Page 269 - DMGT402_MANAGEMENT_PRACTICES_AND_ORGANIZATIONAL_BEHAVIOUR

Management Practices and Organisational Behaviour

Notes 2. Non-verbal communication: It includes using of pictures, signs, gestures, and facial
expressions for exchanging information between persons. It is done through sign language,
action language, or object language. Non-verbal communication flows through all acts of
speaking or writing. It is a wordless message conveyed through gestures (sign), movements
(action language), and object language (pictures/clothes) and so on. Further non-verbal
communication can be identified by personal space (proxemics), sense of smell (olfactics)
and time (chronemics).
3. Meta communication: Here the speaker’s choice of words unintentionally communicates
something more than what the actual words state. For example, a flattering remark like
“I’ve never seen you so smartly dressed” could also mean that the regular attire of the
listener needed improvement.

4. Formal Communication: A formal channel of communication can be defined as a means of
communication that is formally controlled by managers or people occupying positions in
an organisation. The communication flows through formal channels, that is, officially
recognized positions along the line in the organisation. This ensures that the information
flows orderly, timely, and accurately. Any information, decision, memo, reminder etc.
will follow this path.
5. Informal Communication: Side by side with the formal channel of communication every
organisation has an equally effective channel of communication that is the informal channel.
It is not officially sanctioned, and quite often it is even discouraged or looked down upon.
But, then, it is very much there, and has been given the name ‘grapevine’ precisely because
it runs in all directions-horizontal, vertical, diagonal. As the management experts put it,
“it flows around water coolers, down hallways, through lunch rooms, and wherever people get
together in groups”.

6. Downward Communication: The Communication that flows from Top to Bottom is known
as downward communication. Any organisation has an inbuilt hierarchical system, and in
that, in the first instance, communication invariably flows downwards.
7. Upward Communication: The Communication that flows from bottom to top, which is
from lower hierarchical level to higher level, is called Upward Communication. The main
function of upward communication is to supply information to the upper levels about
what is happening at the lower levels. It is just the reverse of the previous dimension.

8. Lateral Communication: When communication takes place between two or more persons
who are subordinates working under the same person, or those who are working on the
same level, it is called lateral or horizontal communication. A good example of this kind
of communication is that between functional managers. It is necessary for the reviewing
of the activities assigned to various subordinates having identical positions
9. Diagonal Communication: Diagonal or Crosswise communication includes flow of
information among persons at different levels who have no direct reporting relationships.
As an example, the Communication between the Training Supervisor and Marketing
Manager, regarding the Training of a few employees of Marketing Department, is Diagonal
Communication. This kind of communication is used to speed up information flow, to
improve understanding, and to coordinate efforts for the achievement of organisational
objectives.

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