Internal communication: Definition, parameters, and the future

As an organizational function, internal communication is gaining in importance, meriting a special issue on the topic. This importance is evident in many recent efforts among practitioners in Europe and the US to seek recognition of this field as an independent domain. Scholarship on internal communication has not kept pace with these initiatives. This introduction to the special issue addresses several key issues related to this topic and presents findings from a Delphi study of the leaders of European associations on internal communication. Results of the study are fuzzy: respondents see internal communication as interdisciplinary management function integrating elements of human resources management, communication and marketing, but at the same time they see it primarily as a part of the organization's communication function that is simultaneously managerial and technical. However, they contend that internal communication is an independent research field.

► Internal communication is among the fastest growing specializations in public relations and communication management.
► The Delphi study in internal communication in Europe reveals its fuzzy picture – it seems to be in adolescence.
► The study defines internal communication as a management function in charge of communication (within organizations).
► Internal communication is an interdisciplinary function integrating elements of human resources management, communication and marketing.
► The hottest issues in practice are employee engagement, loyalty and motivation, value for money, and trust and credibility.