Effective communication is essential in building relationships and achieving success in various settings, including government, business, and personal relationships. In studying communication, one concept that is commonly used is the micro, meso, and macro (MMM) framework, which provides a multilevel approach to analyzing communication processes. This article aims to provide an overview of the MMM framework and its application in different communication contexts.
The MMM framework is a way of categorizing communication based on the scale of analysis, which includes micro-level, meso-level, and macro-level communication. According to Lucas, Anderson, and Gray (2021), micro-level communication focuses on individual interactions and how people communicate with each other. Meso-level communication, on the other hand, is concerned with group or organizational communication, while macro-level communication deals with communication at the societal level, such as public policies and media coverage.
The MMM framework is widely used in communication research and has been applied in various contexts. For instance, Qiu (2010) used the MMM framework to analyze the impact of mobile communication in Asia, examining how it has changed the technological and intellectual geopolitics in the region. In another study, Carretero, Stewart, and Centeno (2015) applied the MMM framework to analyze the benefits of information and communication technologies for informal carers and paid assistants at the micro, meso, and macro levels.
In the field of public relations, the MMM framework has been used to analyze crises and communication strategies. Schultz and Raupp (2010) used the MMM framework to conduct an inter-organizational and inter-systemic analysis of crises in governmental and corporate communications. The authors concluded that effective communication in crises requires a coordinated effort at all three levels of communication.
The MMM framework is also relevant in the context of professional development and the formation of communities of practice. Triggs and John (2004) used the MMM framework to examine the impact of information and communication technology on the formation of communities of practice. They found that technology can facilitate the formation of communities of practice at the meso and macro levels, allowing professionals to collaborate and share knowledge across organizations and sectors.
In conclusion, the MMM framework provides a useful tool for analyzing communication processes at different levels of analysis. The framework has been applied in various contexts, including the impact of mobile communication, benefits of information and communication technologies, crises communication, and professional development. Understanding the MMM framework is crucial in developing effective communication strategies that take into account the micro, meso, and macro levels of communication.
References
Schultz, F., & Raupp, J. (2010). The social construction of crises in governmental and corporate communications: An inter-organizational and inter-systemic analysis. Public Relations Review, 36(2), 112-119. https://scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholar?q=cache:S6QIcDVn46gJ:scholar.google.com/+micro+meso++communications&hl=nl&as_sdt=0,5
Carretero, S., Stewart, J. T., & Centeno, C. (2015). Information and communication technologies for informal carers and paid assistants: benefits from micro-, meso-, and macro-levels. European Journal of Ageing, 12(2), 163–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-015-0333-4
Lucas, M. A., Anderson, L. B., & Gray, K. (2021). Micro, meso, and macro: A multilevel approach to civic engagement in the communication classroom. Communication Teacher, 36(4), 330–344. https://doi.org/10.1080/17404622.2021.2006253
Qiu, J. L. (2010). Mobile communication research in Asia: changing technological and intellectual geopolitics? Asian Journal of Communication, 20(2), 213–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/01292981003693393
Schultz, F., & Raupp, J. (2010). The social construction of crises in governmental and corporate communications: An inter-organizational and inter-systemic analysis. Public Relations Review, 36(2), 112–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2009.11.002
Triggs, P., & John, P. (2004). From transaction to transformation: information and communication technology, professional development and the formation of communities of practice. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 20(6), 426–439. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2729.2004.00101.x