NCJ Number
45607
Date Published
1975
Length
64 pages
Annotation
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN THE NATURE OF COMMUNICATIONS IN CONNECTICUT'S STATE POLICE, MOTOR VEHICLE, ADULT PROBATION, AND CORRECTIONS AGENCIES ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
THE ANALYSIS IS BASED ON THE RESULTS OF A PILOT TEST OF A COMMUNICATION AUDIT DESIGNED FOR USE IN ASSESSING ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS. THE COMMUNICATION AUDIT MAY BE USED TO DETERMINE THE PATTERNS OF AN ORGANIZATION'S INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS; THE PARTS OF THE ORGANIZATION WHICH, BECAUSE OF THEIR COMMUNICATION RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE REST OF THE ORGANIZATION, COULD BE PHYSICALLY RELOCATED; THE NATURE OF COMMUNICATION IN THESE UNITS; AND THE BASIC TELECOMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING THOSE OF THE UNITS THAT COULD BE DECENTRALIZED. THE PILOT TEST CONDUCTED IN THE FOUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AGENCIES FOCUSED ON THE FREQUENCY AND NATURE OF MEETINGS; TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS; AND CORRESPONDENCE CONTACTS IN THE AGENCIES, EXPLORING SUCH VARIABLES AS MODE OF COMMUNICATION, JOB FUNCTION, LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY, DURATION OF CONTACT, AND PROPORTION OF ROUTINE TO NONROUTINE CONTACTS. THE REPORT OPENS WITH A REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS. AUDIT METHODOLOGY IS DESCRIBED, AND SUMMARY DATA FROM EACH OF THE FOUR AUDITS ARE PRESENTED AND COMPARED. THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING ORGANIZATIONS IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATIONS IS DISCUSSED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFINING THE AUDIT METHODOLOGY ARE OFFERED. THE ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE STATE POLICE, ALL AGENCIES REPORT MORE COMMUNICATION THROUGH MEETINGS THAN BY TELEPHONE OR CORRESPONDENCE. THE STATE POLICE USE THE TELEPHONE MOST FREQUENTLY. TABULAR DATA AND COPIES OF AUDIT TOOLS ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)