Communication Flows in Communication Flows in an Organizationan Organization

DownwardDownward UpwardUpward LateralLateral DiagonalDiagonal ExternalExternal

Downward Workplace Downward Workplace Communication: Enabling Communication: Enabling

Downward communication consists of Downward communication consists of communications sent from management to communications sent from management to workers, like emails and performance workers, like emails and performance reviews.reviews.

A manager explains a task to an A manager explains a task to an employee employee

A customer gives an order to a supplierA customer gives an order to a supplier Shareholders instruct management. Shareholders instruct management.

EnablingEnabling These forms have more than direction in common. Each one These forms have more than direction in common. Each one

also provides enabling information in the workplace. When a also provides enabling information in the workplace. When a manager instructs an employee, she enables the employee to manager instructs an employee, she enables the employee to do his job, and makes it possible for him to earn a living by do his job, and makes it possible for him to earn a living by doing something that has value for the employer. doing something that has value for the employer.

Another example: senior management finds out from Another example: senior management finds out from shareholders, or the board of directors, how owners want to shareholders, or the board of directors, how owners want to apply the money they've invested. apply the money they've invested.

Information moves Information moves downwarddownward

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.

PurposesPurposes Business Goals can be shareBusiness Goals can be share Providing feedback on employees Providing feedback on employees

performance performance Giving job instructionsGiving job instructions Providing a complete understanding of Providing a complete understanding of

the employees job as well as to the employees job as well as to communicate them how their job is communicate them how their job is related to other jobs in the organization.related to other jobs in the organization.

Communicating the organizations mission Communicating the organizations mission and vision to the employees.and vision to the employees.

Highlighting the areas of attention.Highlighting the areas of attention.

Error-free downward Error-free downward communicationcommunication

Specify communication objectiveSpecify communication objective Ensure that the message is accurate, Ensure that the message is accurate,

specific and unambiguous.specific and unambiguous. Utilize the best communication Utilize the best communication

technique to conveytechnique to convey the message to the message to the receiver in right formthe receiver in right form

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 A second major flow of communication is upward, from communication is upward, from employee to supervisor, supervisor employee to supervisor, supervisor to department head, department to department head, department head to vice president, and so on. head to vice president, and so on.

PurposesPurposes ProductivityProductivity FeedbackFeedback PromotionPromotion ConsiderationsConsiderations

Lateral/HorizontalLateral/Horizontal Communication that takes place at Communication that takes place at

same levels of hierarchy in an same levels of hierarchy in an organization.organization.

First, no superior/subordinate First, no superior/subordinate relationship exists here; it's strictly a relationship exists here; it's strictly a case of two people with roughly equal case of two people with roughly equal amounts of power and prestige. That amounts of power and prestige. That makes this form of communication makes this form of communication voluntary and discretionary.voluntary and discretionary.

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 It Provides emotional and social assistance to the

organizational members.organizational members. It help in solving Various Organizational problemIt help in solving Various Organizational problem It can also be used for resolving conflicts of a It can also be used for resolving conflicts of a

department with other department or conflicts department with other department or conflicts within a department.within a department.

Diagonal CommunicationDiagonal Communication Communication that takes place between Communication that takes place between

a manager and employees of other a manager and employees of other workgroups is called diagonal workgroups is called diagonal communication. communication.

It generally does not appear on It generally does not appear on organizational chart. For instance - To organizational chart. For instance - To design a training module a training design a training module a training manager interacts with an Operations 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.

External CommunicationExternal Communication Communication that takes place Communication that takes place

between a manager and external between a manager and external groups groups

such as - suppliers, vendors, banks, such as - suppliers, vendors, banks, financial institutes etc. For instance financial institutes etc. For instance - To raise capital the Managing - To raise capital the Managing director would interact with the director would interact with the Bank Manager.Bank Manager.

The GrapevineThe Grapevine Grapevine communication is Grapevine communication is

the the informal informal communicationcommunication network within an  network within an organization.organization.

ChannelChannel Traditionally , the grapevine Mouth Traditionally , the grapevine Mouth

to mouthto mouth Email, Fax, ChatEmail, Fax, Chat Cell PhoneCell Phone FacebookFacebook

ExampleExample Suppose the profit Amount of a Suppose the profit Amount of a

company is known. Rumor is spread company is known. Rumor is spread that this much profit is there and on that this much profit is there and on that basis bonus is declared.that basis bonus is declared.

CEO may be in relation to the CEO may be in relation to the production manager. they may have production manager. they may have friendly relations with each otherfriendly relations with each other

PurposesPurposes Grapevine communication Grapevine communication creates a creates a

social bond.social bond. The grapevine The grapevine fills in a gapfills in a gap The grapevine in many ways The grapevine in many ways helps helps

keep people honest.keep people honest.

Communication SpeedCommunication Speed Where downward, upward, and Where downward, upward, and

lateral communication are lateral communication are structured and flow formally through structured and flow formally through specific channels, the grapevine specific channels, the grapevine goes through multiple channels and goes through multiple channels and even multiple versions. even multiple versions.