Organisational Communication, Module 3 for N4 students studying Communication at TVET Colleges in South Africa. This slideshow can be used as notes for this module.

1. Module 3
Organisational Communication
Page 52-58
Normally included in Question 3 of Paper 2

3. 3.1 What is an organisation? p.52
 Groups of people who work together towards a
mutual goal or goals.
 They have to communicate at various levels of the
organisation (internal comm)
 Sometimes they have to communicate with
members who are non-members (external
communication)

4. Definition:
Organisational Communication
It can be defined as
the internal and
external
communication of
members of an
organisation at all
levels in order to
achieve the particular
organisation’s goals.

5. THE ORGANISATIONAL FUNCTION –
Management implements it:
 Organise activities and resources (human and
material). This is done by assigning duties, tasks,
responsibilities and authority to specific
individuals and groups.
 They must determine and formalise the
relationship between individuals and groups. This
is necessary to promote cooperation and to
achieve goals set by the organisation.

6. 3.2 Basic hierarchical structures p.52
 The logical structure of an organisation is
done grammatically in a diagram called the
organigram, organisational chart or
organisational pyramid
 It reflects three basic hierarchical
structures:
◦ Line
◦ Line and staff
◦ Functional

7. 3.2.1 Line organisation p.53
Putting specific
senior staff members
directly in charge of
specific junior
employees with the
specific purpose of
having instructions
obeyed within the
shortest possible
time.

8. 3.2.2 Line and staff organisation p.53
Staff functions, which refer to the expert knowledge of
certain staff members, are increasingly being included in
the line organisation of business concerns.

9. 3.2.3 Functional organisation p.55
Involves appointing an expert in a
particular field as senior employee over a
number of similarly trained subordinates.

10. 3.2.4 Channels of formal internal
communication
 Vertical (from higher levels to lower levels of
authority and vice versa)
 Horizontal or lateral (between employees on
the same level or peer group)
 Diagonal (around or across the formal lines of
authority)

11. 3.3 Forms of address p.56
 Senior colleagues should be addressed by their
titles: Mr, Mrs, Miss, Dr, Professor.
 Do not address a colleague by his first name in
the presence of members of the public or
students.
 Employees on same level can address each
other on their first names.
 Address people according to their culture
 Remarks during a meeting to the Chairperson
 English: uncle and aunt (only family members)
Unlike in Afrikaans: oom and tannie

12. 3.3.1 Appropriate forms for
dignitaries p.57
 See page 57 (table) for full list
A Chief Justice is
called Mr Chief Justice
or in court we say
Your Honour. On a
letter we write The
Honourable T.P. Jones,
Chief Justice

13. 3.4 Means (or methods) of
communication p.57
 Oral communication
◦ Helps to establish and convey a specific attitude
and build a specific interpersonal relationship
 Written communication
◦ It offers concrete proof of an agreement

14. 5.4 Means (or methods) of
communication p.58
 Non-verbal communication
◦ You can convey respect by speaking, dressing etc.
 Electronic communication
◦ You can send information to anywhere in the
world

15. Why organisational comm is NB!?