Communication Flows in an Organization

Communication Flows in an Organization

1. Communication Flows in an Communication Flows in an
OrganizationOrganization
DownwardDownward
UpwardUpward
LateralLateral
DiagonalDiagonal
ExternalExternal

2. Downward Workplace Downward Workplace
Communication: Enabling Communication: Enabling
Downward communication consists of Downward communication consists of
communications sent from management communications sent from management
to workers, like emails and performance to workers, like emails and performance
reviews.reviews.
A manager explains a task to an employee A manager explains a task to an employee
A customer gives an order to a supplierA customer gives an order to a supplier
Shareholders instruct management. Shareholders instruct management.
Continuous ….

3. EnablingEnabling
These forms have more than direction in These forms have more than direction in
common. Each one also provides enabling common. Each one also provides enabling
information in the workplace. When a manager information in the workplace. When a manager
instructs an employee, she enables the employee instructs an employee, she enables the employee
to do his job, and makes it possible for him to to do his job, and makes it possible for him to
earn a living by doing something that has value earn a living by doing something that has value
for the employer. for the employer.
Another example: senior management finds out Another example: senior management finds out
from shareholders, or the board of directors, from shareholders, or the board of directors,
how owners want to apply the money they've how owners want to apply the money they've
invested. invested. Continuous

4. Information moves downwardInformation moves downward
Make a Budget report
Make a Budget report for the month to include the following
Make sure the report includes the exact amount and the qty.

5. PurposesPurposes
Business Goals can be shareBusiness Goals can be share
Providing feedback on employees performance Providing feedback on employees performance
Giving job instructionsGiving job instructions
Providing a complete understanding of the employees Providing a complete understanding of the employees
job as well as to communicate them how their job is job as well as to communicate them how their job is
related to other jobs in the organization.related to other jobs in the organization.
Communicating the organizations mission and vision to Communicating the organizations mission and vision to
the employees.the employees.
Highlighting the areas of attention.Highlighting the areas of attention.

6. Error-free downward Error-free downward
communicationcommunication
Specify communication objectiveSpecify communication objective
Ensure that the message is accurate, specific and Ensure that the message is accurate, specific and
unambiguous.unambiguous.
Utilize the best communication Utilize the best communication technique to technique to
conveyconvey the message to the receiver in right form the message to the receiver in right form

7. Upward CommunicationUpward Communication
Information flow from the lower levels of a Information flow from the lower levels of a
hierarchy to the upper levelshierarchy to the upper levels
A second major flow of communication is A second major flow of communication is
upward, from employee to supervisor, upward, from employee to supervisor,
supervisor to department head, department head supervisor to department head, department head
to vice president, and so on. to vice president, and so on.

8. PurposesPurposes
ProductivityProductivity
FeedbackFeedback
PromotionPromotion
ConsiderationsConsiderations

9. Lateral/HorizontalLateral/Horizontal
Communication that takes place at same levels Communication that takes place at same levels
of hierarchy in an organization.of hierarchy in an organization.
First, no superior/subordinate relationship exists First, no superior/subordinate relationship exists
here; it's strictly a case of two people with here; it's strictly a case of two people with
roughly equal amounts of power and prestige. roughly equal amounts of power and prestige.
That makes this form of communication That makes this form of communication
voluntary and discretionary.voluntary and discretionary.

10. PurposesPurposes
It is time SavingIt is time Saving
It Facilities co-ordination of the task.It Facilities co-ordination of the task.
It Facilities Co-ordination among team membersIt Facilities Co-ordination among team members
It Provides emotional and social assistance to the organizational It Provides emotional and social assistance to the organizational
members.members.
It help in solving Various Organizational problemIt help in solving Various Organizational problem
It can also be used for resolving conflicts of a department with It can also be used for resolving conflicts of a department with
other department or conflicts within a department.other department or conflicts within a department.

11. Diagonal CommunicationDiagonal Communication
Communication that takes place between a Communication that takes place between a
manager and employees of other workgroups is manager and employees of other workgroups is
called diagonal communication. called diagonal communication.
It generally does not appear on organizational It generally does not appear on organizational
chart. For instance - To design a training module chart. For instance - To design a training module
a training manager interacts with an Operations a training manager interacts with an Operations
personnel to enquire about the way they personnel to enquire about the way they
perform their task.perform their task.

12. External CommunicationExternal Communication
Communication that takes place between a Communication that takes place between a
manager and external groups manager and external groups
such as - suppliers, vendors, banks, financial such as - suppliers, vendors, banks, financial
institutes etc. For instance - To raise capital the institutes etc. For instance - To raise capital the
Managing director would interact with the Bank Managing director would interact with the Bank
Manager.Manager.

13. The GrapevineThe Grapevine
Grapevine communication is the Grapevine communication is the informal informal
communicationcommunication network within an  network within an
organization.organization.

14. ChannelChannel
Traditionally , the grapevine Mouth to mouthTraditionally , the grapevine Mouth to mouth
Email, Fax, ChatEmail, Fax, Chat
Cell PhoneCell Phone
FacebookFacebook

15. ExampleExample
Suppose the profit Amount of a company is Suppose the profit Amount of a company is
known. Rumor is spread that this much profit is known. Rumor is spread that this much profit is
there and on that basis bonus is declared.there and on that basis bonus is declared.
CEO may be in relation to the production CEO may be in relation to the production
manager. they may have friendly relations with manager. they may have friendly relations with
each othereach other

16. PurposesPurposes
Grapevine communication Grapevine communication creates a social creates a social
bond.bond.
The grapevine The grapevine fills in a gapfills in a gap
The grapevine in many ways The grapevine in many ways helps keep people helps keep people
honest.honest.

17. Communication SpeedCommunication Speed
Where downward, upward, and lateral Where downward, upward, and lateral
communication are structured and flow formally communication are structured and flow formally
through specific channels, the grapevine goes through specific channels, the grapevine goes
through multiple channels and even multiple through multiple channels and even multiple
versions. versions.