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Research and publications

The study depicts the commitment of Italian companies on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion front. In particular it outlines:

  • what are the reasons why they start working on these issues and the objectives they set
  • on which dimensions of diversity do they focus their efforts
  • what actions they implement
  • whether and which managerial methods they employ
  • how they involve people at various levels of the organization
  • what are the outcomes of the actions taken
  • how management approaches evolve

Keywords: diversity equity & inclusion, diversity management, internal communication, organizational relationships

Publications:

  • Ravazzani, S., Mazzei., A., Butera, A., & Fisichella, C. (2023). Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Stato dell’arte nelle aziende italiane. FrancoAngeli. https://series.francoangeli.it/index.php/oa/catalog/book/1056
  • Fisichella, C., Ravazzani, S., Butera, A., & Mazzei, A. (2023). Diversity reputation in a marketing perspective: Insights from a study among italian companies. XX SIM Conference “Marketing per il benessere, la salute e la cura” Proceedings, Firenze, 20-21 October 2023.

The study highlights the role of employee communication and organizational relationship management in the hybrid work contexts that have spread on a large scale with the Covid-19 pandemic.

This project is related to a second study which specifically investigated the onboarding dynamics of new hires in the new hybrid work contexts.

Keywords: internal crisis communication, employee engagement, Covid-19

Publications:

  • Mazzei, A., Quaratino, L., Butera, A., & Conti, S. (2023). Rethinking the way of working: in search of sustainable engagement. In N. McCown, L. R. Men, H. Jiang, & H. Shen (Eds.), Internal Communications and Employee Engagement: A Case Study Approach. Routledge, London, UK.
  • Mazzei, A., Ravazzani, S., Butera, A., Conti, C., & Fisichella, C. (2023). Affective commitment of newcomers in hybrid work contexts: A study on enhancing and inhibiting factors and the mediating role of newcomer adjustment. Frontiers in Psychology. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.987976


The study depicts:

  • the internal communication strategies that were adopted by companies during the pandemic: from those aimed primarily at protecting employees and overcoming the crisis to those more focused on protecting the interests of the companies themselves
  • the employee perception of remote working, from benefits to difficulties
  • the consequences for employee engagement generated by the initiatives and communication activities carried out by companies to manage the crisis itself

Keywords: internal crisis communication, employee engagement, Covid-19, remote working

Publications:

  • Mazzei, A., Ravazzani, S., Fisichella, C., Butera, A., & Quaratino, L. (2022). Internal crisis communication strategies: Contingency factors determining an accommodative approach, Public Relations Review, Vol. 48, No. 4, 102212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2022.102212
  • Mazzei, A., Quaratino, L., & Ravazzani, S. (2021). Internal Crisis Communication in the Time of Covid-19 Pandemic. Company strategies and working experience of employees, FrancoAngeli OpenAccess
  • Mazzei, A., & Butera, A. (2021). “Internal Crisis Communication”, in L. R. Men and A. Tkalac Verčič (Eds.), Current Trends and Issues in Internal Communication  - Theory and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan
  • Ravazzani, S., & Mazzei., A. (2022). "Social media and the role of internal communication for crisis prevention and management", in L. Austin and Y. Jin (Eds.), Social media and crisis communication (2nd ed.), Routledge


The state of the art on employee communication in Italian companies depicts the function and maps:

  • objectives and tools
  • dedicated organizational structures
  • management methods: planning, listening
  • relational and informal communication
  • value perceived by internal stakeholders
  • internal social media
  • evolutionary trends
  • impact on engagement

The research tool and the produced outcomes represent a tool for benchmarking the state of employee communication between companies, over time and between different countries.

Keywords: employee communication, organizational relationships, enabling model of employee communication

Publications:

The study reveals the factors and managerial practices that support employee engagement and the organizational conditions that favor their disengagement.

The study also highlights the consequences of engagement and disengagement for employee communication behaviors, which may support the company or damage it.

Keywords:

Keywords: employee communication, employee engagement, employee disengagement

Publications:

  • Mazzei, A. (2018). Engagement e disengagement dei collaboratori. Comunicazione interna e valorizzazione delle risorse umane per un contesto di voce, FrancoAngeli.
  • Mazzei, A. (2018). “Employee engagement”, in R. Heath and W. Johansen (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of Strategic Communication, John Wiley & Sons.
  • Mazzei, A., Butera, A., & Quaratino L. (2019). Employee Communication for Engaging Workplaces,  Journal of Business Strategy, 40(6), pp. 23-32.
  • Mazzei, A., Quaratino, L., Butera, A., & Fisichella, C. (2018). “Transformative Strategies for Employee Engagement: Managers and Employees Confronted”, Convegno Sinergie - Sima 2018, Strategie in trasformazione e nuovi modelli per la creazione di valore - Referred Electronic Conference Proceedings, Università Ca’ Foscari, Venice, 14-15 June 2018.