"Within the realm of communication studies, organizational communication is a field of study surrounding all areas of communication and information flow that contribute to the functioning of an organization."
The study of how communication occurs within an organization, including its formal and informal processes.
Communication Process: The fundamental stages of communication process including encoding, decoding, feedback, barriers, and noise.
Organizational Communication Theory: Different theories that explain the communication process within certain organizations, along with their strengths and weaknesses.
Communication Networks: The different types of communication networks within an organization, including formal and informal communication.
Organizational Culture: The characteristics of an organization, including its values, beliefs, language and symbols.
Organizational Climate: The psychological and emotional aspects of an organization.
Leadership and Communication: The importance of effective communication in leadership, including various leadership styles.
Communication in Groups and Teams: The importance of communication in teamwork, decision making, conflict resolution, and group dynamics.
Communication Technologies: The use and impact of communication technologies within an organization.
Interpersonal Communication: The importance of good communication skills in interpersonal relationships in the workplace.
Change Management: How communication can be used to facilitate change and manage resistance to change.
Diversity and Communication: The importance of communication in diversity management.
Cross-Cultural Communication: The importance of cultural differences in communication exchange within international businesses.
Strategic Communication: How organizations can use strategic communication for effective communication, branding, and marketing.
Organizational Behavior: The study of human behavior within an organization and its impact on communication.
Conflict Management: Different strategies for managing conflict within an organization.
Performance Appraisal: How communication is related to performance evaluation in the workplace.
Emotional Intelligence: The importance of emotional intelligence in communication within an organization.
Motivation: The role of communication in motivation and job satisfaction.
Formal communication: This type of communication takes place through established channels within the organization, and follows prescribed management levels.
Informal communication: This type of communication flows outside the formal network, and may take place through personal relationships, social networks, gossip chains, etc.
Downward communication: This type of communication flows from managers to subordinates, and is used to provide instructions, feedback, performance evaluations, etc.
Upward communication: This type of communication flows from subordinates to managers, and is used to provide feedback, suggestions, recommendations, concerns, etc.
Horizontal communication: This type of communication takes place within the same level or department, and may include information sharing, coordination, problem-solving, etc.
Diagonal communication: This type of communication takes place across different levels and departments, and may include cross-functional teams, task forces, committees, etc.
Formal small group communication: This type of communication takes place within prescribed small groups, and may include committees, work teams, etc.
Informal small group communication: This type of communication takes place within informal small groups, and may include friend groups, social networks, etc.
Interpersonal communication: This type of communication takes place between individuals, and may include feedback, negotiation, persuasion, conflict resolution, etc.
Written communication: This type of communication takes place through written documents, and may include memos, reports, emails, letters, etc.
Verbal communication: This type of communication takes place through spoken words, and may include meetings, presentations, phone calls, etc.
Nonverbal communication: This type of communication takes place without words, and may include body language, facial expressions, gestures, etc.
"The scope of organizations included in this field of research have also shifted over time."
"Now both traditionally profitable companies, as well as NGOs and non-profit organizations, are points of interest for scholars focused on the field of organizational communication."
"Organizations are formed and sustained through continuous communication between members of the organization and both internal and external sub-groups who possess shared objectives for the organization."
"The flow of communication encompasses internal and external stakeholders."
"The flow of communication encompasses internal and external stakeholders and can be formal or informal."