Organisational Communication | NABARD Grade A & Grade B Preparation - Bank Exams PDF Download

 Page 1


 
 
Organizational 
Communication 
249 
UNIT 15  ORGANISATIONAL 
COMMUNICATION 
Structure 
15.0 Aims and Objectives  
15.1 Introduction 
15.2 Organisational Communication and its Importance 
15.3 Concept of Communication   
15.4 Communication as a Process 
15.5 Communication Flow 
15.6 Factors Influencing Communication Flow in Organisation 
 15.6.1 Organisational Structure 
 15.6.2 Organisational Channels of Communication 
 15.6.3 Types of Communication Flow in Organisation 
15.7 Media of Organisational Communication 
15.8 Problems in Organisational Communication 
15.9 Steps Towards Effective Communication 
15.10 Let Us Sum Up 
15.11 Suggested Readings 
15.12 Answers to Check Your Progress 
15.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 
In this unit, you will know about the basics of organisational process. After 
going through this unit, you should be able to: 
• understand the important elements of communication process; 
• Explain different factors affecting organisational communication; 
• Understand communication flow in an organisation; 
• Discuss different forms of organisational communication; 
• Get an idea about media associated with organisational communication; 
and 
• Identify barriers in organisational communication and steps to improve 
organisational communication. 
15.1  INTRODUCTION 
Communication is an essential process for the survival and growth of any 
society. Communication flow mostly focuses on building relationships and 
interacting with internal organisational members and interested external 
 
Page 2


 
 
Organizational 
Communication 
249 
UNIT 15  ORGANISATIONAL 
COMMUNICATION 
Structure 
15.0 Aims and Objectives  
15.1 Introduction 
15.2 Organisational Communication and its Importance 
15.3 Concept of Communication   
15.4 Communication as a Process 
15.5 Communication Flow 
15.6 Factors Influencing Communication Flow in Organisation 
 15.6.1 Organisational Structure 
 15.6.2 Organisational Channels of Communication 
 15.6.3 Types of Communication Flow in Organisation 
15.7 Media of Organisational Communication 
15.8 Problems in Organisational Communication 
15.9 Steps Towards Effective Communication 
15.10 Let Us Sum Up 
15.11 Suggested Readings 
15.12 Answers to Check Your Progress 
15.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 
In this unit, you will know about the basics of organisational process. After 
going through this unit, you should be able to: 
• understand the important elements of communication process; 
• Explain different factors affecting organisational communication; 
• Understand communication flow in an organisation; 
• Discuss different forms of organisational communication; 
• Get an idea about media associated with organisational communication; 
and 
• Identify barriers in organisational communication and steps to improve 
organisational communication. 
15.1  INTRODUCTION 
Communication is an essential process for the survival and growth of any 
society. Communication flow mostly focuses on building relationships and 
interacting with internal organisational members and interested external 
 
 
 
Extension Support 
for Rural 
250 
publics. Conventionally communication flow inside the organisation is called 
as organisational communication but if we look at the modern understanding 
of organisational communication, then we will find that the communication 
that is used by an organisation to communicate with internal and external 
people is called as organisational communication. The role of organisational 
communication is similar to the role of central nervous system for growth and 
sustainability of any organisation. It helps in decision making, working for 
achieving organisational goal and managing relationships. It helps in crisis 
management, creating goodwill towards organisation. At the same time, it 
helps in achieving organisational goal and preaching the organisational 
philosophy and ideology to its people. Thus, every organisation feels the need 
of an effective organisational communication. 
15.2  ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION 
AND ITS IMPORTANCE  
Communication as a tool, helps people in getting connected with each other. 
Each organisation tries to develop, sustain and it wants to make the growth 
process faster. To achieve this goal, the organisation wants a better 
relationship among the individuals associated with it and at the same time, it 
wants to create a better image of itself among the people associated with it. 
Thus, it wants its’ people to come together and it wants them to share their 
ideas with each other. It wants a proper coordination among its people to 
make the organisational spirit stronger for organisational goal achievement. 
Similarly resolving conflicts, issues and for finding suggestions for 
development, Organisations need to communicate to people associated with 
it. Thus organisational communication becomes a necessity for the existence, 
growth and survival of the organisation 
15.3  CONCEPT OF COMMUNICATION 
The word communication has taken birth from the Latin word ‘Communis’, 
and it means common. 
a)  Communication is a process of understanding and sharing of ideas, facts, 
feelings etc., with one another. 
b)  It helps in interacting with each other and helps in establishing and 
maintaining relationships between individuals. 
c)  It is a process by which various people are linked to achieve a common 
goal. 
The above-mentioned concept of communication applies to all types of 
communication including organisational communication.  
15.4 COMMUNICATION PROCESS  
Communication as a process helps in carrying messages from the sender to 
the receiver to create meaningful exchange of ideas, beliefs and thoughts. 
Page 3


