How well does information flow between field staff, state specialists, and administration? Effective internal communication is critical to the success of any organization, public or private. The flow of information can be particularly troublesome for organizations, such as Extension, where offices are separated by great distances.
Distance, time demands, program autonomy, and limited face-to-face interaction in an Extension system can create communication breakdowns and lead to lost time, inefficiency, destructive rumors, conflict, and dissatisfaction. This study was undertaken to assess the communication needs of staff in a state Extension system.