CHANNELS NETWORKS FORMS AND DIMENSIONS OF COMMUNICATION

CHANNELS NETWORKS

FORMS AND DIMENSIONS OF COMMUNICATION

INTRODUCTIONCommunication may be classified or categorized on the following

basis:

1. Organizational structure

Formal

Informal

2. Dimension/ Direction of communication

Upward

Downward

Lateral

Diagonal

Inward

Outward

3. Expression

Written

Oral

Non Verbal

4. Formation of networks

Wheel network

Y network

Chain network

All channel

Kite

Slash

CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION:

COMMUNICATION ON THE BASIS OF

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Channels of communication may be classified into two categories:

a) Formal

b) Informal

Formal Channel of Communication

It defined as a means of communication that is formally controlled by

managers or people occupying positions in an organization.

Communication flows through formal channels. Any information,

decision, memo or reminder etc., will also follow this path.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MANAGING DIRECTOR

TOP LEVEL MANAGEMENT

MIDDLE LEVEL MANAGEMENT

SENIOR SUPERVISORS

FIRST LINE SUPERVISORS

EMPLOYEES/SHOP FLOOR EMPLOYEES

Organizational Pyramid/Structure

Informal Channel of CommunicationSide by side with the formal channel of communication every organization has an equally effective channel of communication namely that is the informal channel. It is not officially sanctioned.

Informal Communication :Beyond the Organizational Hierarchy

•When anyone can tell anyone else anything informally the result is a rapid flow of information along what is commonly called the grapevine

•Unofficial information travels

•Factors responsible for grapevine

Feeling of insecurity

Lack of confidence

Formation of favoured group

Some unusual happening in the organization

Personal problems of the employees

Types of Grapevine Chains

•Single strand chain-A tells something to B who tells it to C

•Group chain-One person seeks out and tells everyone the

information he has received

•Probability chain-Tells at random

•Cluster chain-Few selected

Cont….

Advantages of informal communication

•Speedy transmission

•Feedback value

•Support to other channels

•Psychological satisfaction

•Uniting force

•Creation of ideas

•Good personal relations

Disadvantages

•Cannot be taken seriously

•Does not carry complete information

•Distorts information

•It may prove counter productive

•Chances of misinterpretation

•Lack of accountability

Assignment

Effective use of the grapevine in the organization

COMMUNICATION ON THE BASIS OF DIRECTION/ DIMENSIONCommunication is multidimensional or multidirectional. There are various directions in which it flows. Within the organization, communication may flow inter scalar or intra scalar, upward or downward. Communication with the outside world may be Inward or Outward.

Let's understand these dimensions are :

a) Downward

b) Upward

c) Horizontal or lateral

d) Diagonal or crosswise

e) Inward

f) Outward

Written

Instructions

Memoranda

Letters

Handbooks

policy statements

procedures electronic news

displays

others

Oral

Instructions

Speeches

Meetings

Telephone

Loudspeaker

others

Downward communication

Cont….

Upward Communication

Communication that flows from bottom to top, or which is from lower

hierarchical level to higher level, is called upward communication. The

main function of upward communication is to supply information to

the upper levels about what is happening at the lower levels.

THE CONCEPT OF OMBUDSPERSON(Swedish

word Commissioner appointed to investigate

complaints )

Lateral or Horizontal Communication

When communication takes place between two or more persons who

are subordinates working under the same person, or those who are

working at the same level, it is called lateral or horizontal

communication. Communication transferred through lateral means

includes interdepartmental reports, requests, suggestions and

informal communication among peers at the same level and so on.

Lateral Communication

Diagonal Communication

Marketing Manager Production Mgr

Marketing Manager Training Manager

Marketing Supervisor Training Supervisor

Vertical Communication

Marketing Manager

Upward communication

Downward Communication

Marketing Supervisor

Diagonal or Crosswise Communication

Diagonal or crosswise communication includes flow of information

among persons at different levels who have no direct reporting

relationships.

Written

• company news

paper/magazine

• bulletin boards

• in house journal or

communique

Oral

• informal meetings

• lunch hour meetings

• formal conferences

• project organization meetings

• advisory authority interactions

• with line managers of different

deptts.

Diagonal or crosswise communication

Inward Communication

Inward Communication includes all the information received by the

organization from external agencies, which may be:

other organizations

government,

suppliers,

customers,

competitors

shareholders

media.

These may be in the form of

letters

emails

offers

orders

requests

suggestions

complaints

notices and so on.Cont….

Outward Communication

The communication which the organization maintains with the outside world is called outward communication.

Outward communication it may be in the form of: advertisements media interaction public relations negotiations mails telegrams letters tenders notices telephonic conversations and so on.

FORMS OF COMMUNICATIONForms of communication, can be divided into verbal or non verbal communication. Verbal communication may be oral or written. It depends upon the manner in which the message in expressed. If, it is expressed through the mouth, it is oral communication. This also includes face to face conversation, dialogue, interviews, meetings, conferences, telephonic conversation and so on. When the message is expressed through written language symbols, it is written communication and it includes reports, letters, mails, telegrams, orders and memos. When no words are used and only symbols, colours, signs, sounds or expressions help to express a message, it is termed as non verbal communication.

FORMS OF COMMUNICATION

VERBAL NON VERBAL

ORAL WRITTEN

Oral Communication•Immediate feedback•Shorter Sentences•More informal•Conversational focus•Prompt action•Focus on relations•Less detailed technical information•More personal pronouns•Simpler construction•Lesser focus on grammar•Local phrases and idioms are used

Written Communication•Delayed feedback•Longer sentences•Longer words•More formal•Focus on content and precision•Delayed action•Focus on actions•More detailed technical information•Fewer personal pronouns•More complex constructions•Useful document•Grammar accuracy

COMMUNICATION NETWORKS OR PATTERNS OF

COMMUNICATION

Given below are the most important patterns of communication or

‘communication nets:’

a) Wheel/ Y

i) Three-person wheel communication pattern.

ii) Five-person wheel communication pattern.

iii) Five-person ‘Y’ wheel communication pattern.

b) Circle

i) Four-person circle communication pattern.

ii) Five-person circle communication pattern.

c) All channel

i) Four-person all channel communication pattern.

ii) Five-person all channel communication pattern.

d) Kite

e) Chain

f) Slash

FACTORS INFLUENCING ORGANIZATIONAL

COMMUNICATION

The communication system of an organization is generally influenced

by four factors

1. Formal channels of communication

2. Authority structure

3. Job specialization ownership

4. Information ownership

Importance Effective communication is the most important

ingredient of an organization.

Organization –effective communication system.

Achievement of organizational objectives . - Proper coordination - Integration of employees in an

organization.• Social glue –keeps the organization together.• Enhances own productivity and

Organizations. (Dhirubhai Ambani)

Benefits

Effective communicati

on

EnhancedProfessional image

Strongerdecision making

Increaseproductivit

y

Quicker problem solvingHealthier

business relationshi

p

Improvedcustomer

relationship

Increased

awareness among

Better quality of document

s

Lesser misunderstandin

g