 
 
Organizational 
Communication 
249 
UNIT 15  ORGANISATIONAL 
COMMUNICATION 
Structure 
15.0 Aims and Objectives  
15.1 Introduction 
15.2 Organisational Communication and its Importance 
15.3 Concept of Communication   
15.4 Communication as a Process 
15.5 Communication Flow 
15.6 Factors Influencing Communication Flow in Organisation 
 15.6.1 Organisational Structure 
 15.6.2 Organisational Channels of Communication 
 15.6.3 Types of Communication Flow in Organisation 
15.7 Media of Organisational Communication 
15.8 Problems in Organisational Communication 
15.9 Steps Towards Effective Communication 
15.10 Let Us Sum Up 
15.11 Suggested Readings 
15.12 Answers to Check Your Progress 
15.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 
In this unit, you will know about the basics of organisational process. After 
going through this unit, you should be able to: 
• understand the important elements of communication process; 
• Explain different factors affecting organisational communication; 
• Understand communication flow in an organisation; 
• Discuss different forms of organisational communication; 
• Get an idea about media associated with organisational communication; 
and 
• Identify barriers in organisational communication and steps to improve 
organisational communication. 
15.1  INTRODUCTION 
Communication is an essential process for the survival and growth of any 
society. Communication flow mostly focuses on building relationships and 
interacting with internal organisational members and interested external 
 
 
 
Extension Support 
for Rural 
250 
publics. Conventionally communication flow inside the organisation is called 
as organisational communication but if we look at the modern understanding 
of organisational communication, then we will find that the communication 
that is used by an organisation to communicate with internal and external 
people is called as organisational communication. The role of organisational 
communication is similar to the role of central nervous system for growth and 
sustainability of any organisation. It helps in decision making, working for 
achieving organisational goal and managing relationships. It helps in crisis 
management, creating goodwill towards organisation. At the same time, it 
helps in achieving organisational goal and preaching the organisational 
philosophy and ideology to its people. Thus, every organisation feels the need 
of an effective organisational communication. 
15.2  ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION 
AND ITS IMPORTANCE  
Communication as a tool, helps people in getting connected with each other. 
Each organisation tries to develop, sustain and it wants to make the growth 
process faster. To achieve this goal, the organisation wants a better 
relationship among the individuals associated with it and at the same time, it 
wants to create a better image of itself among the people associated with it. 
Thus, it wants its’ people to come together and it wants them to share their 
ideas with each other. It wants a proper coordination among its people to 
make the organisational spirit stronger for organisational goal achievement. 
Similarly resolving conflicts, issues and for finding suggestions for 
development, Organisations need to communicate to people associated with 
it. Thus organisational communication becomes a necessity for the existence, 
growth and survival of the organisation 
15.3  CONCEPT OF COMMUNICATION 
The word communication has taken birth from the Latin word ‘Communis’, 
and it means common. 
a)  Communication is a process of understanding and sharing of ideas, facts, 
feelings etc., with one another. 
b)  It helps in interacting with each other and helps in establishing and 
maintaining relationships between individuals. 
c)  It is a process by which various people are linked to achieve a common 
goal. 
The above-mentioned concept of communication applies to all types of 
communication including organisational communication.  
15.4 COMMUNICATION PROCESS  
Communication as a process helps in carrying messages from the sender to 
the receiver to create meaningful exchange of ideas, beliefs and thoughts. 
 
