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Communication in anOrganizationGroup Members:

Shweta Richharia (41)Sneha Joshi (21)

Aboli Junagade (22)

Gurudatt Rao (39)

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Communication

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The Role of Communication in

Organizationskey purposes: direct action: to get others to behave in

desired fashion achieve coordinated action

systematic sharing of information+ interpersonal side with the focus on

interpersonal relations betweenpeople

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Communication the social glue that continues to keep

the organization tied together

the essence of organization a key process underlying all aspects of

organizational operations

properly managing communicationprocesses is central to organizationalfunctioning

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Organizational Structure:

Directing the Flow ofMessagesOrganizational structure:

the formally prescribed pattern of

interrelationships existing between the

various units of an organization

dictating who may and may not

communicate with whom depicted in Organizational Charts

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Organizational Charts

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Formal Communication

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

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Centralized Networks

One central person

Unequal access to information

Central person is at the

crossroads of the information flow

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Communication Structures

Centralized

Y

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Communication Structures

Centralized

Wheel

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Communication Structures

Centralized

Chain

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Decentralized Networks

Information can flow freely

No central person

All members play an equal role in

the transmittal of information

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Communication Structures

Decentralized

Circle

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Communication Structures

Decentralized

Star

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Informal CommunicationStructures

Deviation from the plannedcommunication structure

Direction of the flow of information

Leaving out people in thecommunication line

Integrating people into thecommunication line

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Formal Structure vs Informal

Networks

Communities of practice:

informal collaborative networks

???

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Informal Communication

information shared without any formally imposedobligations or restrictions

if an organizations formal communication represents its

skeleton, its informal communication constitutes its

central nervous system(Behavior in Organizations, p. 307)

eng. grapevine An organizations informal channels of communication,

based mainly on friendship or acquaintance

origin: American Civil War [grapevine telegraphs]

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Grapevine

1. a secret means of spreading orreceiving information

2. the informal transmission of(unofficial) information,gossip or rumor from person-to-person -> "to hear abouts.th. through the grapevine"

3. a rumor: unfounded report;hearsay

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Grapevine Characteristics

oral mostly undocumented

open to change

fast (hours instead of days)

crossing organizational boundaries

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Grapevine Characteristics

inaccuracy: levelling

deletion of crucial details sharpening

exaggeration of the most dramaticdetails

while the grapevine generally carries thetruth it seldom carries the whole truth

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Positive Aspects of the

Grapevine social function

reduction of anxiety

release mechanism for stress identification of pending problems

early warning system for organizational change

vehicle for creating a common organizationalculture

desired information can be circulated quickly toa large group of subordinates (inofficially!)

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Formal Media

Company newsletters

Employee handbooks Company magazines

Formal meetings

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Formal Media

Letters

Flyers and bulletins Memos

Faxes

All-employees mailings

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Informal Media

Face-to-face discussions

Telephone

Voice messaging (voice mail)

E-mail

Instant messaging (chat)

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Informal Dialogues

Characteristics:

often no formal opening or closing

first utterance often assumes a commonreference to a previous interaction or issue

conversations generally last only a fewminutes

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Thank You