This study primarily aimed to determine the communication and organizational variables that affect inter-organizational collaboration in the fisheries development project in Cambodia. The specific objectives of the study were to (1) determine the major actors of inter-organizational communication and collaboration in the fisheries development project, (2) identify the communication variables that affect the level of inter-organizational collaboration between the Department of Fisheries and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) involved in the Cambodian fisheries development project, (3) determine the level of inter-organizational collaboration, and (4) determine the relationship of communication and inter-organizational collaboration.
A total of 117 respondents from all organizations involved in the fisheries development project and the office of fisheries domain, research, and extension of the Department of Fisheries were interviewed using a survey questionnaire. Data were gathered using the case study method to describe and determine the general characteristics of respondents, communication and organizational variables as well as the four components of inter-organizational collaboration, namely: information sharing, non-information sharing, management sharing, and operational sharing. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) to analyzethe descriptive statistics through frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard
deviation. The inferential statistics, Chi-square (χ2) test at 0.05 level of significance was used to determine the relationships between communication and organizational variables and the level of inter-organizational collaboration.
The findings revealed that the major actors of the inter-organizational collaboration in the fisheries development project were at the policy and implementation level. The communication methods predominantly used in inter-organizations in the fisheries development project were meetings, individual discussions, and telephone conversations. The information flow in inter-organizational collaboration in the fisheries development project was primarily horizontal, followed by vertical upward.
As to the level of inter-organizational collaboration in the fisheries development project, the results revealed that information sharing was very high; and the noninformation sharing, management sharing, and operational sharing were at medium level. Information sharing ranked as the top priority; operational sharing, second; non-information sharing, third; and management sharing was the least priority in inter-organizational collaboration.
Moreover, the hypothesis testing revealed that they were significant at 0.01 level. Communication is an essential element for inter-organizational collaboration in the fisheries development project.