communicatiestroom

Communicatiestroom is a concept used in communication science and organizational studies to describe the flow of information within a system. It covers what is communicated, by whom, through which channels, how fast, and in which directions messages move.

In practice, communicatiestroom includes sender–receiver relationships, feedback processes, and the influence of context and noise. Flows can be unidirectional or multidirectional, synchronous or asynchronous, and may involve formal channels (reports, meetings) as well as informal channels (chat, social networks).

The term draws on classic information and communication models, such as Shannon–Weaver and Schramm, focusing on throughput, latency, capacity, and bottlenecks. Analyzing the communicatiestroom may involve mapping actors, channels, and message types to understand how information propagates.

Applications include improving organizational communication, coordinating teams, designing information systems, and planning crisis communication. The term is primarily used in Dutch-language literature on organization and information management. In information technology, the concept resembles data traffic or message routing in networks and enterprise platforms.

Management approaches seek to optimize the flow by reducing bottlenecks, aligning channels with audience needs, and establishing governance and standards. Metrics commonly used are throughput (messages per unit time), latency, completion rate, and error rate.

Challenges include information overload, miscommunication, privacy and security concerns, and uneven access to channels. Effective management of the communicatiestroom requires clear roles, policies, and continuous monitoring.