期刊名称：Hitotsubashi Journal of Commerce and Management
印刷版ISSN：0018-2796
出版年度：2013
卷号：47
期号：1
页码：1-16
出版社：Hitotsubashi Academy, Hitotsubashi University
摘要：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 unit̶the upward information flow of strategic ideas and the upward information flow of operational problems̶and 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 superiorʼs 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.
