10.3 Informal communication
Informal organisational communication exists outside the formal lines of the organisational structure. An example of this is friendship groups. The informal communication channel serves two main purposes: it permits employees to satisfy their need for social interaction in the workplace and it can improve an organisation's performance by creating alternative, and frequently faster and more efficient, channels of communication (Robbins et al. 2000).
One of the most common forms of informal communication is 'the grapevine'. According to Kreitner and Kinicki (1995) the term grapevine originated from the American Civil War practice of stringing battlefield telegraph lines between trees as a means of efficient communication. In organisations today, the grapevine supplements the formal channels of communication. Although it can be the source of inaccurate rumours, it often functions positively as an early warning signal for organisational changes, as a mechanism for fostering social interaction and cohesiveness between organisational members and as a way of informally sharing and testing ideas.
Activity 10b
- Consider the advantages and disadvantages of informal channels of communication.
- When was the last time you read or heard any gossip? Did you spread the gossip? If so, which informal communication network structure did you use? What are the disadvantages of gossip?
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