ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION

INTRODUCTION
Definition of organization
Organizations are social collectives or groups of people, in which activities are coordinated to achieve
both individual and collective goals.
According to Robbins (2001) an organization is a “conscious coordinated social unit composed of two or
more people that function on a relatively continuous basis to achieve a common goal or a set of goals.”
We organize together to achieve what we cannot accomplish individually. Organization happens through
communication. Examples of organizations are; businesses, corporations, manufacturing companies,
schools, government agencies etc. We organize together for common social, personal, political or
professional purposes.
When people form organizations they establish rules, hierarchies, structures, division of labour,
designated or negotiated roles and interdependent relationships.

Types of organizations
Talcott Parsons (1963) classified organizations into four primary types:
1. Organizations with an economic orientation tend to manufacture products and/or offer services
for consumers. Because such organizations succeed or fail based on their ability to sell products
to customers, communication within these workplace settings must work to enhance
productivity while at the same time persuade consumers of the value of their products.
2. Organizations with a political orientation generate and distribute power and control within
society. For example, the police and military forces, banks, state offices etc. They adhere to
governing principles.
3. Organizations with an integration orientation help to mediate and resolve discord among
members of the society. For example, courts, public interest groups, and conflict management
centers etc.
4. Organizations with pattern-maintenance orientation promote cultural and educational
regularity and development within society, including families, schools and religious groups. Your
family or your church, for instance, functions to provide you with personal and spiritual support.
Even schools support individuals by helping them learn.

Definition of organizational communication

Organizational communication are the ways in which groups of people both maintain structure and
order through their symbolic interaction and allow individual actors the freedom to accomplish their
goals.
Organizational communication may also be defined as the sending and receiving of messages among
interrelated individuals within a particular environment or setting to achieve individual and
communication goals.
Communication is the primary tool to influence organizations and gain access to organizational
resources. Individuals in organizations transmit messages through face-to-face, written and mediated
channels. Organizational communication largely focuses on building relationships with internal
organizational members and interested external publics.
Goldhaber (1990) identified a number of characteristics in a variety of definitions of organizational
communication. Organizational communication:
1. Occurs within a complex open system which is influenced by, and influences its internal and
external environment.
2. Involves messages and their flow, purpose, direction and media
3. Involve people and their attitudes, feelings, relationships and skills.

1
Organizational communication helps us;
1. To accomplish tasks relating to specific roles and responsibilities of sales, services and
production.
2. Acclimate changes through individual and organizational creativity and adaptation.
3. Complete tasks through the maintenance of policy, procedure or regulations that support daily
and continuous operations.
4. Develop relationships where human messages are directed at people within the organization.
5. Coordinate, plan and control the operations of the organization through management.
For organizations to be successful, they must have competent communicators. Effective organizational
communication involves knowing how to create and exchange information, work with diverse
groups/individuals, communicate in complicated and changing circumstances, as well as having the
motivation to communicate in appropriate manners.

Organizational Communication as a complex interaction of process, people, messages, meaning and

purpose.
Organizational communication as a process.
Organizational communication is a process of creating and transmitting organizational messages. It
includes patterns of interaction that develop among organizational members and those external to the
organization and how these interactions shape organizations.
The process occurs in developing strategy, planning, decision making and executing the work of the
organization. The process also occurs during unexpected crises, changes in the external environment,
encounters with competitors etc.

Organizational communication as people

Organizational communication contributes to creating relationships and assists both individuals and
organizations in achieving diverse purposes. Organizational communication occurs between and among
people who share both work and interpersonal relationships. Organizational communication occurs
across networks of people who seek to obtain a variety of objectives requiring communication
interactions.

Organizational communication as messages

Organizational communication is the creation and exchange of messages. It is the movement or
transmission of verbal and nonverbal behaviours and sharing of information through the organization.
The messages are described with such terms as frequency, amount and type.

Organizational communication as meaning

Organizational communication creates and shapes organizational events. Role taking occurs as
individuals engage in social interaction within the ever-changing organizational context. Organizational
communication is the symbolic behaviour of individuals and organizations that when interpreted affects
all organizational activities.

Organizational communication as purpose

Organizational communication is organizing, decision making, planning, controlling and coordinating. It
is the process through which individuals and organizations attempt goal-oriented behaviour in dealing
with their environment.