ABSTRACT

In this business communication assignment, we

have discussed about: Definition of grapevine,
Types of grapevines, Why it exists, Importance of
grapevines

MD. ABDUL MAZID ADNAN

Reg: 1072023
Submitted to: Reefat Zaman
GRAPEVINE IN Shourov
Business Communication – 502
COMMUNICATION
 Grapevine Communication
Grapevine Definition in Business Communication: Grapevine is a form of informal
communication, operates both in internal and external informal channels which can contribute to
and benefit the organization. Therefore, it is found in all organizations. It does not follow any
prescribed or predetermined rule and spreads any information quickly. Through the grapevine,
information flows in different directions linking almost every one of an organization.
The grapevine communication is usually horizontal in nature. But it can be horizontal, vertical
and diagonal. Prof. Keith Davis has classified grapevine into 4 types.
1)Single Strand Chain 2)Gossip Chain 3)Probability Chain 4) Cluster Chain

Figure 1: Different types of grapevines

6 reasons why grapevine communication happenings in Organization:

1. The emotion of Employees.

2. The existence of Informal and Peer Groups.
3. Exceptional Information.
4. Job Itself.
5. People of Talkative Nature and Suspicious Attitude.
6. Organizational Climate.

5 Ways to make Grapevine Beneficiary to Organization

1. Providing real news to the grapevine initiators.

2. Considering grapevine as a pulse feeling tool.
3. Contradicting the false rumor.
4. Allowing workers in the decision-making process
5. Developing a good organizational climate.

Whenever the information needs to be used quickly, the manager uses the informal or grapevine
method instead of taking it to formal channels such as emails. Grapevine also accelerates the
feedback process. If used wisely, grapevine communication can provide valuable feedback to
the management, and this input can be used to plan activities for the employees’
welfare. Though grapevine provides innumerable utilities to the organization, still it is not free
from defects. Therefore, managers should try to use grapevine in a way so that the organization
can take the highest benefits from it.