Question

Discuss the advantages of informal communication.

Answer 1

1. Speedy Transmission: Information travels quickly through informal avenues of communication. This is due to the fact that the message does not need to travel via any designated channels. Rumours catch on like wildfire. When an employee learns anything that he believes to be a “top secret” or confidential, he shares it with his coworkers. ‘Just between you and me’ statements are another way that managers occasionally convey information.
2. Valuable Feedback: Through the grapevine, managers might get insightful feedback on their choices and actions. Feedback is given through informal channels far more quickly than through formal ones.
3. Psychological Satisfaction: Informal conversation fosters a sense of community and brings coworkers closer together. It preserves the organisation as a social unit and fortifies group identity.
4. Support to Formal Channels: The grapevine is an additional avenue for communication. The unfettered flow of information is restricted by the official routes of communication, which also take longer. Information deemed inappropriate for the official channels of communication can be disseminated via grapevine.