How to usher internal communications into the modern era
Why has the content of internal communications lagged so far behind the technology that delivers it? Here’s one person’s answer to that fascinating conundrum.
In 1899, the Philippine-American War was getting started, Bayer had just begun selling aspirin to the masses, and Lever Brothers in London created the first known employee suggestion box.
Lever Brothers introduced internal communications to the industrial world; since then, companies have made it a point to keep their employees as informed, engaged, and profitable as possible.
Today, suggestion boxes everywhere prove that businesses still care about feedback. Their existence also illustrates the fact that internal communications methods have largely remained the same since 1899.
Nowadays companies rely on printed newsletters, flyers on bulletin boards, emails and intranets to keep employees engaged and in the loop.
The need to update
While it’s nice to see technology incorporated, intranets have been largely ineffective for years, and emails are just digital flyers.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.