2. What Are Communication
Channels?
In an organization, information flows
forward, backwards and sideways.
This flow of information is called
communication. Communication
channels refer to the way this
information flows within the
organization.
3. INTERNAL COMMUNICATION
Sharing of information within
organisation.
E.g. Speech,
telephone,radio,mails,fax etc.
5. COMMUNICA
TION
CHANNEL
CONCEP
T
FORMS ADVANTAG
ES
DISADVANTA
GES
•DOWNWARD Message
flows from
higher to
lower level.
•Orders
•Instructions
•Bulletins
•Meetings
•Discussion
s etc.
• Useful for
management
• Good organization
• Useful for
employees
• Superiors well
informed
• A sense of
belonging
•Time consuming
•Distortion
•Over and under
communication
•No confedential
matter
•UPWARD Message
flows from
lower to
higher level
•Progress
reports
•Suggestion
s
•Grievances
•Discussion
s
• Fosters friendly
relations
•Provides
feedback
•Introduction of
new policies
•Two-way process
•Resistance from
employees
•Indecisive
superiors
•Message not
heard
•Possibility of bitter
relations.
•HORIZONTAL Message
flows within
the same
level
•It is 100%
oral with
mutual
interaction
•Saves time
•Immediate
feedback
•Co-ordination
and co-operation
•Creates jealousy
•Disruption if used
in excess
•Waste of time in
gossiping
6. EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION
Sharing of information to the
people outside the organization.
E.g. E-mail,posters,advertisements
and other forms of multimedia
marketing.
7.
8. COMMUNIC
ATION
CHANNELS
CONCEPTS FORMS ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGE
S
•FORMAL Transmits
organizational
information
•News letters
•Annual
reports etc.
•Easy
communication
system
•Permanent
record
•Quick
accomplishment
of work
•Systematic and
disciplined
•Inflexibility
•Lack of initiative
•Time consuming
•Impersonal
manner
•INFORMAL Communication
which takes
place between
sender and
receiver having
informal
relationship
•Exchange of
messages
•Jokes
•Rumors
•Clarifications
•Gossips etc.
•Interpret
•Present
grievance
•Alternate system
•Improved
relationship
•Increased
efficiency
•Distort meaning
•Spreads rumors
•Misunderstandin
g
•Maintaining
secrecy is
impossible
•Difficulty in
controlling
9.
10. Conclusion
Communication between employees is a process
that helps people manage, create and sustain
organizational operations. Conflict is one
disadvantage of communication. Employees may
use communication to disagree and argue with
each other and with management. Conflict
causes tension among employees and can halt
operations, disrupt meetings and prevent task
completion. Communication channels—or the
media through which messages are sent—can
have an influence on the success of
communication. Each channel has its own
advantages and disadvantages in
communicating a particular message.
