Organizational Communication

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the topic of internal communication within an organization and shows that, while external communication such as advertisements and public relations, play an important role in an organization, internal communication is the glue that helps the company stay together and achieve its objectives. It provides a literature review of two different communication chapters from two different books, Chapter 9 "Internal Organizational Communication Systems" from the book, "Organizational Communication " by Gary Kreps and Chapter 2 "Formal and Informal Communication Networks" by Susan A. Hellweg from the book, "Organizational Communication" edited by Peggy Yuhas Byers. It attempts to identify and analyze each work for its strengths and weaknesses and discusses the importance of informal communication and the grapevine. The roles of organizational structure, the types of communication network, motivation, ethical responsibilities, and job stress are also explored.

From the Paper:

"Kreps and Hellweg both identify two types of formal communications within organizations: vertical and horizontal communications. Both authors identified two further subdivisions within the vertical communication format: Downward communication and upward communication. To understand formal communication both strengths and weakness have to be understood. In downward communication, all information transfer is sent from the management to the workers. The employees lower down the hierarchal chain are constantly provided information with regards to what needs to get done, how it should get done and the time frame within which it has to get done. Little or no feedback is expected from the employee who receives the message. In reality, it is observed that very often the message can get complicated and distorted as the level of complexity of the job increase or the levels through which the information flows. Most organizations traditionally followed this form of communication."

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