Part-II: Group Assignment
1. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of informal communication.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Informal Communication:
Communication is a two-way process. It refers to the exchange of ideas and
thoughts between two individuals. Based on the style, there are two types of
communication: Formal Communications and Informal Communications.
Formal Communications take place at an official location between people who
are officially related to each other.
The unofficial and spontaneous flow of information between managers,
employees, colleagues, and other people within an organization is known as
informal communication, it consists of understandings and relationships and is
often unstructured; it is also known as grapevine communication since it is
verbal, personal, direct, and flexible.
Informal communication refers to the way people of an organization
communicate not based on formal relationships in the organizational structure
but on informal understandings and relationships.
Informal Communication may take place across paths, levels, or positions,
creating a work environment in which several workers communicate and work
together, day in and day out, regardless of their formal roles or relationships.
This informal way of communicating provides direct, spontaneous, and
sometimes flexible information. Grapevine or informal communication is
personal, informal, and mainly verbal.
In informal communication, words and phrases are used differently than those
used in formal communication, and it is usually done orally and with gestures;
it can be used by members of an organization and among their social circle; it
takes place between friends and family; it is not restricted in terms of using
foul language; it is usually done orally and with gestures.
Informal communication is an intrinsic part of all organisational processes. The
proper analysis and clarification of informal communication will enhance the
effectiveness of the organisation.
In informal communication, authority lines do not exist. In an organization, it is
useful in finding out employee grievances as people express themselves
better when they are doing so informally. Informal communication also helps
in building relationships.
2. Briefly explain the different kinds of communication barriers.
Communication Barriers
There are many reasons why interpersonal communications may fail. In many
communications, the message may not be received exactly the way the
sender intended and hence it is important that the communicator seeks
feedback to check that their message is clearly understood. The skills of
Active Listening, Clarification and Reflection, which we will discuss shortly,
may help but the skilled communicator also needs to be aware of the barriers
to effective communication. There exist many barriers to communication and
these may occur at any stage in the communication process. Barriers may
lead to your message becoming distorted and you therefore risk wasting
both time and/or money by causing confusion and misunderstanding.
Effective communication involves overcoming these barriers and conveying a
clear and concise message.
Some common barriers to effective communication include:
The use of jargon. Over-complicated or unfamiliar terms.
Emotional barriers and taboos.
Lack of attention, interest, distractions, or irrelevance to the receiver.
Differences in perception and viewpoint.
Physical disabilities such as hearing problems or speech difficulties.
Physical barriers to non-verbal communication.
Language differences and the difficulty in understanding unfamiliar accents.
Expectations and prejudices which may lead to false assumptions or
stereotyping. People often hear what they expect to hear rather than what is
actually said and jump to incorrect conclusions.
Cultural differences. The norms of social interaction vary greatly in different
cultures, as do the way in which emotions are expressed. For example, the
concept of personal space varies between cultures and between different
social settings.
Explain communication model and their types.
Communication models are systematic representations of the process
which helps in understanding how communication works can be done.
Models show the process metaphorically and in symbols. They form general
perspectives on communication by breaking communication from complex to
simple and keeps the components in order. Communication models can
sometimes encourage traditional thinking and stereotyping but can also omit
some major aspects of human communication.
Types of communication model
Linear Model of Communication
Linear model of communication is a simple one way communication model.
The message flows in a straight line from sender to the receiver. There is no
concept of feedback. The only task that a receiver does here is to receive the
message. Different models that follow linear model of communication are:
Lasswell’s Model
Aristotle’s Model
Shannon Weaver Model
Berlo’s S-M-C-R Model
Transactional Model of Communication
In transactional model, senders and receivers both are known as
communicators and both play equally important role in communication.
Transactional model relates communication with social reality, cultural up-
bringing and relational context (relationships). Non-verbal feedback like
gestures, body language, is also considered as feedback in this
model. Different models that follow transactional model of communication
are:
Barnlund’s Transactional Model
Helical Model
Becker’s Mosaic Model
Interactive Model of Communication
Interactive model or convergence model is similar to transactional model as
they are both two way communication model. But, interactive model is
mostly used for new media like internet. Here, people can respond to any
mass communications like videos, news, etc
