Organizational Communication Audit: Provide A Brief History

Organizational Communication Audit1 Provide A Brief History Of The Or

Provide a brief history of the organization Meetup.com is the largest and fastest growing social networks online. The CEO of meetup.com came up with this social network because of 9/11. Meetup was born in New York just shortly after the twin towers fell down. The CEO Scott Heiferman never talked to his neighbors before 9/11 happened but after that incident, he “found himself talking more to his neighbors. He also noticed that other people were talking more to other people next door and across the city who they'd normally ignore.” (Heiferman) After 9/11 there were a lot of people who were wondering how they could keep a long lasting bond that had been formed. Hence as to how meetup was born. (Heiferman) “Meetup was a place on the internet to get off the internet and grow local communities.” There was a lot of doubt with this idea. Yet nine months after 9/11 meetup was launched. (Heiferman) Yet here we are ten years later and meetup is thriving unlike any social networking group out there. Meetup.com makes it easy for anyone to organize a group or find a local group that is already meeting face to face.

There are more than 9,000 groups that get together within the local communities. The primary mission of meetup “is to revitalize local community and help people around the world to self-organize groups.” Heiferman believes that people can impact the local community by organizing themselves into groups that are powerful enough to make a difference.” (meetup.com) Meetup.com has 13.5 million members, there are 125,957 meetup groups in 196 countries. Meetup has monthly meetings which averages approximately 377,104, the monthly RSVP’s are somewhere around 2.31 Million. (meetup.com) The best thing about this online social networking group is that it involves real time with real people. There are a bunch of Meetup Groups that consists of individuals within the local community that like to do anything and everything possible.

This is a highly organized organization. (Richmond and McCrosky 2009 p. 1) Meetup allows people to find things to do within the community on the internet first then get off the internet and meet with each other off line. There are individuals who become organizers that set up a meetup and host an event for other people to come enjoy themselves and meet new people. There are three big local social meetups within Hampton Roads area. They are Hampton Roads Friends Event Networking (HRFEN 2,849 members), the Hampton Roads Runners (1,116 members), and Active Youth Social (AYS 1,292 members).

I belong to HRFEN and AYS as well as a few other meetups. However I am very active with HRFEN I actually became an assistant organizer because I hosted few events in the past.

Paper For Above instruction

Meetup.com, established in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, exemplifies a significant evolution in organizational communication within the digital age. Founded in New York City by Scott Heiferman and others, the platform emerged as a response to the societal disruptions caused by 9/11, with the primary goal of fostering local community engagement to mitigate feelings of isolation and promote collective resilience. This historical inception reflects a core strategic intent: leveraging technology to reinforce social bonds in times of crisis. The development and sustained growth of Meetup exemplify how organizational initiatives can capitalize on societal needs to create innovative communication avenues that bridge digital and face-to-face interactions.

The genesis of Meetup was grounded in the recognition of a societal need for local connection, especially following a tragic event that underscored the fragility of community relationships. The platform's conceptualization as a facilitator for offline gatherings underscores a critical shift from purely digital interaction towards hybrid community-building approaches. Within nine months of its launch, Meetup experienced rapid expansion, growing into a global phenomenon with over 13.5 million members and nearly 126,000 groups across 196 countries. Its mission to revitalize local communities and empower individuals to self-organize exemplifies a strategic emphasis on participative communication and decentralization of organizational authority.

The organizational structure of Meetup is highly decentralized, with volunteer organizers and group leaders driving local engagement. This structure fosters a culture of empowerment, enabling individuals to assume leadership roles and initiate communication processes within their communities. As reflected in the Hampton Roads area groups such as HRFEN, the Hampton Roads Runners, and Active Youth Social, local leaders and assistant organizers facilitate ongoing communication through event planning, updates, and coordination, illustrating a bottom-up communication model that enhances community involvement and cohesion.

Analyzing the current communication climate within Meetup reveals a dynamic environment characterized by active participative discourse, role-based responsibilities, and decentralized message dissemination. The platform's success depends heavily on effective online communication among organizers and members, supplemented by face-to-face interactions during meetups. The communication climate promotes inclusivity and accessibility but also encounters challenges such as unclear event descriptions and difficulties in locating hosts during larger events, which can hinder member engagement and satisfaction.

Strengths of Meetup include its capacity to empower individuals as leaders, facilitate diverse social activities tailored to varied interests, and foster local business involvement. It creates a sense of community and familiarity with local environments, thereby enhancing social capital. Conversely, weaknesses involve potential misunderstandings of event details by new members unfamiliar with platform norms, inconsistent communication during large-scale events, and logistical issues in coordinating offline meetups.

To enhance the communication climate in Meetup, strategic interventions rooted in organizational communication principles are essential. First, implementing comprehensive onboarding and training programs for new members can clarify platform operations and event expectations, reducing misunderstandings. Second, adopting standardized communication protocols and utilizing multimedia channels—such as video instructions and real-time chat functions—can improve clarity and responsiveness. Third, fostering a feedback culture through regular surveys and open forums encourages ongoing dialogue between organizers and members, promoting continuous improvement and shared ownership of community health. These strategies align with key organizational communication theories that emphasize clarity, participation, and adaptive feedback loops to sustain vibrant organizational environments.

References

• Heiferman, Scott. (n.d.). Personal interview or source details if available.
• Richmond, V. P., & McCrosky, K. L. (2009). Organizational communication. Sage Publications.
• meetup.com. (n.d.). Official website statistics and mission statement.
• Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster.
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