 
Organizational 
Communication 
251 
However, the process of communication depends on various elements. 
According to the Schramm Model of communication, the process has 
following elements and works in the following manner.   
Source: The source or sender is the element from which the process of 
communication originates. It is the source which sends the idea or 
information in form of a message to the receiver by coding it in a proper 
manner. The source can be an individual or an institution.  
Message: Message is the information which is sent by the source to the 
receiver in a coded manner. It is an important element upon which the 
response of the receiver depends.  
Channel: Channel or medium works to carry the messages from the source 
to receiver. Like a truck carries the goods from one place to another place, in 
the similar manner channel or medium carries the message from the source to 
receiver. 
Receiver: Receiver is somebody to whom the message is sent. The receiver 
decodes the message sent by the source to create a meaning out of it.  
Feedback: The receiver after receiving message from the source, decodes it 
to get the meaning and at the same time, after understanding the message it 
also reacts to it. Such reaction he encodes in the form of a message and sends 
to the source as a reply. This reply is called as feedback. For a 
communication process to become complete, feedback is highly necessary. 
Feedback also tells about the receiver’s understanding of the message. 
Feedback helps in understanding the effectiveness of communication process. 
Encoding: While discussing about the source it is already said that source 
sends the message in a coded manner. This coding or encoding done by the 
source refers to the presentation of ideas into a set of symbols. 
Decoding: It is already told that the receiver decodes the message to get the 
meaning out of it. This decoding refers to the process by which the receiver 
interprets and translates the message sent to him by the source. 
 Noise: Noise is the disturbance or obstacle that occur when we communicate 
through the medium or channel. This prevents the effectiveness of 
communication process.  
Check Your Progress 1 
Note:  i) Write your answer in the space provided. 
  ii) Compare your answer with those given at the end of the unit. 
1) Explain the importance of Organisational Communication. 
 …………………………………………………………………………… 
 …………………………………………………………………………… 
 …………………………………………………………………………… 
 …………………………………………………………………………… 
Page 4


 
 
Organizational 
Communication 
249 
UNIT 15  ORGANISATIONAL 
COMMUNICATION 
Structure 
15.0 Aims and Objectives  
15.1 Introduction 
15.2 Organisational Communication and its Importance 
15.3 Concept of Communication   
15.4 Communication as a Process 
15.5 Communication Flow 
15.6 Factors Influencing Communication Flow in Organisation 
 15.6.1 Organisational Structure 
 15.6.2 Organisational Channels of Communication 
 15.6.3 Types of Communication Flow in Organisation 
15.7 Media of Organisational Communication 
15.8 Problems in Organisational Communication 
15.9 Steps Towards Effective Communication 
15.10 Let Us Sum Up 
15.11 Suggested Readings 
15.12 Answers to Check Your Progress 
15.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 
In this unit, you will know about the basics of organisational process. After 
going through this unit, you should be able to: 
• understand the important elements of communication process; 
• Explain different factors affecting organisational communication; 
• Understand communication flow in an organisation; 
• Discuss different forms of organisational communication; 
• Get an idea about media associated with organisational communication; 
and 
• Identify barriers in organisational communication and steps to improve 
organisational communication. 
15.1  INTRODUCTION 
Communication is an essential process for the survival and growth of any 
society. Communication flow mostly focuses on building relationships and 
interacting with internal organisational members and interested external 
 
 
 
Extension Support 
for Rural 
250 
publics. Conventionally communication flow inside the organisation is called 
as organisational communication but if we look at the modern understanding 
of organisational communication, then we will find that the communication 
that is used by an organisation to communicate with internal and external 
people is called as organisational communication. The role of organisational 
communication is similar to the role of central nervous system for growth and 
sustainability of any organisation. It helps in decision making, working for 
achieving organisational goal and managing relationships. It helps in crisis 
management, creating goodwill towards organisation. At the same time, it 
helps in achieving organisational goal and preaching the organisational 
philosophy and ideology to its people. Thus, every organisation feels the need 
of an effective organisational communication. 
15.2  ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION 
AND ITS IMPORTANCE  
Communication as a tool, helps people in getting connected with each other. 
Each organisation tries to develop, sustain and it wants to make the growth 
process faster. To achieve this goal, the organisation wants a better 
relationship among the individuals associated with it and at the same time, it 
wants to create a better image of itself among the people associated with it. 
Thus, it wants its’ people to come together and it wants them to share their 
ideas with each other. It wants a proper coordination among its people to 
make the organisational spirit stronger for organisational goal achievement. 
Similarly resolving conflicts, issues and for finding suggestions for 
development, Organisations need to communicate to people associated with 
it. Thus organisational communication becomes a necessity for the existence, 
growth and survival of the organisation 
15.3  CONCEPT OF COMMUNICATION 
The word communication has taken birth from the Latin word ‘Communis’, 
and it means common. 
a)  Communication is a process of understanding and sharing of ideas, facts, 
feelings etc., with one another. 
b)  It helps in interacting with each other and helps in establishing and 
maintaining relationships between individuals. 
c)  It is a process by which various people are linked to achieve a common 
goal. 
The above-mentioned concept of communication applies to all types of 
communication including organisational communication.  
15.4 COMMUNICATION PROCESS  
Communication as a process helps in carrying messages from the sender to 
the receiver to create meaningful exchange of ideas, beliefs and thoughts. 
 
