Internal Communication in a Global Change Project

Abstract: Internal communication is the heart in all actions in every organization and plays a key role in a successful change project. Volvo Cars is a global company in an implementation phase of the change project ”One Finance”. The purpose of the change project is to standardize the financial processes which will change the organization structure in the financial departments. Since this is a global change project there are several factors that can affect the internal communication and can result in affecting the success of a change project. The purpose of this thesis is to study the internal communication during a global change project and to analyze what factors are affecting the internal communication from a global perspective. The thesis will also include what impact internal communication has on the organization. The study will mainly be on the internal communication between the headquarter in Gothenburg and the developing financial department in America. Collecting primary data in terms of semi-structure interviews has provided an understanding about Volvo Cars internal communication. Using electronic communication channels and cascade-communication model the organization has informed well about the concept and the purpose of the change. Some respondents are still requesting information about how they should work according to the change. Overall the acceptance of this change has created job-satisfaction and increased the engagement for employees, this can lead to business success. All respondents agree that there are factors that affect the internal communication during this global change project. Organization culture, multi-cultured organizations, organization change, power structures and globalization are all affecting the internal communication in ways of how to communicate, the amount of internal communication, and the currents of the internal communication and can create misunderstandings. The thesis is including an internal communication matrix that gives a clear overview of how different internal stakeholders are working with the internal communication at different levels within the organization. This is creating an effective internal commutation system.