communication in an organization

1. Executive Summary:
Coordination, and the communication it implies, is central to the very existence of organizations. Despite
their fundamental role in the purpose of organizations, scholars have little understanding of actual
interaction patterns in modern, complex, multiunit firms. To open the proverbial "black box" and begin to
reveal the internal wiring of the firm, this paper presents a detailed, descriptive analysis of the network of
communications among members of a large, structurally, functionally, geographically, and strategically
diverse firm. The full data set comprises more than 100 million electronic mail messages and over 60
million electronic calendar entries for a sample of more 30,000 employees over a three-month period in
2006. Key concepts include:
• Communication is heavily constrained by formal organizational structure: the vast majority of
communication occurs within business unit and functional boundaries, not across them. This points
to the importance of drawing the right organizational boundaries.
• Women, mid- to high-level executives, and members of the executive management, sales, and
marketing functions are most likely to participate in cross-group communications.
• These individuals provide a bridge for distant groups in a company's social structure.
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About Faculty in this Article:
Toby E. Stuart is the Charles Edward Wilson Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business
School.
• More Working Knowledge from Toby E. Stuart
• Toby E. Stuart - Faculty Research Page
• E-mail Toby E. Stuart: tstuart@hbs.edu
About Faculty in this Article:

2. Michael Tushman is the Paul R. Lawrence MBA Class of 1942 Professor of Business Administration at
Harvard Business School.
• More Working Knowledge from Michael L. Tushman
• Michael L. Tushman - Faculty Research Page
Abstract
This is a descriptive study of the structure of communications in a modern organization. We analyze a
dataset with millions of electronic mail messages, calendar meetings and teleconferences for many
thousands of employees of a single, multidivisional firm during a three-month period in calendar 2006. The
basic question we explore asks, what is the role of observable (to us) boundaries between individuals in
structuring communications inside the firm? We measure three general types of boundaries: organizational
boundaries (strategic business unit and function memberships), spatial boundaries (office locations and
inter-office distances), and social categories (gender, tenure within the firm). In dyad-level models of the
probability that pairs of individuals communicate, we find very large effects of formal organization structure
and spatial collocation on the rate of communication. Homophily effects based on sociodemographic
categories are much weaker. In individual-level regressions of engagement in category-spanning
communication patterns, we find that women, mid- to high-level executives, and members of the executive
management, sales and marketing functions are most likely to participate in cross-group communications. In
effect, these individuals bridge the lacunae between distant groups in the company's social structure.
Email Adam Kleinbaum and Toby Stuart.
Paper Information
• Full Working Paper Text
• Working Paper Publication Date: July 2008
• HBS Working Paper Number: 09-004
• Faculty Units: Organizational Behavior Entrepreneurial Management
Keywords:
Organizational Design,
Communication
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How Effective Is the Communication in Your Organization?
Wednesday June 21, 2006
Some organizations include and update employees regularly. Others hide information. The worst
organizations even deceive their employees and hide important information. How do you feel about the
communication in your organization?
Poll: How Effective Is the Communication in Your Organization?
• Great. I know everything I need and want to know.

4. • I'm a member of the in-crowd, so I know everything I want to know.
• I'm not in the in-crowd, so I hear dribbles of information through second party sources.
• Everything I hear is gossip, not to be trusted.
• My organization intentionally leaves me in the dark.
• My organization shares information with no one. What information?
• My organization intentionally hides and obfuscates information.
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Importance of Communication in an Organization
By Stephen Thomson
Article Word Count: 511 [View Summary] Comments (0)
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Communication is one of the basic functions of management in any organization and its importance can
hardly be overemphasized. It is a process of transmitting information, ideas, thoughts, opinions and plans
between various parts of an organization.
You cannot have human relations without communication. However, good and effective communication is
required not only for good human relations but also for good and successful business.
You can use softwares like business writing software for writing effective business communication, which is
required at various levels and for various aspects in an organization such as -
Importance of communication for manager and employee relations:
Effective communication of information and decision is an essential component for management-employee
relations. The manager cannot get the work done from employees unless they are communicated effectively
of what he wants to be done? He should also be sure of some basic facts such as how to communicate and
what results can be expected from that communication. Most of management problems arise because of lack
of effective communication. Chances of misunderstanding and misrepresentation can be minimized with
proper communication system.
For motivation and employee morale:
Communication is also a basic tool for motivation, which can improve morale of the employees in an
organization. Inappropriate or faulty communication among employees or between manager and his
subordinates is the major cause of conflict and low morale at work. Manager should clarify to employees
about what is to be done, how well are they doing and what can be done for better performance to improve
their motivation. He can prepare a written statement, clearly outlining the relationship between company
objectives and personal objectives and integrating the interest of the two.
For increase productivity:
With effective communication, you can maintain a good human relation in the organization and by
encouraging ideas or suggestions from employees or workers and implementing them whenever possible,
you can also increase production at low cost.
For employees:
It is through the communication that employees submit their work reports, comments, grievances and
suggestions to their seniors or management. Organization should have effective and speedy communication

8. policy and procedures to avoid delays, misunderstandings, confusion or distortions of facts and to establish
harmony among all the concerned people and departments.
Importance of written communication:
Communication may be made through oral or written. In oral communication, listeners can make out what
speakers is trying to say, but in written communication, text matter in the message is a reflection of your
thinking. So, written communication or message should be clear, purposeful and concise with correct words,
to avoid any misinterpretation of your message. Written communications provides a permanent record for
future use and it also gives an opportunity to employees to put up their comments or suggestions in writing.
Use of business writing software for effective business communication:
So, effective communication is very important for successful working of an organization. Writing software
like business writing software with grammar checker and text enrichment tool can be used for writing
effective business communications. For more information on business writing software, please visit
www.WritingEditingSoftware.com/business.html
For details on writing software for writing business letters, emails, memo, presentations etc, please visit
Business writing software and for details on softwares to enrich your English writing or creative writing,
English writing software website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Thomson