CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION
CHANNELS
INTERNAL COMMUNICATION
CHANNELS
VERTICAL COMMUNICATION
CHANNELS
INFORMAL CHANNEL OF
COMMUNICATION
INTRODUCTION
Channels of communication refers to the way by
which a message flows from sender to the
recipient. Formal communication move along the
established lines or channels.
An organization has internal and external
communication. Communication within the
organization, among its member, is internal;
communication with those outside the organization
is external.
DIAGRAMATIC REPRESENTATION
CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION
external internal vertical horizontal informal
1) Outward Formal 1)Upward
Grapevine
2)Inward channel 2)Downward
EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION
External communication are divided into two parts:
a) Outward
b) Inward
OUTWARD: Messages go out of an organisation to
suppliers, customers, banks, insurance, government
department, companies and general public. They
may be in form of letters, faxes ,telephone ,calls,
telegrams, reports, advertisement, press hand-outs,
speeches, visits and so on.
INWARD:
An organization receives letters, telegrams, fax
messages, telex messages, reports and brochures,
circulars, journals and magazines, telephone calls
and personal visits, from customers, other
organisations, government departments and so on.
These are inward communication.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATION
Formal channels : The efficiency of an organisation
depends on a regular flow of messages. The flow of
messages needs to be organised into a well ordered
network, to ensure that communication flows easily
and that executives are kept informed of what is
going on.
Clerks from different departments are not supposed
to exchange official papers directly, the papers move
through the supervisors heads.
Messages within an organisation, between
managers, supervisors are varied.
VERTICAL COMMUNICATION
All messages that move between sub-ordinates and
their supervisors is vertical communication . There
are the two types of vertical communication.
A} DOWNWARD COMMUNICATION
B} UPWARD COMMUNICATION
DOWNWARD COMMUNICATION
The common purpose of downward communication
are to give :
i. Instructions about a specific task;
ii. Information about the practices and procedures
followed by the organization;
iii. Information which creates understanding of the
task in relation to other task of the organization;
iv. Feedback about subordinates 'performance.
UPWARD COMMUNICATION
Organizations set up special formal and informal
channels to encourage and ensure upward movement
of communication.
Regular reporting systems exsits in all
organisations. These reports convey factual
information to the management.
Periodicals review meetings with individuals and
groups are arranged systematically, and conducted
in an informal style.
review of work
Problems and solutions
Ideas
Budget allocations etc.
Opinions views and attitudes are conveyed upwards
by this channel.
Open door policy provides an informal upward
channel. It is carried out by managers allowing
free access to anyone, without prior appointment,
during a fixed day of the week, and allowing any
employee to approach directly.
Informal gatherings, picnics or weekly tea
meetings bring together all members of
organisation. HAPPY HOUR.
Standing Committees provide a channel for
problems, unhappy feelings, troubles, complaints
etc.
Exit interview with employees who are leaving the
organization can provide much useful information
about attitudes and views of the employees.
HORIZONTAL CHANNEL
Objectives :
i. Exchange of information about activities,
processes and progress among heads of
departments is essential for the organization’s
work.
ii. Discussion of plans and problems, review of
projects, and decisions require formal lateral
communication in meetings.
iii. Coordination
iv. Conflict resolution
v. Problem solving
vi. Advice, social and emotional support
INFORMAL CHANNEL
GRAPEVINE COMMUNICATION-
a) Grapevine is a secondary channel of personal,
informal communication which exists in every
organization to the formal organized channels. It has
no definite pattern or direction.
b) There may be more than one grapevine channel in
an organization, and individuals may be on more
than one grapevine.
c) This informal channel carries un official
information about the managements policies, plans,
individual managers, work programs etc. related to
company.
d) Research has shown that grapevine is not just a
zigzagging, unreliable channel.
e) Grapevine can affect an organizations working by
its influence on the opinions, beliefs and attitudes of
its members.
f) There is a close relationship between the grapevine
and the morale of employees; when morale is high
and well motivated, a grapevine is thin and slow and
viceversa.
THANK
YOU
