: 14544
Internal communication & employee commitment: A secret ingredient for start-up success?
Author: Harmainen, Leeni
Title: Internal communication & employee commitment: A secret ingredient for start-up success?
Year: 2014  Language: eng
Department: Department of Communication
Academic subject: International Business Communication
Index terms: viestintä; communication; yritysviestintä; business communication; työntekijät; workers; sitoutuminen; commitment; yritykset; companies; kasvu; growth; menestyminen; success
Pages: 112
Full text:
» hse_ethesis_14544.pdf pdf  size:2 MB (1712858)
Key terms: internal communication; sisäinen viestintä; commitment; sitoutuminen; startup; startup-yritys
Abstract:
Objective of the Study

The objective of this study was to look into internal communication and employee commitment in start-up companies. With this it was aimed to find out whether there is a relationship between the concepts and if that relationship can be described.

Methodology and the Theoretical Framework

This study was conducted using the mixed method research approach. It consisted of a qualitative pre-research phase, where two semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain more insight on the subject. After this the core component of the research, a quantitative employee commitment survey was conducted. This survey followed the guidelines of the TCM Employee Commitment Survey by Meyer and Allen (2004). The theoretical framework of this study introduced a path leading from internal communication, to employee commitment and employee engagement and finally to financial success.

Findings and Conclusions

A link between internal communication and employee commitment was found to exist in this study. This relationship seems to be different depending on the component of commitment (affective, continuance, or normative). The correlation analysis conducted does not prove any causality of this relationship, which is why further research on the topic is needed.
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