What is Grapevine?

To hear something through the grapevine is

to learn of something informally and
unofficially by means of gossip and rumour.
The usual implication is that the information
was passed person to person by word of
mouth, perhaps in a confidential manner
among friends or colleagues. It can also imply
an overheard conversation or anonymous
sources of information.
Harold koontz and Cyril ODonnell observe,The
most effective communication results when
managers utilise the informal organisation to
supplement the communication channels of
the formal organisation.
Grapevine follows no set lines, nor any definite
rules, but spreads, like the grapevine, in
anydirection,anywhere,and spreads fast.

The creation of Grapevine may create
complications for the information system of
organizations.

ORIGIN
The term grapevine communication is often used
interchangeably with the term informal
communication. The term originated in the
1860s during the American Civil War. It was
used as a term that described the telegraph lines
that were strung through the trees in a manner
that resembled grapevines. It also came to mean
informal communication that was not very
effective because the telegraph system was not
a reliable source of communication at the time.
Almost a century later, it was discovered that the
path of grapevine communication does resemble
a cluster of grapes.
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 way grapevine communication works is
one person, Person 1, sends a message to Person
2 and Person 3. Then, Person 2 tells Person 4 and
Person 5. And Person 3 tells Person 6. Not all
participants within the grapevine send
messages. Some participants are just receivers.
Liaisons within an organization usually help
facilitate grapevine communication. The use of
this type of communication is common among
managers as well as subdivision employees.

The types of rumors that are spread through
grapevine communication can be classified
into two groups, spontaneous and
premeditated.
Spontaneous rumors are spread when people
are stressed or in an untrustworthy
environment.
Premeditated rumors spread within highly
competitive environments.
Surprisingly, 75% of all organizations
practices, policies, and procedures are shared
through grapevine communication. Though
there is a negative thought about grapevine
communication, studies have shown the
employees find informal communication
such as grapevine communication to be
more effective than formal channels of
communication because it coexists with the
formal communication system.

FEATURES
Flexibility: There is no formal control over
grapevine, so it is more flexible than other
forms of communication.
Rapid communication: It is faster than any
form of communication.
No record: There is no evidence which can be
documented for future reference

Distortion: The message which is passed gets
distorted when it passes from one person to
another.
Spontaneous: Grapevine communication is
spontaneous as it is passed automatically from
the top level of the organization to the bottom
level without any difficulty in delivering the
message.
Grapevine is used by management to spread the
information that either can not be shared
officially

How the Grapevine
operates ?
SINGLE STRAND CHAIN
The single strand chain involves the passing of
information through a long line of persons to the
ultimate recipient.

GOSSIP CHAIN
In this, A actively seeks and tell everyone,this
chain is just like a wheel where A is the center
and the information passes along the spokes
of the wheel to others stationed on the rim.
PROBABILITY CHAIN
Its a random process in which A transmits
information to others in accordance with the
laws of Probability and then these others tell
still others in a similar manner. This chain may
also call Random.
CLUSTER CHAIN
In this, A tells selected persons who may in turn
relay the information to other selected
individual . Most of the informal
communication follows this chain.
IMPORTANCE
A Safety Valve
Grapevine acts as a kind of safety-valve
for the pent-up emotions of the subordinates

Organisational Solidarity and Cohesion
Grapevine may increase the morale of
workers
Supplement to other Channels
If there is some useful information
unsuitable for being transmitted through
official channels, it can be transmitted through
Grapevine.
Quick Transmission
The speed with which Information
transmitted through Grapevine is just
unbelievable.


Feedback
Grapevine provides feedback to the
management.

Disadvantages

Inadequacy
Changing interpretations
Damaging Swiftness

How to Use the Grapevine
effectively?
The Manager should
Keep an eye on rumour-mongers
Use it primarily for feedback
Contradict rumours promptly
Involve the workers in the decision making
process

SHAREN ANDREWS
NUZRI N I BRAHI M
NEENUMOL MATHEW
SMRI THY GOPI NATH