[GRAPEVINE COMMUNICATION]

Introduction
Grapevine is an informal channel of business communication. It is called so because it stretches
throughout the organization in all directions irrespective of the authority levels. Man as we know
is a social animal. Despite existence of formal channels in an organization, the informal channels
tend to develop when he interacts with other people in organization. It exists more at lower levels
of organization. The reason Grapevine communication is called grapevine is because of its
similarity to a grape vine.

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Structure (Types) of a Grapevine

There are four major structural flows of a grapevine communication. These are:

The Single Strand Chain-in this structure, it flows like a chain, i.e., Atells something to
=Bwho tells it to =C and so on.

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The Gossip Chain-in this chainone person tells everybody else. This chain passes a message
Regarding a =not-on-jobnature. The gossip chain communication is the informal
Communication network within an organization which is used to spread information bypassing
the formal communication structure. Just like the grapevine plant, it spreads in random ways and
it goes where it can. The grapevine is formed by individuals and groups in an
organization. The People in the groups have something in common that links them together. A
person can belong to one or more groups.
The Probability Chain-in probability chain information may move from anybody to
anybody.This chain is found when the information is somewhat interesting but not really
significant.

The Cluster Chain-in cluster chain information move through selected groups. A tells
something to a few selected individuals and then some of these individuals inform a few
other selected individuals. Cluster chain is the dominant grapevine pattern in an organization.
Most informal communication flows through this chain.

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Importance of Grapevine Communication

The grapevine reflects the quality of the activities within the corporation, fills an
information void, and provides meaning to organizational activities. First, the grapevine serves
as a barometer providing vital feedback to management regarding the organization and its
employees. Although some managers try to stomp out the grapevine, most theorists feel the
grapevine indicates the deep psychological need people have to talk about their company and
their jobs .An active grapevine is indicative of the company's health and spirit and
executives can learn a great deal by listening to it.
Finally, the grapevine provides sense-making information to members of the organization. As
messages travel through the grapevine, management's messages get translated into terminology
that makes sense to workers. The grapevine helps interpret management for the employee, which
makes it a vital aspect of organizational communication which makes an important observation.
So, the grapevine is an important source of messages and information for employees and for
management. The others Formal communication can never be as speedy and spontaneous as the
grapevine. The grapevine is non-expensive method and most-rapid oral method of transmitting
the information to the maximum number of the communication receivers.
Grapevine (Informal) communication is free from maintaining rules and regulations,
procedures and others. Such communication bears low cost than formal communication.
Although informal communication does not follow any set rules or principle but it offers
some advantages which are as follows:
Flexibility: There is no formal control on grapevine; or this reason, it is more flexible
communication system than any other ways of communication.
Popular among employees: This communication system is much popular among the employees
than other formal or informal channels.
Alternative System: There are some messages which cannot be sent through formal way
and therefore requires some alternative. Such alternative can be informal communication.
Interpretation: Message sent to subordinates requires explanation or interpretation and informal
communication is the valuable means here.
To Present Grievances: Employees can't make any complaints to superiors through formal
communication. But informal communication gives the employees a better opportunity to raise
their complaints, grievances or claim. Sometimes, in this way, as an informal communication
system, grapevine affects much.

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Increase Efficiency: Employees can freely exchange their opinions in terms of informal
communication. They can ask any question without any hesitation. Thus a cordial environment is
created to increase the efficiency of employees.
Improving Relations: Any created between management and the labor can be settled
through informal communication. Co-operation and co-ordination can be established through
harmonious relationship between management and labor. Such relationship is only possible
through informal communication. And as an informal system, grapevine may give this
opportunity too.
Measuring Reaction: Before releasing any new information, management wants to know
the reaction of employees. In such a case, informal communication can be valuable in
measuring the reaction of employees before any information is conveyed through formal
channels.
Transmission: Information flows quickly through informal channels, Management may take
advantage to send or receive the message of urgent nature through such network.
Provide Emotional Relief: For different reasons, some employees may become emotional
which can't be removed through formal communication. But informal communication acts as
a safety measure to provide emotional relief and therefore helps in concentration to job.
Rapid communication: Grapevine communication system is faster than other formal or
informal channels of communication.
Solution to Problems: With the help of informal communication, the management is able to
know problems, conflicts and complaints and the like. Therefore management can take
necessary action timely and effectively.

