The grapevine (or the corporate gossip) is the informal communications channel within an organization that is entirely different as also much faster than the firm’s or company’s formal communication channel. The formal communication channel within an organization generally flows in the same direction as the organization’s scaler chain. However, it is not so with the grapevine channel – which can flow in random order – in any direction – horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or in any other manner within and across the organizational structure.
Juniors may pass on information to their superiors, an executive may share a small piece of information to a worker in the packaging section, or employees in different sections and departments may relay or share snippets or titbits. Grapevine information may have a wider coverage with a range of subjects concerning and involving policies announced by the top management, workers compensation, trade union matters, CSR related decisions, and even matters related to a cricket match or a recent Bollywood blockbuster – virtually anything of interest to members of the organization. The information may be highly accurate or totally distorted – and/or it may or may not be of interest to all.
Here’s what Lawrence G Lovasik, an American author and missionary, has to say:
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Let me know in the comments section.
In this ongoing series #GreatMinds on my blog, I am shining a spotlight on the important ideas that some very successful people keep talking about in their public life.