Grapevine communication is an informal network within an organization formed through social relationships rather than formal structures. It spreads throughout the organization in an unstructured way, carrying messages. Factors like uncertainty, lack of confidence, and favored groups can lead to more grapevine activity. The intensity of rumors on the grapevine depends on how important and ambiguous the information is. Common grapevine chains include single strands, gossip, probability, and cluster chains. While the grapevine can spread information rapidly and provide emotional support, it also risks spreading untruths and partial information. Managing the grapevine effectively includes keeping employees informed, encouraging participation, and discouraging harmful rumors.

1. Jitin
Kollamkudy
Grapevine Communication1

2. Grapevine Communication???
 Unstructured and Informal network.
 Formed on social relationship rather than
organizational charts or job descriptions.
 Informal vehicle through which message flow
throughout the organization.
 Called so because it stretches throughout the
organization in all directions.
 Term originated in 1860’s during the American
Civil War.
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3. Factors leading to Grapevine
 Feeling of uncertainty when the organization is
passing through a difficult period
 Lack of self-confidence on the part of the employee
 Formation of favored group by the manager
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4. Grapevine Formula
Gordon Allport describes two conditions as
controlling of the grapevine; importance of the
subject to the speaker and listener, and the
ambiguousness of the facts.
R=IA
Where
R= Intensity of the rumor.
I= Importance of the rumor to the persons
communicating.
A= Ambiguity of the facts associated.
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5. Types of Grapevine Chains
 Single Strand Chain
 Gossip Chain
 Probability Chain
 Cluster Chain
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6. Single Strand Chain
 It flows like a chain,
i.e. ‘A’ tells something to ‘B’
who tells it to ‘C’ and so on.
 The longer the strand the
more distortion and filtering
affects.
 Most inaccuracies occur in
this chain.
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7. Gossip Chain
 One person tells to other people.
 This chain passes a message regarding a
‘not-on-job’ nature.
 Generally considered to be slow in passing
the information.
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8. Probability Chain
 Information may move from anybody to anybody.
 This chain is found when the information is
somewhat interesting but not really significant.
 Only some people in the organization will get to
know the information.
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9. Cluster Chain
 Individual communicates with only those
individuals he/she trust.
 Cluster chain is the dominant grapevine pattern in
an organization.
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10.  Most informal communication flows
through this chain.
 ‘A’ tells something to a few selected
individuals and then some of these
individuals inform a few other selected
individuals.
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11. Advantages of Grapevine
 Spreads Rapidly
 Feedback is Quick
 Group Cohesiveness & psychological
satisfaction
 Emotional Supportive
 Signals that Problems/Good news
exist
 Substitute for formal channel of
communication
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12. Disadvantages of Grapevine
 Hostility against executives
 Untruth information most of the time
 Partial information only spreads
(rumours)
 Hampers the goodwill of the
organization or the people
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13. Effective uses of Grapevine
 Keep the employees well informed
 Organize fruitful group activities
 Open door policy of managers
 Identification of leaders & winning their
confidence
 Employees’ participation in decision making
process
 Creation of healthy environment
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14.  Enhancing feedback
 Discouraging rumours aimed at character
assassination or maligning somebody
 Be a good empathetic listener
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15. Thank You...
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