Organizational

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Group 6

What is organizational Communication?

A type of communication within an organization

Ex. In business, company, association, etc.

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 Organizational communication is defined as “A

program that focuses on general communication

processes and dynamics within organizations.

•Development and maintenance of interpersonal group relations within organizations

•Decision-making and conflict management

•Communications socializes and supports employees and team members.”

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History of Organizational Communication

•The field traces its lineage through business information, business communication, and early mass communication studies published in the 1930s through the 1950s

•Several seminal publications stand out as works broadening the scope and recognizing the importance of communication in the organizing process, and in using the term "organizational communication".

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•Nobel Laureate Herbert A. Simon wrote in 1947 about "organization communications systems", saying communication is "absolutely essential to organizations“

•W. Charles Redding played a prominent role in the establishment of organizational communication as a discipline.

•In the 1950s, organizational communication focused largely on the role of communication in improving organizational life and organizational output.

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Types of Organizational Communication Structure

• Formal Communication Structure 

Communication through officially designated channels of message flow between organization positions.

Usually found in organizational charts, policy manuals, or hierarchical structures

3 Types of Formal Communication 1) Downward Communication2) Upward Communication3) Horizontal Communication

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1.Downward Communication

Communication that flows from upper to lower (such as manager to employer or superior to subordinate).

Types of messages: job instructions, job rationales, procedures and practices information, feedback, and indoctrination. 

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2. Upward Communication

Transmission of messages from lower to higher levels of the organization (such as  communication initiated by subordinates with their superiors).

Types of messages: performance on the job, job related problems, fellow employees and their problems, subordinates perceptions of org policies and practices, tasks and procedures.

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3. Horizontal Communication

Flow of messages across functional areas at a given level of an organization (this permits people at the same level to communicate directly).

Type of messages: facilitates problem solving, info sharing across different work groups, task coordination between departments and project teams.

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•Informal Communication

Episodes of interaction that do not reflect officially designated channels of  communication.The ‘grapevine’ emerges from social and personal interests of the employees rather than formal requirements of the organization. Informal communication is inherent and even a necessary aspect of organization life.

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The importance of communication in an organization can be summarized as follows:

•Communication promotes motivation by informing and clarifying the employees about the task to be done, the manner they are performing the task, and how to improve their performance if it is not up to the mark.

•Communication is a source of information to the organizational members for decision-making process as it helps identifying and assessing alternative course of actions.

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•Communication also plays a crucial role in altering individual’s attitudes, i.e., a well informed individual will have better attitude than a less-informed individual. Organizational magazines, journals, meetings and various other forms of oral and written communication help in molding employee’s attitudes.

•Communication also helps in socializing. In todays life the only presence of another individual fosters communication. It is also said that one cannot survive without communication.

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•Communication also assists in controlling

process. It helps controlling organizational

member’s behavior in various ways. There are

various levels of hierarchy and certain

principles and guidelines that employees

must follow in an organization. They must

comply with organizational policies, perform

their job role efficiently and communicate any

work problem and grievance to their

superiors. Thus, communication helps in

controlling function of management.

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