This document discusses the organizational grapevine, which is an informal network through which information spreads rapidly via rumors and gossip. It defines the grapevine and outlines its key characteristics, including that it transmits information quickly but inaccurately across organizational boundaries. The document also examines different types of grapevine, notes both advantages like rapid feedback and disadvantages like spreading untruths, and provides recommendations for management to prevent rumors like providing accurate information through formal channels.

2.  Meaning
 Organizational grapevine
 Characteristics
 Definition
 Example
 Types
 Reference
 Advantages
 Disadvantages
 Prevention
 Conclusion

3.  To hear something through the grapevine is
to learn of something informally and
unofficially by mean of rumors and gossips.
 Informal vehicle through which message
flow throughout the organisation

4.  Early researches findings :
 Transmits information rapidly in all direction.
 More active in homogenous group.
 Transmits some degree of truth.

5.  Oral -> mostly documented
 Fast ( hours instead of a day )
 Crossing organizational boundaries
 inaccuracy : deletion of crucial details
 Not controlled by management

6.  Grapevine -> unstructured and informal
network founded on social relationship rather
then organizational.
 In other words,
 An informal chat between people , seen as a
network through which the information is
reliably spread

7.  Suppose the profit amount of company is
known. Rumors is spread that this profit is
there on that basis bonus is declared.
 CEO may be relation to the production
manager. They may have friendly relations
with each other.

8. Single strand chain
Gossip chain
Probability chain
Cluster chain

9.  It flows like a chain i.e., A tell to B , who tells
it to C and so on .
 The larger the strand the more distortion
and filtering effects.

10.  One person tells to other person.
 this chain passes a message regarding a
‘not-on-job’ nature .
 Generally consider to be slowly passing the
information.

11.  Information may move from anyone to
anybody.
 this chain is found the information is
somewhat interesting but not really
significant.
 only some people in the organization will get
to know the information.

12.  Individual communication with only those
individual he/she trust.
 Cluster chain is the dominant grapevine
pattern in an organization.
 Most informal communication flows through
this chain,
 ‘A’ tells something to a few selected
individuals and then some of the individual
inform a few other selected individuals.

13. Spread rapidly
Feedback is quick
Group cohesiveness
Good news that exist
Substitute for formal channel
of communication

14.  The grapevine is not trust worthy always as it
doesn't follow official path of communication
and is spread more by gossips and
unconfirmed report
 Untruth information most of the time
 Partial information only spread ( rumors)
 Hampers the goodwill of organization or the
people .

15.  Provide information through the formal
system of communication on the issue
important to the employee.
 Supply employees with a steady flow of
clear, accurate and timely information.
 Present full facts.
 Keep formal communication line open and
the process as short as possible.

16.  “ The grapevine cannot be abolished ,
rubbed out , hidden under a basket ,
chopped down ,tied up, or shopped.