Informal (Grapevine) communication within organizations

Informal Communication is the casual and unofficial form of communication wherein the information is exchanged spontaneously between two or more persons without conforming the prescribed official rules, processes, system, formalities and chain of command.

Grapevine communication is the informal communication (rumour, gossip), generally word-of-mouth communication that spreads throughout the organization in a random manner, and may be twisted with individual interpretation.

Common example is ‘overheard conversation’ (you overhear someone mentioning a piece of info, either at work or outside).

Types of Informal Communication
Types of Informal Communication (Grapevine) network:

• Single Strand Chain
• Gossip Chain
• Probability Chain
• Cluster Chain

Management should keep an eye on grapevine as its unreliable and incorrect, and it can also generate anxiety and misunderstanding among employees. However, in some cases its also effective and is a widely used tactics in management these days.

MBA (management) Case study / assignment question on informal communication.

Q) Share the organizational grapevine that you have experienced in your career or industry. In your opinion please highlight how grapevine communication is beneficial & detrimental to any organization.

Q) Large organizations where there are many people working closely, create unofficial and informal channels of communication. What is this kind of communication known as and what purpose does it serve in large organizations? List different types of this communication along with drawbacks if any.

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