Communication in the Organization

Mediated communication
This level of communication occurs when two (or a few) people use some intermediate means for
carrying their messages. They do not communicate face to face and thus do not have direct feedback.
Mediated communication often uses a mechanical or electrical device to transmit or receive messages.
Examples include the telephone, closed-circuit television, radio, radar, and the communication satellite.
Mediated communication also occurs through letters, reports, forms, and interoffice memoranda.
Person-to-Group Communication
The person-to-group level involves one speaker and audience. The speaker usually faces the audience,
and the audience usually contains people with similar interests. A small, private person-to-group situation
often has some of the characteristics of interpersonal communication. However, for large public groups,
the person-to-group level lacks the benefits provided by interpersonal exchanges.
The traditional speaker and audience setting may include microphones, projectors, and tape player.
Mass Communication
Mass communication includes messages sent to large, public, dissimilar, anonymous, distant audiences
using some intermediate instrument of transfer. The instruments include electronic (for example, radio,
television, tape, and film) and print (for example, newspaper, magazine, book, pamphlet, brochure, directmail
campaign). The restricted opportunity for feedback is the most serious barrier to effective mass
communication.
The "mass media," as they are often called, have grown to include the print media of books, newspapers
and magazines, the electronic media of television, radio, and audio/video recording, and the new media of
computers and computer networks. While these media differ in many ways, they all share the
characteristics by which scholars define mass communication.
COMMUNICATION IN THE ORGANIZATION
Communication is used extensively in the managerial functions of planning, organizing, staffing,
directing and controlling. Virtually every task that a manager performs requires the use of communication
in one form or another.

The nature of communication in the modern organization can be studied by examining the direction of
communication flow and the destination of the communication. While communication in the modern
organization flows downward, upward, and the horizontal, its destination can be either internal or
external.
Downward Communication
Downward communication flows from people at higher levels to those at lower levels in the
organizational hierarchy. The primary function of downward communication is to inform employees
about things important to them such as:

•  Information about their jobs
•  Organizational policies and procedures
•  Feedback about their performance Organizational goals and objectives

The types of downwards communication may include instructions, speeches, meetings, announcements,
memos, notifications, letters, hand-books, pamphlets, company newsletters and periodicals, bulletin
boards (notice boards) policy statements, and procedures.For downward communication some use written communication, others use oral communication.

Why is this needed?
When employees receive appropriate downward communication from management, they can be better
motivated and become more efficient.While the employees need clear job directions and safety rules, they also need to know facts about organizational strategy, products, and viewpoints on important controversial issues.Employees want to know about their benefits - health care, insurance, promotions, pensions, training,
work environment, retirement, etc.

In a way the employees, through their collective pressure, force their employers to be accountable for their decisions through effective downward communication.
Upward Communication
Upward communication travels from subordinates to superiors and continues up the organizational ladder.
Upward communication is extremely important, as upper management needs to know specifically about:
Production performance, marketing information, financial data, what lower-level employees are thinking,
and so on.The better the quality of information they receive, the more useful and effective it will be in their
decision-making efforts.Unfortunately, this flow is often hindered by people in the communication link who filter the messagesand do not transmit all the information, especially unfavorable news to their bosses.
Types of media used to direct information upward are reports, interoffice memos, supervisor subordinate
conferences, suggestion systems, and grievance procedures.Upward internal communication is becoming increasingly important day by day. Today many executives sincerely seek frank comments from employees, in addition to the usual periodic reports. Successful managers listen closely to opinions, complaints, problems, and suggestions especially when they are clearly and effectively stated. As a response to increasing global competition, some companies are developing new management styles, which make input form employees an integral part of important decisions affecting the company.
Lateral Communication
It includes horizontal flow of information, with people on the same or similar organizational levels, and
diagonal flow, with people at different levels who have no direct reporting relationships. The lateral
communication is used to speed up information flow, to improve understanding, and to coordinate efforts
for the achievement of organizational objectives.
Effective lateral communication between peers is essential in organizations to solve problems, perform
job duties, prepare for meetings, listening to and making requests, writing notes and memos, and
discussing and writing about projects.
Most lateral communication is of an oral nature, invo