Formal vs Informal Communication

By: Dr. Suraj Nandkumar Dhumal

Formal vs Informal Communication
Lesson Overview:
The present lesson will focus on:
1. What is communication?
2. What are channels of communication?
3. What is formal communication and its
types?
4. What is informal communication and its
types?
5. What is the difference between formal and
informal communication?
Formal vs Informal Communication
 What do you think what makes us different
from other species on the earth?
1. What is communication?
 A process of interchanging ideas, emotions,
and information.
 It can take place in the verbal or non-verbal
mode.
 Verbal - spoken or written.
 Non-verbal - using sign language,
body movements, facial expressions,
gestures, eye contact.
 2. There are two channels of
communication

Formal Informal
Communication Communication
3. What is Formal Communication?
 Known as official communication.
It takes place through the pre-planned
or the officially designated mediums.
 The context of the conversation is also
prepared before the communication.
Things mostly go in hierarchical order.
 A certain type of rules and regulations
and conventions and styles are being
followed e.g. no slang.
 The orders, requests, commands, and
reports in the organizations or offices
are some prominent examples of
formal communication.
 3.1 Four types of formal communication

1. Upward or Bottom-up: 
The communication in which the flow of
information goes from subordinate to superior authority.
For example: Bank Cashier Bank Manager.

2. Downward or Top-down: 
The communication in which the flow of information
goes from superior to subordinate. For example: Principal
Superior
Clerk.
Downward

Subordinate
3.1 Four types of formal communication

3. Horizontal or Lateral: 
The communication between two employees of different
departments working at the same level.
For example: Head of the English department
Head of the MCA department.

4.Crosswise or Diagonal: 
The communication between the employees of two
different departments working at different levels.
For example: Doctor Medical Officer
 4. What is Informal Communication

Is the casual and unofficial form of communication.

The information is exchanged spontaneously

between two or more persons without conforming
the prescribed official rules, processes, system,
formalities and chain of command.
No rules and regulations are followed in these types
of communication.

 Is based on the personal or informal relations such

as friends, peers, family, club members, etc.

Example: Sharing of feelings, casual discussion,

gossips, etc
 4.1 Four Types of Informal
Communication
1. Single Strand Chain: 

The communication in which one person tell something

to another, who again says something to some other person
and the process goes on.
 4.1 Four Types of Informal
Communication
2. Cluster Chain:
 
The communication in which one person tells something
to some of its most trusted people, and then they tells them
to their trustworthy friends and the communication
continues.
 4.1 Four Types of Informal
Communication
3. Probability Chain: 

The communication happens when a person randomly

chooses some persons to pass on the information which is of
little interest but not important.
 4.1 Four Types of Informal
Communication
4. Gossip Chain: 

The communication starts when a person tells something

to a group of people, and then they pass on the information
to some more people and in this way the information is passed
on to everyone.
 INFORMAL
BASIS FOR COMPARISON FORMAL COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION
Meaning Official Communication Grapevine communication

Reliability More Comparatively less

Speed Slow Very Fast
Evidence As the communication is generally No documentary evidence.
written, documentary evidence is
present.

Time Consuming Yes No

Advantage Effective due to timely and Efficient because employees can
systematic flow of information. discuss work related problems, this
saves time and cost of the
organization.

Disadvantage Distortion due to long chain of Spread of rumors

communication.

Secrecy Full secrecy is maintained. It is difficult to maintain the

secrecy.

Flow of Information Only through predefined channels. Can move freely.

What We Have Learnt:
 What is communication?

 Two channels of communication.

(Forma communication / Informal communication)

 Their types.

 Key deference between formal and

informal communication.