Formal & Informal Communication

3. Communication is transfer of
information from one person to
another, whether or not it elicits
confidence. But the information
transferred must be understandable
to the receiver – G.G. Brown.
Communication is the intercourse
by words, letters or messages- Fred
G. Meyer.

5. The process of sharing
official information with
others who need to know it,
 According to the
prescribed patterns
depicted in an organization
chart

6. PRESIDENT
VICE-
PRESIDENT
MANAGER MANAGER
VICE-
PRESIDENT
MANAGER
INFORMATION
INSTRUCTIONS&DIRECTIVES
EFFORTSAT COORDINATION

7. FORMAL
COMMUNICATION
WRITTEN
LETTERS,E-MAILS
BLOG ENTRIES,
NOTICE BOARDS
BULLITENS,
MEMOS,
HAND OUTS
ORAL
PRESENTATIONS,
SPEECHS,
CONFERENCES.

8. Downward communication:
Instructions, directions, orders
Feedback
Upward communication:
Data required to complete
projects
Status reports
Suggestions for improvement,
new ideas
Horizontal communication:
Coordination of cooperation

9.  Company’s news bulletins
 Special interviews
Conferences
 Employees handbook
 Company magazines

10. ADVANTAGES
 Effective
 Provide close contact
between members of the
organization
 Flow of essential information
in an orderly manner
 Control over the sub-
ordinates and fixing their
responsibility
DISADVANTAGES
 Stiff, Slow & Rigid
 Channels of communication
are not perfect.
 Organizational distance,
Screening at various points
and narrow route are the
three bottlenecks in the flow
of communication.

11.  Meaning : It is in the form of
unofficial massages (work
related or people related) that
flow outside the officially
designed channels.
Technically called as grapevine
communication.
 Result of natural desire to
communicate with each other
freely and frequently.

12.  Single strand : communication in
sequence
 Gossip network : communicates to all
on non-selective basis
Y
D
C
B
A
Chain
A
JB
D H I
K
F
G
E
C
Gossip

13. Probability network : Individuals
communicates randomly
Cluster network : an individual
communicates to only those
whom he trusted
A
F B D
J
H
C
E
K
G I
X
Probability
A
C
D
F
J
IB
Cluster

14. Employees rely on the grapevine when:
They feel threatened
 Insecure
 Under stress
When communication from management
is limited.

15.  70% of all organizational
communication occurs at the
grapevine level
 Estimated accuracy rates:
75-90%
 An estimated 80% of
grapevine information is
oriented towards the
individual while 20% concerns
the company

16. ADVANTAGES
 More flexible and much
faster
 Helps in achieving better
human relations
 Fulfill the psychological
needs of the employees
DISADVANTAGES
 Information may be
distorted.
 Lacks official status and less
dependable.
 Has no definite origin &
direction.
 Leakage of confidential
information.

17.  Face to face discussion
Telephone
 Email
Voice messaging (Voice mail)
 Instant messaging (chatting)

18. FORMAL
 Has official recognition and
status as official channels
are used.
 Does not mislead the
employees.
 Speed is slow.
 Normally work related
information.
 Controllable
INFORMAL
 Lacks official status and
recognition as unofficial
channels are used.
 May misinform the
employees.
 Fast speed.
 May be work or people
related.
 Uncontrollable.