Channels in Business Communication?
Channels in Business Communication?
– Various channels of communication are
categorized into 2 types of channels.
This consist of both a formal channel of
communication as well as that of an informal
the pattern of communication.
This, of course, depends on the business
environment and Channels in Business Communication!
The connection can also be classified according to
the amount of ceremony or formality it can provide.
Channels in Business Communication –
(Communication Divide?)
Thus, we could divide communication into two broad classes:
1. Formal station of communication:
An official channel of communication is
the way of communicating normally
controlled by people in positions of authority in an organization.
Consequently, it has also been referred to as an
the organization’s ‘main line of operational communication’.
2. All the reports, records and other forms that supply working advice to several
elements of a business are included in the formal channel of communication.
These channels of communication do not function automatically.
A fantastic small business organization
will ensure that these are carefully planned
and designed for the needs.
Channels in Business Communication Advantages:
(i) Effective:
Formal Channels of Communication –
Formal channels are considered the more
effective of channels of communicating.
With organizations constantly growing, formal channels
help to bridge the gap in the communication process.
It is a readily available means to reach to each corner of
an organization, which would otherwise be difficult.
(ii) Prevent bogging:
Informal channels, the principles are nicely laid.
For instance, a worker communicates with the manager, the manager
of the supervisor, and so forth.
Thus, only necessary information
becomes filtered and sent to the very best.
It prevents the top-level management from becoming bogged down with all
the irrelevant nitty-gritty (the practical details) of data and
leaves it free for larger conclusions and general management.
(iii) Better monitoring:
An organization can design formal channels to suit its particular needs.
This might help monitor organizational pursuits.
It can ensure that issues are resolved without too much delay.
(iv) Great air:
Good formal channels of communication reflect professionalism.
They help unify the organization. They also keep the managerial
employees in control.
Cons :(I)
Deter free flow of advice:
Formal channels provide a completely free flow of information.
Formality demands that the information flow take a specific path only.
This inhibits the natural flow of information.
Channels in Business Communication – Time Efficiency?
ii) Time-consuming:
Formal channels of communication frequently contribute to delays.
The information may not directly get to the individual for whom it is meant.
It is going to often must take a circuitous formal route
where the intervening connections could be meaningless.
As a result, formal channels of communication can become time-consuming.
(iii) Affects conclusion:
Filtering and monitoring of information at lower levels is a dual-edged sword.
While it has its benefits, it may also prevent
critical information from reaching the best management.
This may alter the perspective while making decisions.
3. Casual Channel of Communication / Grapevine:
The informal channel of communication is often discouraged or
looked down upon in an “organization and is not officially sanctioned.
It’s popularly known as grapevine. This is since it
runs in all directions no matter the proper arrangement.
The origin of the term grapevine can be traced to how
the botanical vine grew over telegraph wires, making telegraphic
messages proceed in unintended directions.
General Settings
In life, grapevine owes its existence to man’s gossipy nature.
Humans tend to speak loosely or gently with
their partners wherever they could be.
Time to time they feel the need to become freed from the
requirement to stick to truth or logic.
As individuals go about their work,
they’ve casual conversation with their friends in the workplace.
These conversations deal with both personal and business matters.
This leads to the creation of a rumor mill, and it can be a grapevine.
Grapevine of Business Communication –
Categorized into four classes:
- Single strand: Each one tells another.
- Dark Side of Business Communication?
- Group or gossip chain:
- One informs all persons inside his/her group.
- Probability series:
- Each randomly informs several individuals.
- Cluster series: Some tell others.
Grapevine satisfies the societal needs of members, leads to more relaxed
individual connections (partly through the release of fantasy),
serves to fill the probable gaps in the formal communication
and hyperlinks even people who don’t fall in the official chain of command.
Other characteristics of the grapevine are:
(I) It’s more people-oriented then issue-oriented.
(II) (ii) May not be totally authentic and reliable.
(III) (iii) Grapevine transmission flows in all directions in a single organization.
(IV) (iv) Grapevine info travels very fast.
(V) (v) Its responsibility cannot be fixed.
Channels in Business Communication –
Factors Resulting in grapevine:
A rumor mill becomes active when
these factors exist in an organization:
Communication Channels – Organization View
(I) A lack of sense of direction, especially in times of crisis.
The more the doubt, the greater the rumormongering.
(II) (ii) The formation of favored groups of workers by the management.
This breeds insecurity among other employees leading to rumors.
(III) (iii) A lack of self-confidence amongst workers leads to the formation of groups.
These groups frequently run rumor mills.
(IV) Advantages:(I) Speed:
Speed has become the most remarkable characteristic of this
channel of communication. It is possible to transmit data remarkably
fast as there are no formal barriers and no quitting.
A rumor, thus, may spread like a wildfire.
(V) (ii) Feedback:
The feedback through this station is a lot faster than a
formal channel of communication. The channel is similar to
the pulse of an organization. The reaction to the choices,
policies, directives, and instructions often reach
supervisors faster through this station than through the proper one.
(VI) (iii) Parallel function:
The casual channel does not have official sanction
but is an inevitable parallel to the proper channel. It functions as a supplementary
channel of communication in a business. Excellent managers
are known to utilize the informal channel for their advantage for
transmitting information differently unfit for formal channels.
(VII) (iv) Support system: A grapevine is an informal support
system developed by workers within an organization.
It brings them closer and gives them immense satisfaction.
(VIII) Cons :(I) Less plausible: A grapevine is less plausible than a
formal channel of communication. It can’t be taken seriously since
it involves just the word of mouth. It is, therefore, likely to be contradicted.
(IX) (ii) Selective information: Informal channels usually don’t carry
the complete information. As a result, the recipient does not get the
essence of the entire message. Mischief mongers or vested interests
may use the station for transmitting selective details.
(X) (iii) Creates difficulty: A grapevine can cultivate difficulty in an
organization as there’s not any control over the data sent,
received its portrayal and perceptions. Info becomes distorted.
A grapevine could be synonymous with the spreading of untrue or wild stories.
(XI) (iv) Leakage: Information can get leaked at the wrong time.
The term ‘open secret’ within an organization may often is attributed to these leaks.
Effective use of informal channels of communication:
(XII) (I) The higher authorities need to ensure that employees are
well informed of their working of the organization.
This will reduce the tendency for distortion.
(XIII) (ii) Activities that upgrade knowledge should be frequent.
This will keep the generation of rumors.
(XIV) (iii) The higher authorities should
not indulge in favoritism.
(XV) (iv) A supervisor should conduct
normal meetings with the employees.
(XVI) (v) The manager should make efforts to identify
popular employees who can serve as leaders to other employees.
(XVII) (vi) As far as possible, employees should
participate in the decision-making procedure.
(XVIII) (vii) Managers shouldn’t indulge
in loose conversation.
(XIX) (viii) A supervisor should be a
Fantastic listener,
(XX) (ix) A manager should try to get normal testimonials
about his manner of work.
