Formal and Informal Communication

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FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATION EXPLANATION AND IMPORTANCE IN THE WORKPLACE

Formal communication

These are channels of communication which are set up and recognised by an organisation. 

Examples of formal communication

  1. Notices

  2. Noticeboards

  3. Reports

  4. Emails

  5. Memos

  6. Formal meetings

Communication through the formal channels in an organisation

Communication through the formal channels in an organisation may be (as cited in the figure above):

  1. Downward communication 

    – provides a basis for specific job instructions, policy decisions, guidance and resolution of queries.

  2. Upward communication 

    – feedback from employees or the levels below in a particular hierarchy explaining any results achieved and problems encountered.

  3. Horizontal/Lateral communication 

    - between workers in the same hierarchical level
    – refers to communication between people or groups at the same level in the organisation.

  4. Diagonal communication 

    – interdepartmental communication by people coming from different ranks

  5. Vertical communication

    between the management and the employees

Informal communication

One is also likely to receive information through informal channels, such as meetings with friends or contacts with others in the canteen or at break times. 

These informal or unrecognised meetings are sometimes called as the grapevine.

The grapevine is an informal communication network that can permeate (spread through) an entire organisation. 

These informal channels can be used by managers to try out the reactions of new ideas such as a new shift system in the factory before communicating details of the new system formally. 

If the reaction to management from the grapevine is negative, they might reconsider or even change some details.

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