Introduction to Management

Research reveals that approximately 70 to 80 percent of a manager's time is spent in communication. Communication refers to the transfer of information from a sender to a receiver, in a form that can be understood by the receiver. Communication serves many purposes in organizations. It helps managers discharge their duties and also build a bridge between the organization and its external environment. The key elements in the communication process are the sender, transmission, noise, the receiver and feedback. Communication in organizations flows basically in three ways, downwards, upwards, and crosswise. Downward communication refers to the rules, regulations, and instructions conveyed by superiors to subordinates. Upward communication refers to the flow of information from employees at the operational level upward to the top executive along the chain of command. Crosswise communication consists of two types of information flows, horizontal flow and diagonal flow. Horizontal flow refers to the flow of information among people at the same level in the organizational hierarchy, whereas diagonal flow refers to the flow of information among people at different levels in the hierarchy.