horizontal communication

Examples of horizontal communication in the following topics:

• Horizontal Communication

  • Horizontal communication is the flow of messages across individuals and groups on the same level of an organization.
  • Horizontal communication, also called lateral communication, involves the flow of messages between individuals and groups on the same level of an organization.
  • Horizontal communication does not involve relaying information up or down across levels.
  • Communication within a team is an example of horizontal communication; members coordinate tasks, work together, and resolve conflicts.
  • Horizontal communication refers to any communication between employees at the same level of an organization

• Informal Communication

  • Informal communication occurs outside an organization's established channels for conveying messages and transmitting information.
  • While formal communication follows practices shaped by hierarchy, technology systems, and official policy, informal communication faces fewer restrictions.
  • Formal communication usually involves documentation, while informal communication usually leaves no recorded trace for others to find or share.
  • In the past, many organizations considered informal communication (generally associated with interpersonal, horizontal communication) a hindrance to effective organizational performance and tried to stamp it out.
  • While informal communication is important to an organization, it also may have disadvantages.

• Types of Organizations

  • An organization's ownership and management styles can impact its communication structures.
  • At the same time, there are some businesses that support informal and horizontal forms of communication.
  • Therefore the purpose of marketing, or external communications, in an NPO is to build awareness and to demonstrate the company's ability to make a difference with community support.
  • Regarding internal communications, smaller non-profits might lean toward using a combination of both formal and informal methods coupled with horizontal communication strategies.
  • An organization's CSR policy can shape what is communicated in the public sphere.

• Matrix Structure

  • Generally speaking, larger companies with a need for a great deal of cross-departmental communication benefit most from this model.
  • Product lines are managed horizontally and functions are managed vertically.

• Types of Organizational Culture

  • Individualism vs. collectivism: This could best be described as the degree to which an organization integrates a group mentality and promotes a strong sense of community (as opposed to independence) within the organization.
  • This is usually openly communicated with the public and demonstrated internally by employees.
  • These are tacit assumptions that infect the way in which communication occurs and individuals behave.
  • Person culture: In this type of culture, horizontal structures are most applicable.

• Downward Communication

  • While downward communication may sometimes invite a response, it is usually one-directional rather than reciprocal–the higher-level communicator does not invite or expect a response from the lower-level recipient.
  • Whether informative or persuasive, effective downward communication results in the recipients taking action or otherwise behaving in accord with the communicators' expectation.
  • Business communication experts John Anderson and Dale Level identified five benefits of effective downward communication:
  • Ensuring effective downward communication is not necessarily an easy task.
  • Managers need to effectively communicate information to their subordinates; they do this through downward communication.

• Defining Communication

  • Communication requires a sender, a message, and a recipient, although the receiver may not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication.
  • Communication requires that the communicating parties share some area of commonality.
  • Perhaps the most time-honored form of communication is storytelling.
  • Business communication encompasses marketing, brand management, customer relations, consumer behavior, advertising, public relations, corporate communication, community engagement, reputation management, interpersonal communication, employee engagement, and event management.
  • Many organizations have a communications director who oversees internal communications and crafts messages sent to employees.

• The Organizational Chart

  • The different types of organization charts include hierarchical, matrix, and flat (also known as horizontal).
  • Product lines are managed horizontally and functions are managed vertically.

• Upward Communication

  • Upward communication is the transmission of information from lower levels of an organization to higher ones; the most common form is employees communicating with managers.
  • Upward communication is often made in response to downward communication; for instance, employees answering a question from their manager.
  • In this way, upward communication indicates the effectiveness of a company's downward communication.
  • The communication channel, or mode of sharing information, strongly influences the upward communication process.
  • The availability of communication channels affects employees' overall satisfaction with upward communication.

• The Nature of Effective Communication

  • The goal of communication is usually to generate action, inform, create understanding, or communicate a certain idea or point of view.
  • Barriers to effective communication distort, obscure, or misrepresent the message and and fail to achieve the desired effect.
  • Effective communication only happens when the words and symbols used create a common level of understanding for both parties.
  • Communications have to take the potential barriers of an audience into account and tailor the message to reach them.
  • Define effective communication in the context of organizational challenges and barriers