What is Organizational Communication?
Organizational communication is the set of actions, procedures and tasks that are carried out to transmit or receive information through various means, methods and techniques of internal and external communication in order to achieve the objectives of the company or organization.
Through organizational communication , development strategies, productivity and internal and external relationships are established in order to obtain a better performance by the human resource, so its purpose is related to the achievements, successes or failures of a company or organization. .
In turn, organizational communication allows internal work processes to be carried out correctly, there is an optimal work climate and the proposed objectives are achieved.
To establish the effective and efficient management of a company or organization, communication is a vital tool. It is a means that allows knowing the achievements, the scope or solving the difficulties of the people who work in the different departments of a company.
Types of organizational communication
Internal communication
Through the structure of the company or organization, it facilitates the communication process for personnel in order to:
- Promote communication among staff.
- Facilitate integration between staff and organization.
- Strengthen staff cohesion.
- Contribute and facilitate spaces for the exchange of information.
External communication
It consists of designing and transmitting information from the company or organization to the public, community or society, through the different communication channels to maintain external or public relations.
- They publicize the goods or services that are produced in the company through advertising, donations or sponsorship.
- Relationships with government institutions are maintained to carry out tax payments and to be constantly updated on the legal responsibilities to be fulfilled.
- Inter-institutional relations are maintained in order to formalize alliances, develop projects or market strategies.
Written communication
It is characterized by transmitting concrete and clear messages. In turn, it provides support to the company because there is a record or reference that is communicated. Examples include internal newsletters, calls, surveys, or memoranda.
Oral communication
This type of communication is characterized in that there is a probability that the information is not fully understood and that doubts or misunderstandings are generated. It can be formal at a meeting, assembly or conference, or informal if it is an occasional conversation between co-workers.
On the other hand, notices, murals or signs are part of non-verbal organizational communication.
Communication flows
Top-down communication
The information is transmitted from the upper hierarchies to the other subordinates. It is part of the organizational culture of centralized authority companies. The tasks or obligations are communicated according to the order of the other dependencies and their responsibilities. This communication occurs through reports, memoranda, letters, among others.
Upward communication
Information is provided from the lowest hierarchy levels or by subordinates, to the highest dependencies or bosses. This is possible when taking into account the importance of communication provided by workers as a form of feedback on what happens in the company. This communication occurs through phone calls, periodic meetings, interviews, among others.
Horizontal or cross communication
It is the one established between members who have similar hierarchy levels. It is characterized by transmitting information more quickly, coordinating activities, solving problems or making decisions about a department. This information is communicated through meetings, teamwork, via telephone, among others.
Barriers to organizational communication
Many companies owe their achievements, achievements or failures to organizational communication. For this reason, it is very important to communicate and transmit clear and precise information that is available to all workers and that comes through the different information channels.
However, there are various barriers in the transmission of information that can originate from the sender, a confusing message, the receiver or in the feedback of the information, which can cause various problems.
- Transmit confusing or inaccurate information.
- Distortion of the message as it is transmitted through the various communication channels.
- Loss of information by those who communicate it.
- Offer other or unnecessary information.
- If it is an unwritten message, its content may be distorted.
- Technological tools failures: internal networks, collapsed systems.
- Barriers to the international context due to obstacles such as language or cultural expressions.
Organizational communication is of vital importance to carry out the management of a company or organization. It is a constant exchange of information that allows methods to be developed or solutions to the activity carried out to provide a quality good or service.