Disadvantages of Grapevine Communication

In grapevine communication there are some intrinsic dangers in bypassing the organizational
channels to get to the facts of the matter . The author added, the main danger is that much of
the information that gets spread through the grapevine is not verified. Some of the information is
likely false and difficult, if not impossible, to verify. It is obvious that we discount information
when the source is a known gossiper. Kumar (2012) added that the grapevine may carry some
degree of error in it; the baseless, imaginary and non-factual messages may prove harmful to the
organization; often the employees feed the grapevine with self-serving information; they add
to the facts rather than simply report. The grapevine often carries incomplete information,
which leads to misunderstanding of the receiver; the communicator does not take the
responsibility of the message; sometimes the grapevine spreads the message so swiftly that it
causes damage to the organization. Some significantly identified demerits/ disadvantages of
informal (grapevine) communication system are as follows
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Distortion: Informal communication networks do not follow any set of rules, definite liners or
ways. So it can transmit any kind of information to any person without any respect or fear. It may
spread wrong or distorted news which may sometimes prove harmful even to the employees. So,
it is the one of most considerable disadvantages of informal communication.
Lack of Secrecy: In informal communication, everybody can freely interact as there are
no restrictions or rules. Any secret matter is likely to be flashed without any problem or
hesitation. This may cause a huge damage to any organization.
Incomplete Information: Information released from such communication network is usually
incomplete. So, there is each and every chance of it to be misunderstood or misinterpreted.
Non-Co-Operation: Sometimes, confusion develops among the persons involved in informal
communication. As a result, they may remain separate without any co-operation.
Lack of Resistance: As informal communication does not follow any established system, it
is beyond any control. Organization has no mechanism to resist its movement.
Huge Rumor: Most of the time, informal communication fabricates the real facts and makes
some rosy picture. This really damages the working environment of any organization.
Misunderstanding: Lack of conduct, decency, decorum and rules cause misunderstanding in
informal communication. As a result there may be conflict between employees.
Committing Mistakes: These sort of communication are subject to errors and mistakes
because no officials rules or regulation operate in this case of informal communication.
Difficult to Control : Such communication can produce division or groups and subgroups
in the organization. People involved here do not follow any rules and regulation as they
depend on their own philosophy. All these may destroy the control of the respective authority.
No record: We can't keep any documentary record or evidence
communication system that can be shown or produced as future reference.

of

grapevine

How to use Grapevine Communication Effectively

In a situation of grapevine communication, the manager should organize fruitful group activities
so as to enhance the self-worth of the employees and update their knowledge. The manager
should keep an eye on rumor-mongers. He should tactfully identify the leaders and won their
confidence. As far as possible, the employees, through their leaders, should be made
partners in the decision making process. A tactful manager will keep the employees well
informed so that they may not spread rumors. Besides, the manager should try to get
feedback on his style of functioning and work for continuous improvement. Finally, a
manager must be a good empathic listener; this way the employees or the leaders will feel free
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to talk to him rather than indulge in rumor mongering . The management can use grapevine to
supplement the formal channels of communication. Though it carries some degree of error
and distortion, efforts can be made to correct it. The management can eliminate its
negative consequences and, at the same time, it can nourish its positive benefits. The
manager shaves to learn to manage and control it in the following ways:
1.The management can open up all the channels of organizational communication to
present the facts positively before the employees and thereby can fight the negative
messages with the positive weapons of facts and figures.
2. Better job design and better quality of work life can easily bring the grapevine under the
control of the management. It also prevents the boredom, idleness and suspicions among the
employees.
3.The negative consequences of the grapevine can be easily eliminated
management is successful in creating trust-relationship with the employees.

