Organizational

Communication

1
Communication

Behavior in Organizations, p.289

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

The Role of Communication in
Organizations
key purposes:
■ direct action: to get others to behave in desired
fashion
■ achieve coordinated action

🡪 systematic sharing of information

+ interpersonal side with the focus on
interpersonal relations between people

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

Formal Communication

■ the process of sharing official information with

others who need to know it,
■ according to the prescribed patterns depicted in
an organization chart

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

Communication

■ “the social glue … that continues to keep the

organization tied together”
■ “the essence of organization”
■ a key process underlying all aspects of
organizational operations

🡪 properly managing communication processes is

central to organizational functioning

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

Organizational Structure: Directing the
Flow of Messages
Organizational structure:
■ the formally prescribed pattern of
interrelationships existing between the various
units of an organization
■ dictating who may and may not communicate
with whom
■ abstract construction
■ depicted in Organizational Charts

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

Formal Communication

President

Instructions and directives

Information

Vice Vice
President President

Manager Manager Manager Manager

Efforts at coordination

© Copyright
Formal and Informal Channels 2002 by Prentice Hall, Inc.
of Communication
 Formal Communication
Includes 3 types of communication Inside the organization. . .

Downward
Messages flow downward
through the chain of
command—i.e., from
manager to employee.
Horizontal
Upward
Messages flow upward Messages flow
through the chain of laterally between
command—i.e., from people of the same
employee to boss. rank.

8
Centralized Networks

■ One central person

■ Unequal access to information

■ Central person is at the “crossroads” of the

information flow

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

 Communication Structures
Centralized

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

 Communication Structures
Centralized

Wheel

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

Communication Structures
Centralized

Chain

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

Decentralized Networks

■ Information can flow freely

■ No central person

■ All members play an equal role in the transmittal

of information

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

 Communication Structures
Decentralized

Circle

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

 Communication Structures
Decentralized

Comcon

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

 Communication Networks

Behavior
Formal andin Informal
Organizations, p.305of Communication
Channels
Network Performance

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication 11/18/2003

Gatekeepers

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication Behavior11/18/2003

in Organizations, p.320
Informal Communication Structures

■ Deviation from the planned communication

structure

■ Direction of the flow of information

■ Leaving out people in the communication line
■ Integrating people into the communication line

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

 Informal Networks E
C
K
H
Y
G I
X
F B D
J
D E
G
J
C D F H I B I
C A
B J Probability
B A K D
Gossip C F
A Cluster
A
Chain

Formal and Informal Channels of Communication

McGraw-Hill