The communication process has several components; the sender, the channel encoding, the message, decoding, noise, the receiver, and feedback. It is the interaction of the various components that results in successful and effective communication. The nature of the various elements determines the communication climate. The organization uses small formal group networks. The organization employed three forms of small formal group networks; wheel, chain, and all-channel. The chain follows a formal command chain rigidly. The wheel on the other hand, relies on a central figure who conveys the group’s communication. Normally, the group has a strong leader. In an all-channel network, members of the group communicate with each another. The all-channel network comprises of self-managed teams. The all-channel network is commonly used in organizations. This paper is about the communication climate of the organization and the strengths and weaknesses of the organization’s communication climate.
The organization has both formal and informal communication channels. The organization climate can be derived from the nature of communication used by the organization. The organization has a supportive communication climate. The use of an all-channel communication network encourages the development of a supportive communication climate. Employees can relay information confidently to their superiors because their superior will ready accept the information irrespective of whether it is favorable or unfavorable to them. The communication climate is also participative. The use of an all-channel communication network also encourages the development of a participative communication climate. Employees believe their contribution is valuable. The contribution of each member is considered because each group is usually small enough to acknowledge everyone`s contribution.
The organization’s communication climate has several advantages. Information flows freely whether it is good or bad. For example, an employee who reports an environmental standard violation by the company that results from disposing hazardous waste is guaranteed of the support of management. However, if the workers this thinks that reporting the regulatory violation to his seniors will brand him a whistle blower and endanger his job security they would rather keep quiet about it. Superior are supportive and non-threatening, hence, employees can easily begin to become open. Corporation among members of the organization increases because members become close. This is extended to work. Employees that are closer tend to be more productive. Employees are also able to work collectively as a tight-knit unit. There is also faster flow of information since employees communicate directly with one another. Time is saved due to elimination of red tape. For example, an employee does not have to follow a given chain of command when he or she wants to report an issue to senior management. The employee can simply approach the top management and report the issue. The wheel broadens the span of control of managers. If a subordinate is a leader of a group, the manager or supervisor can have control over other subordinates through his or her leader. There is also increased transparency in the organization. Every employee has an opportunity to understand how his or her work contributes to the attainment of the organization`s goals. Employees can also question management on every detail that they do not understand or need clarification. It also sparks creativity and innovation. Improving internal communication among employees at workplace encourages brainstorming. Brainstorming is a source of new ideas and innovations.
The organization communication has several disadvantages as well. An all-channel network can encourage resistance to change. Free flow of information makes employees to be confident, and they can conspire against organizational changes. Free flow of information also enables employees to influence one another against organizational change. It could also encourage conformity and group thinking syndrome that kills innovation and creativity among employees. All-channel communication network also reduces the degree of predictability of employees and managerial control. This is so because there is no formal and rigid chain of command. Employees can waste so much of organizational time pursing their own parallel agendas. For example, employees can use e-mail to gossip or spread office rumors instead of working. Employees can also conspire to sabotage the efforts of managers because they do not have to be present during communication. Last but not least, all-channel communication network may be costly because it requires the use of communication technologies to facilitate communication. The installation and maintenance of these communication technologies is costly
In conclusion, the success of an organization depends on the effectiveness of communication within the organization. The communication climate in the organization is both supportive and participative. There are various advantages that accrue from the organization communication model. They include; free flow of information, employee work more closely, time saving, broadens a manager’s span of control, increased transparency, increased creativity and innovation, and increased team building. There are also disadvantages that can be associated with the organization’s communication model. They include; resistance to change, conformity, and group thinking, reduction in the degree of predictability, and management control, time wastage, sabotage of management efforts, and it is costly to the organization.
References
Miller, K. (2012). Organizational Communication: Approaches and Processes (6 ed.). London: Cengage Learning.
Wandberg, R. (2005). Communication: Creating Understanding (illustrated ed.). New York: Capstone.
