FLOW OF

COMMUNICATION

Anuvesh Gill
Assistant Professor
Department of Law
INTRODUCTI
ON

The word communication is derived from Latin language

‘communis’ which means ‘to share’.

Communication plays a significant role in our lives. People

spend maximum time communicating with each others. It is
important for the survival of our society and it plays an
outstanding role in the functioning/working of different
professional organisation.
In fact, communication has a decisive role to play in today’s
technical and professional worlds, as it helps people seek
required information and take important decisions.

Pauley and Riordan write “Communication is the act of

transmitting an idea from one person to another.
Communication always requires at least two people, the
sender of the message and its receiver” .
In general, communication is a means of connecting people
or places. Thus, communication, in brief, is a process of
sharing information.

As we know ,that in today’s world, no organisation can

survive without a network .Communication is regarded as
the back bone of any organisation. In this the flow of
communication takes place both internally and externally.
Hence, Flow of communication means how information is
conveyed.
Types:

There are two flow of communication:

1.Vertical flow of communication .

2.Horizontal OR Lateral flow of Communication.

Vertical Communication :

It consist of communication Up and down the organization

chain. Vertical flow of communication is divided into two
types namely:

1.Downward Communication.
2.Upward Communication.
Downward Communication:

In this the flow of information is in downward direction i.e.

from higher authority in the organization to the lower level.

The information is transferred through different medium such

as notes, notices, instruction, telephonic conversation, voice
mails, emails, conferences, seminar, bulletins, pamphlets or
face to face conversation.
Chairperson ------ Director------ Dean ------
H.O.D ----- faculty ----- Students .

Benefits of Downward Communication:

1.Provide instructions how to do job.
2.Provide information about organisational
policies, practices and goals.
3.To provide feedback on performance.
Upward Flow of communication:
In this flow of communication, information is transferred from
Subordinates to Higher authority
Or
Upward communication involves the transfers of
information’s, request and feedback from the subordinates to
their seniors.

Students ---Faculty ----H.O.D---Dean--Director---Chairperson

Benefits of Upward flow of communication:

1.Promotes better working relationship within the

organization.

2.Subordinates staff have the opportunity to share

their views and ideas with their seniors.

3.Provide feedback.
Horizontal or Lateral Communication:

This is sometimes called as equivalent employees.

In this, the people at the same level or same status in

the organisation exchange information, it is called

Horizontal or lateral communication.

Dean of B.Tech --- Dean of M.B.A

Benefit of Horizontal or Lateral communication:

1.Helps employees to share information.

2.Better co-ordination among peers possible.

3. Department faces any problem, can consult /contact

another department of the organisation for possible solution.

4. It is essential for effective functioning.

Horizontal communication is also known as spiral
or cross-wise communication or Diagonal
communication.
The reason behind this is people of different status
and different departments share information in
pursuit of achieving the organizational goals. As
communication flow in all directions.
Thanks You