COMMUNICATION PATTERNS, PROJECT PERFORMANCE, AND TASK CHARACTERISTICS - EMPIRICAL-EVALUATION AND INTEGRATION IN AN R AND D SETTING

This study examines the impacts of problem-solving and administrative communication patterns on the technical performance of 61 projects in an industrial R&D laboratory. While there were no differences in the relative patterns of these two types of communication, there were systematic differences in the mechanisms by which project groups transferred administrative and problem-solving information with other areas both within and outside the organization. The overall patterns of communication were influenced by the nature of the projects' work, while the effectiveness of the various interfaces was explored via two contrasting methods: (1) direct contact by all project members and (2) contact mediated through boundary spanning individuals. The effectiveness of each of these linking mechanisms was also contingent upon the projects' tasks. This research reinforces the importance of managing communication patterns in organizations and further supports the importance of boundary spanning individuals. © 1979.