ORGANIZ ATIONAL

COMMUNICATION
FUNCTION HALL, MISAMIS UNIVERSITY
SEPTEMBER 9, 2017
PASS THE
MESSAGE
T R U S T M E , T H I S I S R E L AT E D
CRITERIA FOR WINNING

• Accuracy
– For every incorrect word, the total score is deducted 1 point. The same applies for missing words
• Order
– For every word nor in order, the total score is deducted 1 point.
• Speed
– In case of a tie, the team who accomplished the challenge faster wins.

HIGHEST POSSIBLE SCORE: 25

GROUP A

Artificial amateurs, aren't at all amazing.

Analytically, I assault, animate things.
GROUP B

Broken barriers bounded by the bomb beat

Buildings are broken, basically I’m bombarding
GROUP C

Casually create catastrophes, casualties.

Cancelling cats got their canopies collapsing.
WINNER!
WHY IS COMMUNICATION
ESSENTIAL?
• An organization is a group of people communicating and working towards achieving a common
goal.
• Communication is the basis for the way in which an organization functions
C O M M U N I C AT I O N
IN THE
WORKPLACE
O R G A N I Z AT I O N A L C O M M U N I C AT I O N
 F L OW O F
C O M M U N I C AT I O N

University FORMAL
President
• Upward

Department Department Department Department • Downward

Head Head Head Head
• Horizontal

Staff Staff Staff Staff

INFORMAL

• Grapevine
Staff Staff Staff Staff
COMMUNICATION PROCESS

medium

sender message receiver

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

PRINCIPLE OF PARSIMONY:
people usually try to complete tasks with the least effort that will produce a satisfactory solution.
In task-oriented dialogue, this produces a tension between conveying information carefully to the
partner and leaving it to be inferred, risking a misunderstanding and the need for recovery
WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

• Noise
• Poor choice and/or use of channels
• Nonverbals do not support verbals
• Differences in common ground
– Semantics (choice of words, definition of words)
• Absence of feedback/ poor feedback
• Information/data overload
EFFECTIVE
C O M M U N I C AT I O N
O R G A N I Z AT I O N A L C O M M U N I C AT I O N
USE THE RIGHT CHANNELS

• Memos
• Letters
• Phone calls
• Email
• Meeting
• other
USE THE GRAPEVINE TO YOUR
ADVANTAGE
• Use it as a reinforcement for formal communication
• Use it to monitor what is happening in the organization
• Use it as effective feedback to changes
• Do not try to stop the grapevine
CHECK FOR AND USE FEEDBACK

EVIDENCE FOR UNDERSTANDING

• The hearer shows continued attention.

• An initiation of a relevant next contribution, for example an answer to a question.
• An acknowledgement like “uh huh” or “I see”.
• A demonstration of understanding, for example a paraphrase.
• A display of understanding, i.e., a repetition of some (or all) of the words used.
USE MOTIVATION

• Values
• Beliefs
• Attitudes
• Needs
• Goals
LEARN THE CULTURE

• Use culture as common ground

• Also use it to understand how information flows
KEEP A DATABASE OF FORMAL
COMMUNICATION
• Formal communication usually have paper or email trail
• Use it to avoid information overload
BECOME MORE OPEN TO
SUGGESTIONS
• Have opinion surveys
• Have an open door policy
• Have a suggestion system
SOURCES:

• Littlejohn, S. W., Foss, K. A., & Oetzel, J. G. (2017). Theories of Human Communication. Long
Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.
• Neher, W. W. (1997). Organizational communication: challenges of change, diversity, and continuity.
Boston: Allyn and Bacon..