Abstract

The essay presents two case studies of the effects of communication on processes of change. It develops the hypothesis that communication is an essential means to achieve, or to initiate and stimulate, profound change in the public authorities. The first case study concerns the implementation of a major programme of governmental change in the public water, gas and electricity utilities of Colorado Springs (USA), a programme based on managerial, organizational and communicational initiatives. The second case examined is the introduction by the Bologna City Council of a Public Relations Office, without this being accompanied by significant changes in organization and well-consolidated management systems. Communicational initiatives have had major effects on the organization of the Colorado Springs Utilities, amongst other things because they have been matched by organizational and managerial changes. Surprisingly, in the City Council of Bologna too, isolated communicational initiatives have led to important changes, especially managerial.