Organizational Communication

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last updated 9/1/2006

Communication in the Classical Organization

Communication Characteristics in Classical Organizations

  1. Content of messages is on TASK

  2. Primary emphasis on direction is DOWN

  3. Medium of most importance is WRITTEN (although oral is more common)

  4. Style is FORMAL

Requirements for Communication in Classical (mechanistic) Organizations

  1. SUFFICIENT UPWARD INFORMATION FOR DECISIONS TO BE MADE AT HIGHER LEVELS
    1. special expert information as needed by the organization
    2. feedback on downward orders
    3. warnings about potential problems
  2. EFFECTIVE DOWNWARD COMMUNICATION TO MAINTAIN COORDINATION AND CONTROL SO THE MISSION GETS DOWN.
    1. downward messages must be clear and accurate
    2. downward messages must appear to come from the organization itself (not the individuals in charge)
  3. MOTIVATION AND CONTROL MESSAGES must be clear in explaining rewards and rules to get employees to conform to goals.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe an incident in which an organization you are familiar with seemed to suffer from lack of effective downward communication.  What happened?
  2. Describe an incident in which an organization you are familiar with seemed to suffer from lack of sufficient upward communication.  What happened?
  3. What are some ways to overcome problems with upward and downward communication?