"Enterprise Social Media and Employee Engagement: A Study of Internal P" by Daniel Sherrick Apambila

Graduation Term

Spring 2025

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

School of Communication

Committee Chair

Rebecca A. Hayes

Committee Co-Chair

Lindsey J. Thomas

Committee Member

Lance R. Lippert

Abstract

Workplace communication technology remains a tool for effective internal public relations practice in a postmodern business environment. Understanding how workplace communication tools function to enhance employees’ engagement, the role they play in forming employees’ perception of the company while fostering employees’ sense of belonging, when they are performing their organizational roles are critical to talent retention, sustained business operations, and maintaining organizational success in a competitive marketplace. However, research on the types of content posted on workplace communication platforms, and how the content shape intra-organizational members’ perception, while instilling a sense of belonging in their technical performance at the workplace is underexplored. The main objective of this qualitative study was to explore the convergence of the three constructs: Enterprise Social Media (ESM) (i.e., workplace communication technology), employee engagement, and internal communication practices in promoting organizational success. Guided by the Social Exchange Theory (SET), data were generated from an in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed through thematic lens. The analysis revealed that professional development, social and cultural, as well as interactive and gamified content promotes employee engagement. Employees perceived ESM contents as a reflection of organizational culture, resources for performance, and workplace community building. ESM tools have fostered employees’ sense of belonging in the organization by building social connection, professional support systems, and creating organizational culture and identity. The findings suggest that internal public relations (iPR) professionals must integrate gamified and interactive content into their internal communication efforts to support Work-Life balance initiatives at the workplace, which, in turn, reduces employees’ stress in their task performance. In addition to incorporating gamified and interactive content, organizations must use their workplace communication technologies more effectively to increase employee engagement, foster their connections with fellow colleagues, promote knowledge sharing, skills development, and inspire creativity and innovation, as this retain talents, promote and sustain organizational success.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

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