 
Organizational 
Communication 
251 
However, the process of communication depends on various elements. 
According to the Schramm Model of communication, the process has 
following elements and works in the following manner.   
Source: The source or sender is the element from which the process of 
communication originates. It is the source which sends the idea or 
information in form of a message to the receiver by coding it in a proper 
manner. The source can be an individual or an institution.  
Message: Message is the information which is sent by the source to the 
receiver in a coded manner. It is an important element upon which the 
response of the receiver depends.  
Channel: Channel or medium works to carry the messages from the source 
to receiver. Like a truck carries the goods from one place to another place, in 
the similar manner channel or medium carries the message from the source to 
receiver. 
Receiver: Receiver is somebody to whom the message is sent. The receiver 
decodes the message sent by the source to create a meaning out of it.  
Feedback: The receiver after receiving message from the source, decodes it 
to get the meaning and at the same time, after understanding the message it 
also reacts to it. Such reaction he encodes in the form of a message and sends 
to the source as a reply. This reply is called as feedback. For a 
communication process to become complete, feedback is highly necessary. 
Feedback also tells about the receiver’s understanding of the message. 
Feedback helps in understanding the effectiveness of communication process. 
Encoding: While discussing about the source it is already said that source 
sends the message in a coded manner. This coding or encoding done by the 
source refers to the presentation of ideas into a set of symbols. 
Decoding: It is already told that the receiver decodes the message to get the 
meaning out of it. This decoding refers to the process by which the receiver 
interprets and translates the message sent to him by the source. 
 Noise: Noise is the disturbance or obstacle that occur when we communicate 
through the medium or channel. This prevents the effectiveness of 
communication process.  
Check Your Progress 1 
Note:  i) Write your answer in the space provided. 
  ii) Compare your answer with those given at the end of the unit. 
1) Explain the importance of Organisational Communication. 
 …………………………………………………………………………… 
 …………………………………………………………………………… 
 …………………………………………………………………………… 
 …………………………………………………………………………… 
 
 
Extension Support 
for Rural 
252 
15.5  COMMUNICATION FLOW 
In a communication process, the source initiates the communication. It 
encodes the information in the form of a message and such message 
travelling through the medium, reaches to receiver. The receiver then decodes 
the message and interprets it to get the meaning out of it. After understanding 
the message, the receiver then encodes his response in the form of a message 
and sends it to the source which the source after receiving, decodes and 
interprets to get the meaning. In the complete process, the disturbance that 
occurs in the medium is called as the noise. Proper Communication flow in 
an organisation is highly necessary for making organisational communication 
effective to achieve organisational goals. However, communication flow in 
an organisation always do not become effective. At certain cases it becomes 
ineffective also. Such effectiveness or ineffectiveness are the resultants of 
various factors.  The factors play a very important role to determine the 
communication flow in an organisation.  
15.6  FACTORS INFLUENCING 
COMMUNICATION FLOW IN 
ORGANISATION 
Important factors which affect organisational communication and 
communication flow in the organisation are: 
1) Organisational structure  
2) Channels of communication used for communication flow in the 
organisation 
3) Types of Communication flow in Organisational communication 
channels 
15.7.1 Organisational Structure 
Organisational structure is the arrangement of organisational elements in an 
organisation. It talks about the power distribution and guiding principles for 
it. The organisational structure affects the flow of communication in an 
organisation. The guiding principles or philosophy and distribution of power 
in an organisation, determines the efficiency of communication flow in an 
organisation.  
There are different types of structures of organisations.  For example, under 
bureaucratic or structure of organisation, the communication flow occurs 
following the written principles or guidelines. As the principles are found in a 
written manner, that is why they are quite rigid by nature and ultimately 
result in less flexibility in communication flow and such constraints at cases 
make communication flow ineffective.  Similarly, under hierarchical 
structure all the instructions flow from the top and reports and information 
move upward. Communication becomes more efficient when it takes place 
between people of same workgroup but the efficiency decreases when it takes 
place between people of different workgroups.  
Page 5


 
 
