Organizational Communication

Zafar Ullah

CESET, Islamabad

zafarullah76@gmail.com

Organizational Communication Structure

• The most central idea in functionalist perspective of organizational communication.

• Definition: System of pathways through which messages flow Patterns of interaction among people who comprise the organization

• (who communicates with whom?)

Types of Org Communication Structure

• Formal• Informal

Why study Organizational Communication?

• 1) Org communication provides the basis for understanding 2) To be aware of communication skills that you as a college graduate should possess in order to meet organizational expectation.

• 3) May start you down the path to a career as a communication professional in an organization or as an academic scholar in the field.

Benefits of Business Communication

1.stronger decision making, faster problem solving2. Earlier warning of problems3. Increased productivity4. Stronger business relationships5.Persuasive marketing messages6. Enhanced professional images7.Higher employee satisfaction8.Better financial results

Formal Communication Structure

•Definition: Communication through officially designated channels of message flow between

organization positions

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

Areas of Organization Communication

• Theory Gender Diversity Ethics Vision/Conflict Relationships Culture Structure Leadership

Formal Communication Network/ types

Downward Communication

• Definition: 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. Pros- efficient (fast) Cons- managerial control, “The boss is always right”.

Upward Communication

• Definition: 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.

• Pro: promotes morale among all employees Con: not enough superiors encourage subordinate

Horizontal Communication

• Definition: 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.

• Pro: Effective Con: Not efficient (time consuming)