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Learn about the significance of communication within organizations, including internal and external communication, communication breakdowns, and techniques to improve communication. Discover how effective communication helps in achieving individual and organizational goals.
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Lecture 1 Organizational Communication • Internal communication • External communication
Introduction • Planning, organizing, leading, and controlling all involve communicative activity • The glue that holds organizations together
The Importance of Communication Accomplish individual and organizational goals Communication helps organizations Implement and respond to organizational change Coordinate activities Engage in virtually all organizational relevant behaviors
The Importance of Communication Communication breakdowns are pervasive Ineffective communication = ineffective organizations Informal remarks are distorted Kidding leads to anger Problems arise when… Directives are misunderstood
The Importance of Communication • Communication itself is unavoidable in a functioning organization • Only effective communication is avoidable • Everything one does communicates something, in some way, to somebody • The only question is, “With what effect?”
How Communication Works • Effective communication • Common understanding between a communicator and a receiver • Verbal or nonverbal common symbols are used to convey information • In an organizational, internal information flows • Vertically • Horizontally • Diagonally
Communicating Within Organizations Downward Communication Flows from higher levels in the hierarchy to those in the lower levels Includes job instructions, memos, policy statements, procedures, manuals, company publications Often incomplete, inadequate, and inaccurate
Communicating Within Organizations • Upward Communication • Communicator is at lower level than receiver • Includes suggestion boxes, group meetings, and appeal or grievance procedures
Functions of Upward Communication • Provides managers feedback about problems, organizational issues, day-to-day operations • Is management’s primary source of feedback • Relieves employee tension by allowing lower-level organization members to share relevant information with superiors • Encourages employees’ participation and involvement, thereby enhancing organizational cohesiveness
Horizontal Communication Necessary for coordination and integrationof diverse organizational functions Often necessary for coordination Can provide social need satisfaction Facilitation often left to individual managers
Communicating Within Organizations Least-used channelof communication Diagonal Communication Important where memberscannot communicate effectivelythrough other channels Sometimes the most efficientcommunication method, in terms Of time and money
Organizational Communication External Communication
Communicating Within Organizations • Communicating Externally • Present products, services, positive image • Attract employees • Gain attention • Typically used for… • Public relations • Advertising • Promoting • Customer/client/patient surveys
Information Richness • The amount of information that can be transmitted or communicated effectively • Face-to-face interactions are high in richness • A general email to employees is low in richness • A medium with high richness • Likely to result in common understanding • “Real time” communication permits instant feedback
How Technology Affects Communication Social Networks Email, Messaging Internet/Intranet/Extranet Smart Phones Voice Mail eMeeting/ Collaboration Teleconference Videoconference
Intranet Versus Extranet Intranet Extranet • Private, protected electronic communication system within an organization • Used to communicate proprietary and organization- specific information • Connects employees with individuals external to the organization
Improving Communication in Organizations • To become a better communicator • Strive to be understood • Strive to understand
Techniques to Improve Communications Utilizing feedback Regulating information flow Following up Encouraging mutual trust Repetition Empathy Using the grapevine Simplifying language Effective timing
Promoting Ethical Communications • Kreps’ principles for internal organizational communications • Do not intentionally deceive another • Do not purposely harm an organization member • Treat organizational members justly