Organizational 
Communication 
249 
UNIT 15  ORGANISATIONAL 
COMMUNICATION 
Structure 
15.0 Aims and Objectives  
15.1 Introduction 
15.2 Organisational Communication and its Importance 
15.3 Concept of Communication   
15.4 Communication as a Process 
15.5 Communication Flow 
15.6 Factors Influencing Communication Flow in Organisation 
 15.6.1 Organisational Structure 
 15.6.2 Organisational Channels of Communication 
 15.6.3 Types of Communication Flow in Organisation 
15.7 Media of Organisational Communication 
15.8 Problems in Organisational Communication 
15.9 Steps Towards Effective Communication 
15.10 Let Us Sum Up 
15.11 Suggested Readings 
15.12 Answers to Check Your Progress 
15.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 
In this unit, you will know about the basics of organisational process. After 
going through this unit, you should be able to: 
• understand the important elements of communication process; 
• Explain different factors affecting organisational communication; 
• Understand communication flow in an organisation; 
• Discuss different forms of organisational communication; 
• Get an idea about media associated with organisational communication; 
and 
• Identify barriers in organisational communication and steps to improve 
organisational communication. 
15.1  INTRODUCTION 
Communication is an essential process for the survival and growth of any 
society. Communication flow mostly focuses on building relationships and 
interacting with internal organisational members and interested external 
 
 
 
Extension Support 
for Rural 
250 
publics. Conventionally communication flow inside the organisation is called 
as organisational communication but if we look at the modern understanding 
of organisational communication, then we will find that the communication 
that is used by an organisation to communicate with internal and external 
people is called as organisational communication. The role of organisational 
communication is similar to the role of central nervous system for growth and 
sustainability of any organisation. It helps in decision making, working for 
achieving organisational goal and managing relationships. It helps in crisis 
management, creating goodwill towards organisation. At the same time, it 
helps in achieving organisational goal and preaching the organisational 
philosophy and ideology to its people. Thus, every organisation feels the need 
of an effective organisational communication. 
15.2  ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION 
AND ITS IMPORTANCE  
Communication as a tool, helps people in getting connected with each other. 
Each organisation tries to develop, sustain and it wants to make the growth 
process faster. To achieve this goal, the organisation wants a better 
relationship among the individuals associated with it and at the same time, it 
wants to create a better image of itself among the people associated with it. 
Thus, it wants its’ people to come together and it wants them to share their 
ideas with each other. It wants a proper coordination among its people to 
make the organisational spirit stronger for organisational goal achievement. 
Similarly resolving conflicts, issues and for finding suggestions for 
development, Organisations need to communicate to people associated with 
it. Thus organisational communication becomes a necessity for the existence, 
growth and survival of the organisation 
15.3  CONCEPT OF COMMUNICATION 
The word communication has taken birth from the Latin word ‘Communis’, 
and it means common. 
a)  Communication is a process of understanding and sharing of ideas, facts, 
feelings etc., with one another. 
b)  It helps in interacting with each other and helps in establishing and 
maintaining relationships between individuals. 
c)  It is a process by which various people are linked to achieve a common 
goal. 
The above-mentioned concept of communication applies to all types of 
communication including organisational communication.  
15.4 COMMUNICATION PROCESS  
Communication as a process helps in carrying messages from the sender to 
the receiver to create meaningful exchange of ideas, beliefs and thoughts. 
 
 
Organizational 
Communication 
251 
However, the process of communication depends on various elements. 
According to the Schramm Model of communication, the process has 
following elements and works in the following manner.   
Source: The source or sender is the element from which the process of 
communication originates. It is the source which sends the idea or 
information in form of a message to the receiver by coding it in a proper 
manner. The source can be an individual or an institution.  
Message: Message is the information which is sent by the source to the 
receiver in a coded manner. It is an important element upon which the 
response of the receiver depends.  
Channel: Channel or medium works to carry the messages from the source 
to receiver. Like a truck carries the goods from one place to another place, in 
the similar manner channel or medium carries the message from the source to 
receiver. 
Receiver: Receiver is somebody to whom the message is sent. The receiver 
decodes the message sent by the source to create a meaning out of it.  
Feedback: The receiver after receiving message from the source, decodes it 
to get the meaning and at the same time, after understanding the message it 
also reacts to it. Such reaction he encodes in the form of a message and sends 
to the source as a reply. This reply is called as feedback. For a 
communication process to become complete, feedback is highly necessary. 
Feedback also tells about the receiver’s understanding of the message. 
Feedback helps in understanding the effectiveness of communication process. 
Encoding: While discussing about the source it is already said that source 
sends the message in a coded manner. This coding or encoding done by the 
source refers to the presentation of ideas into a set of symbols. 
Decoding: It is already told that the receiver decodes the message to get the 
meaning out of it. This decoding refers to the process by which the receiver 
interprets and translates the message sent to him by the source. 
 Noise: Noise is the disturbance or obstacle that occur when we communicate 
through the medium or channel. This prevents the effectiveness of 
communication process.  
Check Your Progress 1 
Note:  i) Write your answer in the space provided. 
  ii) Compare your answer with those given at the end of the unit. 
1) Explain the importance of Organisational Communication. 
 …………………………………………………………………………… 
 …………………………………………………………………………… 
 …………………………………………………………………………… 
 …………………………………………………………………………… 
 
