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Lecture 14 Communication Network

Communication involves the transmission of information between a sender and receiver. Effective communication has four steps: getting attention, ensuring understanding, gaining acceptance, and inspiring action. There are formal and informal communication networks in organizations. Formal networks are structured according to the organizational hierarchy, while informal networks like the grapevine emerge spontaneously between employees.

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66 views

Lecture 14 Communication Network

Communication involves the transmission of information between a sender and receiver. Effective communication has four steps: getting attention, ensuring understanding, gaining acceptance, and inspiring action. There are formal and informal communication networks in organizations. Formal networks are structured according to the organizational hierarchy, while informal networks like the grapevine emerge spontaneously between employees.

Uploaded by

nilaparajita
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Communication

Communication is the process by which information and


understandings are transmitted between various parts and
members of the organization.

Communication always involves two people---a sender


and a receiver. A sender is the originator of the message.
Receiver—To whom the message is directed.

Effective communication requires both information and


understanding. Effective communication has four steps: 1)
Attention, 2) Understanding, 3) Acceptance, and 4)
Action.

Types of Communication

Formal Informal

Down-ward Horizontal Grapevine

Upward

Formal type of communication is established by


organizational structure.
Whenever the formal system is thought to be inappropriate
for passing certain kinds of information the informal
communication system/GV can be chosen as a substitute.
It has more speed but people may distort the information.
Communication Network

Communication network is a vital aspect of any


communication process. It can be defined as an
arrangement by which a small number of individuals
transmit information only in a set and defined pattern.

Two broad classification of communication networks are-


Formal communication network
Informal communication network
Formal communication networks are established by the
organizational structure for the transmission of official
information.
Robert Dubin gave six patterns of formal network.

(1) Serial

This network can be both vertical and horizontal. Here


communication flows with the chain of command. Here
interaction is direct between supervisor and immediate
subordinates.
(2) Radial

Here individuals directly communicate with boss


without communicating each other. Superior-
subordinate linkage is direct in this type of network.

(3) Circular

(Dubin developed three more networks based on the


previous models)
Alex Banelaz developed 4 types of communication
network-

(1) Circle:
In this network the group members interact with the
adjoining members only but no further interaction will
be with left and right members.

(2) Wheel:

In this network all communication flows through one


central person who is probably the group leader or the
supervisor. There is no interaction between the group
members. It is the most centralized type of
communication network.

(3) Chain:
The center man communicates directly with the 2
middle members but not the end individuals. The chain
network follows the formal chain of command in the
organization.
(4) All Channel:

It is highly decentralized. It allows a free flow of


information among all group members. Each member
can communicate directly with every other member.
There is no restriction.

Some characteristics of the networks


Characteristics Wheel All channel
(Centralized) (Decentralized)
Speed of performance Fast Slow
Accuracy Good Good
Emergence of leader Very pronounced None
Job satisfaction Very poor Good
Moral Very poor Highly satisfactory
Flexibility Slow Fast
Organization’s pattern Almost stable Stable

Informal communication network emerges


spontaneously. It is the result of the natural desire on the
part of the people to communicate with each other. It is an
unofficial channel and not structured.

Grape vine
Keith Davis identified 4 types of grapevine networks-

(1) Single strand chain:

Under this network the information passes from one to


one. Accuracy of information suffers the most in this type.

(2) Gossip chain:

In the gossip network one person spreads the information


to as many others as possible. A member having
information passes it on to everyone he meets.

(3) Probability chain:


In this network people simply pass on messages to others
on a random basis that in turn communicate to some
others. This network is likely to emerge when the
information is not really very important to anybody.

(4) Cluster chain:

Under this network information passes selectively. One


member communicates with only those members whom he
trusts and they in turn pass it on to some other selected
members while the others keep it themselves. According
to Davis it is the most popular and widely prevalent
network in organizations.

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