OBCH7

Chapter 7 Communication Overview

• Communication is fundamental in organizational behavior.

• It encompasses various processes and channels, influencing teamwork and relationships.

Chapter Outline

• The Communication Process

  • Choosing a Channel

• Barriers to Effective Communication

  • Filtering, Selective Perception, Information Overload, Emotions, Language, Silence, Lying

• Organizational Communication

  • Direction of Communication, Small-Group Networks, The Grapevine

• Modes of Communication

  • Oral, Written, Nonverbal Communication, Cultural Barriers, Cultural Context, A Cultural Guide

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the communication process and its forms (formal and informal).

2. Recognize how channel richness affects communication choices.

3. Identify barriers to effective communication.

4. Distinguish between downward, upward, and lateral communication.

5. Compare formal small-group networks and informal grapevine.

6. Contrast modes of communication: oral, written, and nonverbal.

7. Overcome issues in cross-cultural communication.

The Communication Process

• Definition: Steps between a source and receiver that enable meaning transfer and understanding.

• People spend nearly 70% of their waking hours communicating.

• Essential for motivating, information sharing, behavior control, and emotion expression.

• Good communication skills are vital for career success.

Channel Types

• Formal Channels:

  • Established by organizations, typically follow authority chains.

• Informal Channels:

  • Emerge spontaneously based on individual choices.

Choosing a Channel

• A channel is the medium for message transmission.

• Communication Apprehension: Anxiety related to oral or written communication.

• Channel Richness: The information capacity a communication channel can handle.

• Rich channels allow for multiple cues, rapid feedback, and are personal.

Barriers to Effective Communication

Filtering

• Manipulating information to be more favorable to the receiver.

Selective Perception

• Receivers interpret messages based on personal biases and contexts.

Information Overload

• Occurs when information exceeds processing capacity.

Emotions

• Emotional states affect message interpretation.

Language

• Words may differ in meaning depending on context and age group.

Silence

• Silence can convey various emotions (agreement, anxiety, contemplation).

Lying

• Misrepresentation of information is prevalent in organizations. People often find it easier to lie in phone communication than face-to-face.

Organizational Communication

Direction of Communication

• Downward Communication:

  • Flows from higher to lower levels; often one-way without feedback.

• Upward Communication:

  • Flows from lower to higher levels; can be challenging.

• Lateral Communication:

  • Communication among individuals at the same level.

Small-Group Networks

• Communication Networks:

  • Follow authority chain or can be chain, wheel, or all-channel forms.

The Grapevine

• An informal network often used for sharing rumors and gossip within organizations.

Modes of Communication

Oral Communication

• Includes meetings, videoconferencing, and telephone calls.

Written Communication

• Varieties: letters, emails, instant messaging (e.g., WhatsApp, Signal), and social media.

Nonverbal Communication

• Involves body language, facial expressions, and personal space (proxemics).

Cultural Barriers to Communication

• Factors include semantics, tone differences, and conflict resolution styles.

Cultural Context

• High-context Cultures:

  • Rely heavily on nonverbal cues.

• Low-context Cultures:

  • Depend primarily on words for conveying meaning.

A Cultural Guide

1. Understand your own culture.

2. Encourage mutual respect and fairness.

3. Focus on stating facts over interpretations.

4. Consider others' viewpoints in discussions.

5. Maintain group identity actively.

Summary

1. Communication is crucial for understanding messages in both formal and informal contexts.

2. Channel choice is influenced by the message context.

3. Key barriers include selective perception, information overload, emotional states, and deceptive practices.

4. Organizational communication includes lateral, upward, and downward types.

5. Small-group networks and the grapevine facilitate informal exchange and are essential to understanding group dynamics.

6. Effective communication spans oral, written, and nonverbal domains.

7. Addressing cross-cultural communication requires self-awareness, respect for diversity, and clarity in representing one's and others' viewpoints.