Friday, April 2, 2021

Channel Of Communication : Formal Vs. Informal

 Based On Channel

On the basis of Channels,communication is Classified as:


1. Formal Communication -It refers to the flow of messages along the routes prescribed in the organisation structure, which follows through a formal channel. These channels are designed to represent authority responsibility relationships between different positions in the organisations. It is a formal organisation structure,which follows through a formal channel.It is an official communication among official for solving official's problems. For example, if a branch manager wants to communicate with the chairman of the bank, the former has to pass his message through the area manager, regional manager and other functionaries.
For the smooth and orderly flow of messages, these officially prescribed channels are formed. Formal communication is often slow and rigid, especially when chain of command is long or there are several authority levels in between the sender and receiver.
Formal communication are generally in the form of :
(1) Policy manuals
(2) Procedural hand books
(3) Memorandum
(4) Scheduled meetings
(5) Orders
(6) Conferences
(7) Special interviews
(8) Company news bulletins
(9) Information regarding : (a) Promotion
(b) Suspension
(c) Termination
Formal communication flows in the following direction :
(1) Downward communication
(2) Upward communication
(3) Horizontal communication
(4) Diagonal communication
(5) Multi-directional communication
   



Features of Formal Communication.
(1) Authorized way of communication.
(2) It provides authentic information.
(3) It is a proof of receiving information
(4) Messages are communicated through scalar chain.
Advantages of Formal Communication.
(1) It is proper and systematic.
(2) It ensures orderly flow of communication.
(3) It helps in fixing responsibility.
(4) It helps in locating the source of communication.
(5) Helps in managing and controlling business affairs.
(6) Helps in establishing contact with distant parties.
Disadvantages of Formal Communication.
(1) Slow moving communication system.
(2) Lacks personal warmth and touch.
(3) Overloads higher authority with work.
(4) No free and frank opinion.
(5) Certain rigid rules are to be followed.
(6) Greater possibility of transmission errors.



2.Informal Communication -It grow out of the social interaction among people
who work together. These are not bound any but are bound by customs and cultures. Such communication provide useful information for events to come in the form of "grapevine". Grapevine can not be abolish,rubbed out, hidden under a basket, chap down tied up or stopped. If we suppress at one place, it will drop up in another. If we cut off one of its source it merely moves to another. In a sense, whenever men are together in a group the grapevine is sure to develop.


Features of Informal Communication.
(1) It can't be avoided.
(2) The content of informal communication may be in accurate, a group, a private talk or a rumor.
(3) It satisfies the employee's need to have friendly relations with their colleagues.
(4) It is a source of humors and relaxation.
(5) It spreads like a wild fire.
Advantages of Informal Communication.
(1) It is a good measure of employees reactions, responses and attitude.
(2) It operates with greater speed and spreads very quickly.
(3) It developed friendly relations and follow feelings among workers.
(4) The existence of grapevine proves that workers are interested in their
associates.
(5) It enables the management to know that the subordinates think about the organisation and its various activities.
(6) It reduces tensions in employer-employee relations and provides emotional relief to workers.
Disadvantages of Informal Communication
(1) One of the major drawbacks of grapevine is that it may spread baseless or distorted news, which may sometimes prove harmful to the employees.
(2) The grapevine information is usually incomplete. So there are more chances of it's being mis-understood and mis-interpreted.
(3) It is not possible to fix responsibility for its source of origin or flow of information.
(4) Informal communication consists of unconfirmed facts, half-truths, rumors and distorted information.
(5) This type of information sometime may harm the organisation due to inaccurate information.








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