Interpersonal Communication &
Organizational Communication
Lecture 06
Communication Defined
The imparting or exchanging of
information by speaking, writing, or using
some other medium.
Means of sending or receiving
information.
Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal communication is the process
by which people exchange information,
feelings, and meaning through verbal and
non-verbal messages: it is face-to-face
communication.
Interpersonal communication is not just
about what is actually said - the language
used - but how it is said and the non-verbal
messages sent through tone of voice, facial
expressions, gestures and body language.
Elements of Interpersonal
Communication
Communicators
Message
Noise
Feedback
Context
Channel
Elements of Interpersonal
Communication
Communicators
• Involving a sender and a receiver of a
message
• One person is talking the other is listening
Elements of Interpersonal
Communication
Message
• Message not only means the speech used
or information conveyed, but also the
non-verbal messages exchanged such
as facial expressions, tone of
voice, gestures and body language.
Elements of Interpersonal
Communication
Noise
• Noise has a special meaning in
communication theory.
• It refers to anything that distorts the
message, so that what is received is
different from what is intended by the
speaker.
Elements of Interpersonal
Communication
Noise
• Physical 'noise' (for example, background
sounds or a low-flying jet plane) can interfere
with communication, other factors are
considered to be ‘noise’.
• The use of complicated jargon, inappropriate
bodylanguage, inattention, disinterest, and cul
tural differences can be considered 'noise' in
the context of interpersonal communication.
Elements of Interpersonal
Communication
Noise
• In other words, any distortions or
inconsistencies that occur during an
attempt to communicate can be seen as
noise.
Elements of Interpersonal
Communication
Feedback
• Feedback consists of messages the
receiver returns, which allows the sender
to know how accurately the message has
been received, as well as the receiver's
reaction.
Elements of Interpersonal
Communication
Feedback
• Types of feedback range from direct
verbal statements, for example "Say that
again, I don't understand", to subtle facial
expressions or changes in posture that
might indicate to the sender that the
receiver feels uncomfortable with the
message.
Elements of Interpersonal
Communication
Feedback
• Types of feedback range from direct
verbal statements, for example "Say that
again, I don't understand", to subtle facial
expressions or changes in posture that
might indicate to the sender that the
receiver feels uncomfortable with the
message.
Elements of Interpersonal
Communication
Context
• All communication is influenced by the
context in which it takes place.
• For example in a room, office, or perhaps
outdoors, the social context also needs to
be considered, for example the roles,
responsibilities and relative status of the
participants.
Types of Interpersonal Communication
There are three types of interpersonal
communication
1) Dyadic Communication ( Two person)
2) Public Speaking
3) Small-group Communication
Organizational Communication
Studying organizational communication
requires looking at how communication
processes contribute to the coordination of
behavior in working toward organization
and individual goals.
Organizational Communication is also
defined as “A program that focuses on
general communication processes and
dynamics within organizations”
Types of Organizational Communication
Two types of communication
organizations are concerned with.
External communication includes
those communications between external
parties such as customers,
manufacturers, shareholders, investors
and the general public.
Types of Organizational Communication
Internal organizational
communication facilitates the flow of
information among members of the
organization. The flow can be upward,
horizontal or downward depending on
the organization's structure, chain-of-
command and culture.
Vertical Communication
Vertical communication is communication
that flows both up and down the
organization, usually along formal reporting
lines-that is, it is the communication that
takes place between managers and their
superiors and subordinates. Vertical
communication may involve only two
persons, or it may flow through several
different organizational levels.
Horizontal Communication
Whereas vertical communication involves a
superior and a subordinate, horizontal
communication involves colleagues and
peers at the same level of the organization.
For example : an operations manager might
communicate to a marketing manager that
inventory levels are running low and that
projected delivery dates should be extended
by two weeks. Horizontal communication
probably occurs more among managers than
among non managers.
