Communication Networks

Graphics courtesy of Pryor LearningOpens in new window Communication in organizations tend to flow in certain patterns. The pathways along which information flows throughout an organization are called communication networks. The type of communication network that exists in a group or team depends on the nature of the groups or team’s tasks and the extent to which group members need to communicate with each other in order to achieve group goals.

Formal and Informal Communication Networks Within Organizations

An organization chart may seem to be a good summary of an organization’s communication network, but often it is not.

Often, however, communication of information flows around issues, goals, projects, and ideas instead of moving up and down the organizational hierarchy in an orderly fashion.

The Grapevine

One informal organizational communication network along which information flows quickly, if not always accurately, is the grapevine.

Every organization has its grapevineOpens in new window, and an amazing amount of information may be transmitted through the grapevine. Employees often know about major decisions such as changes in organizational structure or incentive packages before leaders have been officially notified.

Unfortunately, information passed through the grapevine often gets exaggerated as it travels from employee to employee. This is particularly true when leaders or organization fail to distribute information openly.

Given the absence of open and honest information from management, employees try to fill the vacuum by providing bits of information to each other, which may be based on speculation rather than facts, thus starting rumors.

The best prescription for dealing with a rumorOpens in new window is to expose its untruthfulness and to state the facts openly and honestly. If leaders do not have all the necessary information available, they should frankly admit it and then try to gather the facts by consulting a higher-level leader, asking what information may be told, and when, and then reporting to employees.

Otherwise, employees will make up their own, often incorrect, explanations. Further, if a leader’s employees trust them, they will be willing to let the leader know what they hear on the grapevine, thus giving you the opportunity to dispel rumors and provide accurate information.

A leader can also use the grapevine as a way of taking the pulse of your organization. It can help a leader learn about the basic attitudes and thoughts of employees and whether they regard the organization in positive or negative light. This may help a leader better understand and address motivational issues of others in the organization (for example, their work groupOpens in new window or teamOpens in new window).