if

the

4.The rumors flourish beyond limits when the employees are not well informed by the
management regarding the policies, objectives and the work procedure of the organization.
The inadequate access to information and the feeling if insecurity is the reasons behind the
negative outcomes of the grapevines. The managers must give their employees an adequate
access to information and the feeling of security.
5. The rumors spread when the situations are unpredictable, unstructured, unplanned and are
beyond the control of a person or the persons who are involved in them. Therefore, the
best way to manage and control it is to provide accurate and substantial information of the
situations to the employees. The managers should pick up the false rumors and dispel them by
providing correct information.
6. Before taking any decision or action, the managers must consider its possible effects
on the informal groups and systems in the organization.
7. The management can use the grapevine as a barometer of the public opinions in the
organization or to feel the pulse of the employees in a particular situation. This will surely
help them to take right policy decisions.
8. In the formal activities of the organization, the management should avoid threatening the
informal groups, which are responsible in spreading the grapevine effectively.
9. The management should find out the people in the informal groups who are more
active on grapevine. These people should be accurately and adequately informed so that the
false rumors causing excitement and insecurity do not spread among the employees.

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10. The management should remember that the workplace community is maintained not only by
the work itself but also by the informal human relationships. Therefore, the manager should
honestly try to integrate their interests with those of the informal groups. Spare (2011) added
that the following are very crucial in the process of handing grapevine communication:
11. Silence not always golden- Companies should not ignore the grapevine be indifferent to it or
try to kill it. Leaders should proactively communicate and inject as much authentic information
into the system as they can. Regular interactions with employees a re the best way to understand
gossip and politics, and one must be prepared for this, he says.
12. Keep an open culture- The grapevine is always about people, and travels faster than
any other mode of communication. People at the receiving end of gossip may even take the
drastic step of quitting. An open culture with the freedom to approach the management is
important to tackle the grapevine.
13. Communicate ASAP-Employees hate it if they get know developments about their
company from the market, instead of from within. Company heads should directly
communicate these to employees, as soon as possible. A beverage industry professional cited
an example of how his CEO lost his job because of the grapevine, as he did not
communicate an update in time. His company had sold a bottling plant to another company
and workers went on strike thinking they would lose their jobs, which was not the case.
14. Keep them busy- The grapevine generally gets active starts early in the morning, in
car pools, over meetings by the coffee machine or during lunch and smoking breaks, when
people have a lot of time on hand. The best way to use the employees' time is to delegate
responsibility and power. This can be the most effective way to keep employees getting involved
in gossip.
15. Eliminate uncertainty- Nervousness and uncertainty is potent fuel for the grapevine. Even if
times are rough for the company, it should be made known to the employees and they should be
involved at every step. Companies should not hesitate to ask employees ideas for cost-cutting or
going after new businesses. They often have great ideas, which are many a time not
obvious to the company management.

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Conclusion
It has been shown that informal communication or grapevine communication occurs when
formal communication is not sufficient. Research and studies have concluded that informal
communication occurs either when insufficient of ambiguous information is transmitted through
formal communication. Some organizational theorists feel that some informal or grapevine
communication is needed in organizational life. The grapevine gives an opportunity to the
employees to let off the suppressed air of anxiety, worries and frustration. When they talk about
their associates, they get emotional relief. The fact that the employees talk about their associates
or that they have the interest in their associates is a proof of the high morale. Thus, the grapevine
not only promotes unity, integrity and solidarity of the organization but it also helps to raise the
morale of the employees
Probably the best thing to do is for management to make sure there are no false rumors that get
around, because this causes excitement and/or aggression among the employees involved.
Communication should not be gossipy and should probably relate to the organization itself.

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