“Grapevine communication”

Overview of Grapevine Communication

Grapevine communication, also known as informal communication, is an unofficial communication network between people within or outside an organization. This can involve hearsay, rumors, and gossip in the workplace and often occurs during everyday informal conversations among coworkers or employees. Grapevine communication is the sharing of information through informal means beyond the usual channels of controlled communication.

Understanding Grapevine Communication

In any organization, there exists both formal and informal networks. The former links the different players of different functions. The later consists of ‘unofficial information channels that operate within an organization along which information flows and by which decisions are made’. This makes grapevine communication one of the most important and not the least used form of communication in an organization.

It cannot be completely ruled out as it is often used to source crucial information in a shorter span of time. It often overrides formal communication by giving the fastest dissemination of information available. This information is purely employee-driven and usually does not get filtered out by management.

Nature and Characteristics

Grapevine communication entails informal conversations, informal meetings and social gatherings where participants share their grievances, experiences and exchange personal ideas. It is basically a non-structured form of communication used by people to exchange views, express opinions, and share information.

Grapevine communication is dynamic, spontaneous, and highly effective. It is usually free-flowing, fast, and wide in the spread of information. The advantage of grapevine communication is that it is faster in spreading information than formal communication but there are many limitations to it. It can lead to rumors and gossip that can be damaging to an organization.

FAQs

What is grapevine communication, and can you provide an example?

Grapevine communication is a non-structured form of communication used by people to exchange views, express opinions, and share information. For instance, an employee in one department can pass on crucial information about an upcoming project quickly and effectively to an employee in an adjacent department, making grapevine communication an important source of information.

What are the four types of grapevine communication?

The four types of grapevine communication are:

• Rumor – Spread through stories, with no confirmed source
• Gossip – Unverified smaller conversations between people
• Cluster Chain – Information being exchanged from person to person in a specific sequence
• Multiple Chain – Information being passed on to multiple people at the same time

Why is it called grapevine communication?

The term “grapevine” refers to the way information can spread quickly and informally, just like a grapevine grows quickly and weaves through a space. Expressions such as “word on the grapevine” or “the grapevine never lies” are often used to refer to the informal and often speedy way of information transfer in businesses.