Internal communication in civil service: an appraisal of the use of personnel circulars in administering civil service reforms

Abstract

This study sought to generally examine and analyse the internal communication channels in Civil Service, specifically it was an appraisal of the use of Personnel Circulars in administering Civil Service Reforms. The Circulars as a medium was analysed in order to evaluate its effectiveness at administering the ongoing reforms in as far as communication reaching the intended targets, identify possible communication gaps in the context of organizational communication and recommend improvements on the same.

The paper examined the flow of Circulars from the source to the recipients along the organizational structures in a bid to identify any gaps in the process. This paper is unique because no other study has been carried out on Circulars, the major channel of communication in the Civil Service. Previous research in governmental organization tended to focus on factors that affect communication but this research will focus on the medium or channel of communication-Circulars as the unit of analysis.

The methodology was a survey approach grounded in qualitative analysis.

Consequently, the study established that there are communication gaps in that Circulars do not always reach the target, that the downward communication structures and roles are diverse rather than distinct. It was also established that the Civil Servants wished that new communication channels such as electronic media was adopted in internal communication.