Channels of communication

Channels of communication

by Sarahn Laville

​Objective: At the end of the lesson students should be able to

​

​- Describe the various channels of communication

​Channels of communication

​Are the routes the information takes to get from sender to recipient.

​Communication can be of three main channels which are:

​1. Formal channels : used for official matters and to pass on important or serious information. This type of information flows up and down the organization such as an official letter from HR about new pay rates.

​

​2. Informal channels: Used between people who are in frequent contact. Example: telephone call to colleague to check a customers address.

​

​3. Unofficial channels/ Grapevine: Are informal and unplanned. The grapevine is the name for the social network that exists between staff who may chat about work matters, such as small group gossips.

Multiple Choice

Which direction do you think formal communication takes place within an organisation.

• Horizontally

• Vertically

​Communication channels

​Types of communication channels and there examples.

​

​ -Oral: Interviews, meeting, conferences, radio, television, telephone.

​

​- Written: Letters, memorandum, agenda, notices of meetings, reports, minutes, questionnaires, itineraries, notices, press releases, advertisements.

​

​- Electronic: Teleconferencing & Videoconferencing, telecommuting, and telemarketing, using a computer to access the world wide web or emails, telephone, fax, scanning.

​

​- Visual: Pictures, charts, graphs, signals, multimedia presentation, body language.

Multiple Choice

All of the following are written forms of communication EXCEPT

• letter

• Memorandum

• Advertisements

• meetings

​Turn to chapter on communication in your text book. Together we are going to o through each channel of communication and their examples.