Types/Channels of Communication

By Alka Swain
 TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS
• There are precisely these two forms of communications in
every organisation.
– Formal Communication
– Informal Communication

• They both exist simultaneously in an organisation.

 Formal Channels of Communications

• Every organisation has a formal set-up which they

follow.

• Formal communications are those which are bound by

rules and regulations, Ex. Orders, notices, etc.

• The actual and valid information are passed on,

through formal channels.
 Formal Communication
• Communication is through a line of authority or a chain of
command.

• Operates through relationship of superior and subordinate

• Purpose :
– Connect various sub system of organisation
– Coordinate functioning to achieve goal
• All formal communications are broadly classified as:            
– Horizontal communication
– Vertical communication
– Diagonal communication
 VERTICAL COMMUNICATION
• Communication among different levels on the line of authority.

• Ex. One dept. manager communicating to a subordinate or vice

versa
Vertical Communication :

(a)Downward communication.

(b)Upward communication.
 Communication channels
M.D.

Directors

down Managers
Up

Officers

Supervisors

Workers/Clerks
 Downward communication
M.D.

• Traditional type of corporate communication. Director

• Flows downward Managers

• Also called down stream communication Officers

• Downward communication takes place whenever a Supervisors

person belonging to a higher position communicates with Workers
a person belonging to the lower levels of the hierarchy.
• Strengthens the authoritarian structure of organisation
• Ex. Staff meetings, interviews, circular or notices, etc.
 Downward communication

• Advantages of downward communication:

• It helps to maintain discipline within an organisation. Since the

levels of authority are determined and clear-cut, each person
knows that he is accountable to his immediate senior.

• The seniors also know exactly the amount of authority they

wield, and so they are confident while issuing instructions and
orders to juniors.
 Downward communication
• Disadvantages of downward communication:

– In downward communication the lines of communication are often too long

& may get delayed

– Message gets distorted or diluted sometimes.

– The message may get filtered.

– Some information is confidential and cannot be communicated downwards.

 Upward communication
• Flow of communication from lower levels to higher levels.
M.D.
• More participative
Director
• Upward communication is essential to managers as they get information Managers

about the progress of the work. Officers

Supervisors
• Used to send information, suggestions, complaints & grievances etc.
Workers
• Ex. Supervisors reporting to officers.

• In some organisations ‘open door’ policy is followed.

 Upward communication
• Advantages of upward communication:
– It is a part of a two-way process which promotes better understanding between
management and employees.
– Provides valuable feedback
– Encourages participation in terms of suggestion.
– Upward communication develops ‘employer-employee’ relations.

– Boosts employee morale

• Disadvantages of upward communication:

– Only agreeable information is communicated upwards.

– Upwards communication tends to travel slowly as it is diluted or edited at each

level before it is sent.
 Horizontal Communication
• The communication of same level.

• Uses both oral and written.

 Lateral or Horizontal Communication

• It is a communication between personnel working at same level, or working

under same executive.
• Main purpose is to maintain coordination.
• With the help of horizontal communication, an organization can promote
internal communication amongst the employees that occupy similar
functional positions.
• It aims to improve cooperation and problem-solving by encouraging the
flow of messages from people at the same level. 
• Advantages of horizontal communication:

– Horizontal communication improves the quality of team work.

– It ensures greater efficiency and better results.

– Effective horizontal communication helps to eliminate misunderstanding,

envy, and petty jealousies among people of equal status.

 Lateral or Horizontal Communication

• Disadvantages of horizontal communication:

– There may be a conflict between horizontal and vertical communication.

Horizontal communication takes place more frequently than communication
between seniors and juniors. So, a decision taken horizontally may go
against some instructions given by senior.

– At higher managerial levels horizontal communication becomes difficult when

people engaged in specialised jobs use technical languages (Jargons).

– Unless horizontal communication is tightly controlled and each person is made

actually aware of his responsibilities, a great deal of time may be wasted
 Diagonal Communication
• Crosswise or Diagonal Communication: When
information flows between or among the persons at
different level who have no direct reporting relationship
with each other, it is called diagonal or
crosswise communication.
• Diagonal communication is cross-functional
communication between employees at different levels of
the organization.
INFORMAL COMMUNICATION
 INFORMAL COMMUNICATION
• Informal communication includes the non official or un-regulated
communications, Ex. Rumours, un-verified information
• It doesn’t follow any prescribed official rules, processes, system, formalities or
chain of command.
• Informal communication is also called grapevine communication because there is
no definite channel of communication.

• Informal communications could be rumours and any random informations.

• The informal communication network that exists in a workplace is often termed
“the grapevine”.
• Grapevine Communication

• Here the information flows in any order i.e. , no

horizontal or vertical flow of communication.

• Spreads very rapidly in all channels of

communications.

• It provides feedback to the organisation, reaches

everyone.

• It can be harmful as information can be baseless.

• It is mostly incomplete.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FORMAL AND INFORMAL
COMMUNICATION.
Sr. Formal communication Informal communication
No.

1. Formal communication is that which takes place Informal communication, too , operates in every
within the line of authority. Observing the norms ad organisation and carries communication which
conditions necessary to the hierarchy. doesn't arise out of the formal channels of
communication. Informal discussion about
rumours an un-verified information.

2. Formal communication, in whichever direction its
movers are always planed, dictated and guided.
Informal communication in not planned, not
guided. Today this type of communication is
recognized as integral part of the
communication structure of every organization.
This is known as grapevine communication.
THANK YOU