week 13: Business communication in organization

Communication is one of the most important processes that take place in organizations. Effective communication allows individuals, groups, and organizations to achieve their goals and perform at a high level, and it affects virtually every aspect of organizational behavior. Advances in information technology such as global computer networks like the Internet generally tend to contribute most to the knowledge function of communication. Given the vast array of information currently available to organizational members, organizations have to be careful that their members are not overloaded with information. Using electronic communication to replace face-toface communication in work groups has certain disadvantages that tend to increase as the level of task interdependence between group members increases. Four types of work group communication networks are the wheel, the chain, the circle, and the allchannel network. As the level of task interdependence increases in a group, so too does the need for communication between group members. When a group’s task is characterized by pooled interdependence, the wheel network is likely to be used. When a group’s task is characterized by sequential interdependence, a chain network is likely to be used. When a group’s task is characterized by reciprocal interdependence, an all-channel network is likely to be used. An organization’s actual communication network is seldom accurately depicted in its formal organization chart. Networks change as communication needs change within the organization or group.

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