Communication in Organizations

We explain what communication is in organizations, its importance and classification. The functions it performs and elements.

Organizational communication
Organizational communication is directed by the Human Resources department.

What is communication in organizations?

Communication in organizations has to do with the dissemination of messages in order to transmit, behind closed doors, the achievements and requirements to the members that make it up. Although it is also communicated outside and, in this case, it serves so that society also knows what the missions, visions and goals of any organization are.

In general, the person in charge of organizational communication is the Human Resources department. It is worth noting that not all messages are for all collaborators, nor are they communicated in the same way at all levels of the organization. The messages vary depending on the level of the pyramid to which you want to communicate: It is not the same for those in hierarchical positions as for those at the bottom.

Importance of communication in organizations

Organizational communication
Organizational communication allows us to know the performance of the departments.

Communication in organizations is transcendental. The scope of the firm's objectives, to a large extent, depends on how the communication is.

Through it, collaborators stay aware of what the requirements are and the objectives achieved. At the same time, communication allows them to know employees How was its evolution within the firm and how the performance of each of the departments has been.

Outside doors, organizational communication is the tool that helps companies build the image what they want society to have of themselves.

You may be interested:  Regulation

Types of communication in organizations

Communication in organizations can be divided into two large groups:

Internal Communication. It is the preparation and dissemination of messages that are circulated indoors, that is, it is designed for the company's collaborators. This is how links are created and maintained between staff, even when they are not part of the same area or headquarters.

Within this type of communication, social networks, billboards, chats, emails, reports, brochures, events, meetings, surveys, speeches, circulars can be used.

In turn, internal communication can be:

  • Falling. When the message spreads from the highest levels of the company to the base.
  • Upward. When the message is spread by those at the base of the organizational pyramid to those in higher positions.

External Communication. It is made up of all the messages that are sent and received between the organization and its environment. By environment we can understand both suppliers and customers, competition and even society as a whole.

In general, behind closed doors, the organization tries to persuade the recipient and create a good image of itself. For this you can use advertising, brochures, call centersoffices, among other strategies.

Functions of communication in organizations

Communication in organizations
Meetings or gatherings are a good way to integrate staff.

Within the communication of organizations, various functions can be identified. Some of them are:

  • Motivation. If the organization wants its employees to perform better and thus achieve the objectives, communication can be oriented in this direction. For example, informing them that if they reach a certain goal they will receive a certain compensation or benefit.
  • Information. When you want to update staff on something, or clarify a certain rumor, communication through emails, posters or meetings can point in that direction.
  • Interaction. Through meetings, meetings or social networks, to give some examples, you can aim for collaborators to interact with each other. Many times it is a good way to integrate the staff as well as to generate a certain identity and brotherhood.
  • Control. Many times, Human Resources proceeds, for example, to the development of a regulation or contract that determines how employees should behave on certain occasions.
  • Feedback. Many times, the company wants not only to send messages from the highest hierarchies but also for its bases to report or give their opinion on different issues. Meetings, social networks or surveys can be a good alternative for this.
You may be interested:  School Dropout

Elements of communication in organizations

As in any type of communication, the elements that make it up are the following:

  • Transmitter. That member who is responsible for preparing and sending the message. In this case it could be, for example, the Human Resources department, the leader of an area or the collaborators of a sector.
  • Receiver. Who interprets the message and may be the same as the actors mentioned previously. The thing is that, in organizations, it is very common for the roles of sender and receiver to alternate constantly.
  • Message. The content that you want to spread.
  • Code. The set of rules and symbols used to create the message. This code must be known by the sender and the receiver. Otherwise, the message cannot be interpreted correctly.
  • Channel. The medium through which the message travels or is spread. It can be a billboard, a brochure, an e-mail or a speech, to give just a few examples of the wide variety of channels that an organization can use when disseminating a message.

References

  • Communication in organizations at Koiwe Human Resources.
  • Organizational communication. Types and forms in Large SMEs.
  • Trends in external communication in companies in Gestiopolis.
  • Fundamentals and elements of Organizational Communication in Gestiopolis.