PURPOSE: to relate the communicative strategies adopted in the management of a health institution with the communication perception of the participants. METHOD: descriptive-comparative and cross-sectional study with a sample defined by type. 56 subjects from six sectors of the institution were interviewed with a closed questions questionnaire. For this study, we analyzed the questions related to stages of management and perception of communication at work. RESULTS: most of the respondents reported that the meetings in which planning occurs are not exclusive to this activity. The direct supervisors are always present, as opposed to the indirect ones. Regarding the implementation of actions, it was observed that all members of the sector take responsibility for the activities and share information during the process. It was reported that the evaluation occurs in an unsystematic way and the presence of direct and indirect leadership is similar to what occurs in the planning stage. It was found a low degree of correlation between the answers. The perception of the subjects about the communication was adequate, noting that no direct relationship is established between the communication and work process. CONCLUSION: it is considered that the data obtained in this study were relevant, so that led to discuss the role of communication in the system manager searched.