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Types Of Upward Communication And Organizational Characteristics In Japanese Firms

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  • KATO, TOSHIHIKO
  • 加藤, 俊彦
  • NUMAGAMI, TSUYOSHI
  • 沼上, 幹
  • KARUBE, MASARU
  • 軽部, 大
  • SASAKI, MASATO

Abstract

Different types of upward communication in organizations have been examined from various points of view. However, few studies have directly discussed the difference between these types. This paper focuses on two types of upward organizational communication from middle managers to general managers in a business unit -the upward information flow of strategic ideas and the upward information flow of operational problems- and examines the impact of organizational factors on each of the upward information flows. Analysis of a questionnaire survey of 137 business units in 21 Japanese firms reveals that while the upward flow of strategic ideas tends to be affected by organic and employee-oriented factors, the upward flow of operational problems is predominantly influenced by factors related to mechanistic management systems and to a superior's power. The results suggest that a “soft” management approach toward subordinates could contribute to the activation of an organizational process of strategic formation, but might be ineffective in encouraging them to send bad news upto their superiors.

Suggested Citation

  • Kato, Toshihiko & 加藤, 俊彦 & Numagami, Tsuyoshi & 沼上, 幹 & Karube, Masaru & 軽部, 大 & Sasaki, Masato, 2013. "Types Of Upward Communication And Organizational Characteristics In Japanese Firms," Hitotsubashi Journal of commerce and management, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 47(1), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:hit:hitjcm:v:47:y:2013:i:1:p:1-16
    DOI: 10.15057/25930
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. George Huber, 1982. "Organizational Information Systems: Determinants of Their Performance and Behavior," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(2), pages 138-155, February.
    2. Frances J. Milliken & Elizabeth W. Morrison & Patricia F. Hewlin, 2003. "An Exploratory Study of Employee Silence: Issues that Employees Don’t Communicate Upward and Why," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(6), pages 1453-1476, September.
    3. Jane E. Dutton & Susan J. Ashford & Regina M. O’ Neill & Erika Hayes & Elizabeth E. Wierba, 1997. "Reading the wind: how middle managers assess the context for selling issues to top managers," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(5), pages 407-423, May.
    4. Dennis Tourish & Paul Robson, 2006. "Sensemaking and the Distortion of Critical Upward Communication in Organizations," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(4), pages 711-730, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ramon Casadesus-Masanell & John Heilbron, 2016. "Decision-Making by Precedent and the Founding of American Honda (1948 - 1974)," Harvard Business School Working Papers 17-016, Harvard Business School.

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