 
Extension Support 
for Rural 
252 
15.5  COMMUNICATION FLOW 
In a communication process, the source initiates the communication. It 
encodes the information in the form of a message and such message 
travelling through the medium, reaches to receiver. The receiver then decodes 
the message and interprets it to get the meaning out of it. After understanding 
the message, the receiver then encodes his response in the form of a message 
and sends it to the source which the source after receiving, decodes and 
interprets to get the meaning. In the complete process, the disturbance that 
occurs in the medium is called as the noise. Proper Communication flow in 
an organisation is highly necessary for making organisational communication 
effective to achieve organisational goals. However, communication flow in 
an organisation always do not become effective. At certain cases it becomes 
ineffective also. Such effectiveness or ineffectiveness are the resultants of 
various factors.  The factors play a very important role to determine the 
communication flow in an organisation.  
15.6  FACTORS INFLUENCING 
COMMUNICATION FLOW IN 
ORGANISATION 
Important factors which affect organisational communication and 
communication flow in the organisation are: 
1) Organisational structure  
2) Channels of communication used for communication flow in the 
organisation 
3) Types of Communication flow in Organisational communication 
channels 
15.7.1 Organisational Structure 
Organisational structure is the arrangement of organisational elements in an 
organisation. It talks about the power distribution and guiding principles for 
it. The organisational structure affects the flow of communication in an 
organisation. The guiding principles or philosophy and distribution of power 
in an organisation, determines the efficiency of communication flow in an 
organisation.  
There are different types of structures of organisations.  For example, under 
bureaucratic or structure of organisation, the communication flow occurs 
following the written principles or guidelines. As the principles are found in a 
written manner, that is why they are quite rigid by nature and ultimately 
result in less flexibility in communication flow and such constraints at cases 
make communication flow ineffective.  Similarly, under hierarchical 
structure all the instructions flow from the top and reports and information 
move upward. Communication becomes more efficient when it takes place 
between people of same workgroup but the efficiency decreases when it takes 
place between people of different workgroups.  
 
 
Organizational 
Communication 
253 
Unlike the organisational structure, communication channels in an 
organisation, also affect the communication flow in an organisation. Different 
channels affect the flow of communication differently.  
15.6.2  Organisational Channels of Communication 
Communication flow in the organisation takes place in two types 
organisational channels. They are formal and informal channels. The formal 
channel is more rigid in comparison to the informal channel. Thus, 
communication flow in the informal channel becomes faster. However, in the 
informal channels as the communication takes place through oral 
communication, that is why there remains a possibility of information gap or 
miscommunication in the informal channels of communication.  
Informal channels of communication 
Communication in the Informal channels of communication takes place 
through interpersonal communication among work groups. The informal 
communication through personal relationships plays an important role in 
reaching organisational goal as it starts spontaneously, and moves faster in 
organisation. Individual gossips during tea breaks, discussions among people 
at canteens or communication between individuals during leisure hours fall 
under this category.  It is not controlled by any official guidelines or these are 
not written forms of communication. Informal structure of communication is 
mostly responsible for spreading rumours.  
Formal channels of Communication 
In an organisation, communication flows both in formal and informal 
channels. Communication in formal channels flows through notices, official 
letters, office orders, emails, house journals or annual reports. These are 
written documents and communication flow through the formal channels 
follow a particular protocol.  
15.6.3  Types of Communication Flow in Organisation 
According to communication flow in the organisational hierarchy, 
communication can be vertical, horizontal or diagonal communication type.  
 
Fig. Vertical, Horizontal and Diagonal Communication