This document defines and compares formal and informal communication. Formal communication follows predefined organizational channels like manuals, reports and meetings. It flows down and across organizational hierarchies. Informal communication flows freely in any direction and occurs when people discuss personal or work topics. It includes gossip, rumors and casual exchanges. Both types have multiple channels - formal includes upward, downward, horizontal and crosswise flows while informal includes single strand, cluster, probability and gossip chains. The key difference is formal communication is professional while informal is more personal and relaxed in tone.

2. ASWATHY R A
SOCIAL SCIENCE
CSI COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
PARASSALA
Submitted By,

3. FORMAL COMMUNICATION
• It is one that passes through predefined channels
of communication throughout the organization.
• This type of communication takes the shape of
manual forms, reports and meetings.

4. INFORMAL COMMUNICATION
•It refers to the form of communication which flows
in every direction. i.e.it moves freely in the
organization.
•It occurs when people come together and talk
about their working conditions, family, co-workers
etc.

5. Definition of Formal Communication
The communication follows a
hierarchical chain of command which is
established by the organization itself. In
general, this type of communication is
used exclusively in the work place, and
the employees are bound to follow it
while performing their duties.

6. The formal communication is of four types
 Upward or Bottom-up communication
 Down ward or Top-down communication
 Horizontal or Lateral communication
 Cross wise or Diagonal communication

7. Upward or Bottom-up communication
The communication in which the flow of
information goes from subordinate to superior
authority.
Downward or Top-down communication
The communication in which the flow of
information goes from superior to subordinate.

8. Horizontal or Lateral communication
The communication between two employees of
different working at the same level.
Crosswise or Diagonal communication
The communication between the employees
of two different departments working at different
levels.

9. Definition of informal communication
This type of communication moves
freely in all directions, and thus, it is very
quick and rapid. In any organization, this
type of communication is very natural as
people interact with each other about
their professional life, personal life ,and
other matter.

10. The informal communication is of four types
 Single strand chain
 Cluster chain
 Probability chain
 Gossip chain

11. 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.
B D EC

12. 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.
B
F
D
E
H
I
G

13. 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.
B
E
C H
D
J I
F
G

14. Gossip Chain
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.
I
F
H
B
E
C
D
G

15. Difference between Formal and Informal
communication
Formal Informal
 It is used in a
professional setting.
 It usually used with
friends and family.
 No slang words  Contains shortened
version of words.
 Contains slang words