Organizational communication covers the communicative processes carried out by an organization.
Organizational communication consists of the communicative processes that an organization carries out, both internally and externally . These dynamics allow you to transmit your corporate values and contribute to the fulfillment of your goals.
It is important to consider that the act and result of communicating or communicating is called communication : transmitting signals by appealing to a code shared by the sender and the receiver. The term has its etymological origin in the Latin word communicatio .
Organizational , meanwhile, is an adjective that refers to that linked to an organization. Among the various meanings of organization, we are interested in staying on this occasion with its meaning as the association of individuals that is regulated by certain norms by virtue of its objectives. A company and an institution , in this framework, are organizations.
Characteristics of organizational communication
Organizational communication must be carried out in harmony with the entity's philosophy . Each person who communicates on behalf of the company or on its behalf must respect those principles that characterize the firm , so that the message is functional to their interests.
That is why it can be said that it is a directed communication: it is always oriented towards a goal , which also has the particularity of being collective . There is usually no spontaneity in this type of communication, as can occur in a chat between two friends, to mention one possibility.
Another important aspect in organizational communication is clarity . The idea is that the message does not give rise to double interpretations or produce confusion, thus contributing to the efficient functioning of the organization.
Organizational communication can be internal or external.
Classification according to type
Typically, organizational communication is divided into two main types: external organizational communication and internal organizational communication .
In the case of external communication , it is directed to recipients who are not part of the company. When messages are sent to clients or suppliers, well, they fall into this category.
Internal organizational communication, on the other hand, is aimed at the members of the corporation themselves. This means that it is generated within the organization and is also transmitted within it, and can develop between managers, employees, etc.
Resources used in organizational communication
Organizational communication can be carried out in multiple ways. From a conversation between two office colleagues to a presentation by an executive in front of his employees, to a phone call from the Sales department to a potential client or an email from the Purchasing Manager to a supplier, there are numerous resources, modalities and possibilities available.
This breadth means that organizational communication can have very different manifestations from each other. If a company makes a podcast to disseminate the work linked to its corporate social responsibility ( CSR ), it will be a unilateral communication with a sender and potentially thousands of receivers. On the other hand, if the owner of the firm meets with a potential investor to talk face to face, a direct dialogue will be established that will lead both to exchange positions (sender/receiver) frequently.
A television program; an advertising campaign with posters on public roads; sending a newsletter or news list via email; a lecture given by a specialist for employees of a certain sector; and a printed magazine are resources that, in different ways, constitute what can be defined as organizational communication.