STABILIZING MEANING IN VERTICAL COMMUNICATION: CROSS GENERATIONAL LEADERSHIP PRACTICES IN A MULTINATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Abstract

This study examines how leaders across generations construct and sustain clarity in vertical communication within a fast-moving multinational organization. Drawing on Path Goal Theory, Leader Member Exchange, and communication clarity perspectives, this research employs a qualitative single case study design in a Korean multinational operating in Indonesia’s competitive tobacco industry. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with ten leaders across hierarchical levels, including head division, regional managers, area managers, and supervisors representing Generations X, Y, and Z, supported by participant observation and document analysis. The findings show that communication effectiveness is shaped less by generational category and more by leaders’ ability to stabilize meaning throughout the vertical communication chain. Generation X leaders tend to filter and rationalize strategic messages before cascading them, Generation Y leaders translate targets into structured operational actions through ongoing monitoring, and Generation Z leaders emphasize concise, data-based communication supported by rapid clarification through digital channels. Across generations, communication clarity is strengthened through meaning translation, prioritization during policy change, iterative verification practices, and appropriate media selection, particularly the use of face-to-face interaction for strategic alignment. This study introduces the concept of the information flow manager as a leadership function that filters, simplifies, and stabilizes communication before it reaches operational teams. The findings extend existing communication and leadership theories by positioning clarity as an adaptive and relational process rather than a static message attribute. Practically, organizations can improve execution reliability by strengthening communication transparency, ensuring documentation continuity during leadership transitions, and fostering psychological safety that supports upward clarification in multigenerational environments.