Title: The drivers of effective communication elements: key pivotal role in the successful implementation of change initiatives during turbulent times

Authors: Badih Arnaout; Sam El Nemar; Hani El-Chaarani; Mark Esposito; Demetris Vrontis

Addresses: Grenoble Ecole de Management, Grenoble, France ' Faculty of Business and Management, University of Balamand, Balamand, Lebanon ' Faculty of Business, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon ' Hult International Business School, Education St., Cambridge, MA 02141, USA; Harvard's Berkman Klein Center, Harvard Law School, 557 Massachusetts Ave. 4th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Harvard Center for International Development, Harvard Kennedy School, 79 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA ' Gnosis: Mediterranean Institute for Management Science, School of Business, University of Nicosia, 2417, Nicosia, Cyprus; S.P. Jain School of Global Management, Singapore Campus, 119579, Singapore

Abstract: This study examines how SMEs use communication to successfully implement change during turbulent environments. This empirical study examines SMEs from different industries during change and focuses on the impact of successful communication on change initiatives by testing different change circumstances. Based on a sample of 187 small businesses in technology, hospitality, food service, industry, education, and retail, this research employs a structural equational model to reveal the impact of communication factors on the effectiveness of an organisation to manage change in turbulent times. This study proposes a framework for identifying the efficacy of communication during change in SMEs while dealing with a turbulent environment and a tested approach for integrating the 'communication' elements in change initiatives. The results reveal that communicating in a trusted environment, an efficient leadership communication, communicating the urgency of change, incorporating strategic vision in communication, and communicating a change of course facilitate the implementation of change within organisations during unstable periods.

Keywords: change management; organisational change; environmental turbulences; communication; organisational effectiveness.

DOI: 10.1504/JIBED.2024.144644

Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development, 2024 Vol.16 No.4, pp.516 - 541

Received: 02 Dec 2024
Accepted: 14 Jan 2025

Published online: 25 Feb 2025 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article