Communication

Revisited
 Orders
Instructions
Policies
Memos
Circulars
Procedures
Rules Requests
Budgets
Handbooks
Newsletters
Suggestions
Grievances
Complaints
Proposals
Reports

Downward communication
Upward communication

Inter departmental memos

Inter personal dialogues

Line and staff parleys
Telephonic conversations
Union Management meetings

Horizontal communication
Downward
Communication
Salient Features
 Employed by managers of various levels to transmit information, ideas and
queries.
 Follows the line of authority or the chain of command.
 Can be both directive and non-directive in nature.
 Flow of information from a superior (high level) to a subordinate (lower level)

Advantages
 Used for passing on managerial decisions, plans, policies to subordinates.
 Aids in defining and clarifying goals.
 Used for guiding, instructing and inspiring subordinates.
 Information about the objectives, policies and programmes of the enterprise.
 Provision of such information to employees helps to create a sense of
belonging, feeling of loyalty to the organization and an active interest in the
work.

Disadvantages
 Communication is taken as a directive as it is coming from the top.
 It may hamper feedback to the management .
Upward
Communication
Salient Features


Employed by subordinates to transmit information.
These channels follow the line of authority.
 Communication is partly task oriented and partly interpersonal.
 It is non directive.
 Flow of communication from lower levels (subordinates) to
higher levels (superiors) of authority.
 A Manager cannot exercise effective control without such
information .

Upward communication performs the following important functions-

 Serves as a measurement of effectiveness of downward
communication.
 Provides management with necessary information for decision
making.
 Relieves employees from pressures and frustrations of work
situations.
 Gives the employees a sense of participation in management.
Upward
Communication
Advantages
 Ideas and requests relating to job roles can be transmitted
from subordinates to superiors.
 Consist of performance reports, replies to queries etc.
 Used to transmit views, suggestions and grievances.
 Enables the management to know what is happening
throughout the organization.
 An executive can know the outcome of his decisions and
instructions from reliable information from the employees.

Disadvantages
 Subordinates may filter information to protect their own
interests.
 May not be taken seriously by top management.
Horizontal Communication
(or lateral communication)
Salient Features-
 Exchange of ideas and information among people working at the
same level of authority.
 Co-ordination of the activities of different departments or
divisions of the enterprise.
 Communication among people of the same status or rank.
 Takes place mostly through meetings, conferences, telephones,
letters, memos, manuals, etc.

Advantages-
 Communication among people of same status or rank tends to
be faster and flexible.
 There are no status barriers.
 Helpful in coordinating the activities of different departments or
division of the enterprise.
 Enables executives to exchange information and understanding.
Crosswise or Diagonal
Communication
Salient

Features-
Communication between persons who are neither in the same department
nor on the same level of organizational structure.
 It cuts across departmental lines.
 Diagonal communication is the least used channels of communication.
 Generally takes place when members cannot communicate effectively
through other channels.

Advantages-
 Helps to save time
 Assists in speeding up action.
 Helps communication between persons who are neither in the same
department nor on the same level of organizational structure.
 It cuts across departmental lines.

Disadvantages-
 Least used channel of communication.
 Generally takes place when members cannot communicate effectively
through other channels.
Types of Communication
Oral Communication
 Salient Features:
 Involves exchange of messages through spoken words.
 May take place a. by face to face contacts
 b through mechanical devices like telephone
 It is very speedy, helps to interchange feelings and attitudes.
 Greater understanding and cooperation can be obtained.
Merits
 Economical
 Personal touch
 Speed
 Flexibility
 Quick response
Demerits
 Lack of record
 Time consuming
 Lengthy message
 Physical distance
 Misunderstanding
Written
Communication
Salient Features
 Transmission through written words- letters, circulars, memos
 Used to issue specific orders and instructions to subordinates
 Managers frequently use written communication in the course of
performing their functions.
 It is frequently used to issue specific orders and instructions to
subordinates.
Merits:
 Effectiveness
 Lengthy messages
 Repetition
 Permanent record
 Better response
Demerits:
 Time consuming & Expensive
 Inflexibility
 Little secrecy
 Lack of personal touch
 Misunderstanding
Gesture Communication or
Body Language
Salient Features—
 Communication is through gestures or postures.
 A person can convey much through wave of
hands, parting of lips, movement of eyes, etc.
 Gestures by the audience indicate reaction or
response to the oral message.

Advantages-
 Gesture communication is very useful in
conveying feelings, emotions and attitudes.
 It is often used to supplement oral communication.