Grapevine communication is the result of informal relationship among employees of the organisation. When the participants come closer to each other i.e go beyond boundaries of formal relation. Means, when in an organisation official rules, regulations or procedures are not followed, the relationship formed is informal relation and this informal relationship built among the employees is responsible for the establishment of grapevine communication.

Grapevine communication is unorganised, unofficial channel of communication which is stretched in all possible directions of the organisation.

It is actually hidden aspect of management/business concepts which deal with concepts like hierarchy of needs, inflation, deflation bla-bla-bla.

It usually forms when employees do not get proper freedom in formal communication. Because we know, Formal communication has certain limitations and unofficial things like gossips,close relations, coffee time talks is not allowed in it. Employees spread rumours half-truths, false news in all directions of the organisation this is called grapevine Communication.

Examples

1. Suppose a company takes a loan for the purpose of expansion of its business at a point of time. Few over smart people working in this company spread the news that our company is in loss and taking loans. It can be taken over by a big company which will endangered our job as it has now no money to survive.

2. "Boss calls only Anna in his cabin they would be dating each other".

Types of Grapevine Communication

Different types of grapevine communication are as follows-

1. Free flow

2. The wheel

3 The Cluster

4. The Chain

Types of Grapevine communication

1. Free flow-

In this type of grapevine communication the gossip or rumor or any kind of an official news is spreaded by random network. It involves a number of people but this is not compulsory that these people are linked to by any organisational thread.

Free Flow Type

2. The wheel-

In This type of grapevine communication only a single person is responsible for spreading the rumours. He transmits this grapevine either to different persons or a group of different persons. He is considered as the source of this grapevine being spreaded.

Wheel Type

3. The Cluster-

This type of grapevine communication has different groups of persons linked together by a cluster same as the cluster of grapes.

Cluster Type

4. The Chain-

This type of grapevine communication is very usual and can be found in any institution, organisation, School etc.

In this type, the information is passed through a series of persons (i.e from A to B then B to C and so on) linked together in the organisation.

Chain Type

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1. Spreads rapidly

Grapevine communication is very Rapid in its nature. As soon as one person comes to know any confidential news, he immediately sends this news to his closest/close friends without any delay. Hence it spreads rapidly.

2. Group cohesiveness builder

Grapevine communication readily builds a sense of Unity among employees.

3. Quick feedback

In comparison to formal communication the feedback obtained in this communication is quick while formal communication has certain policies to be followed while responding.

4. Emotional supportive

Grapevine communication is emotional supportive as it gives strength and Unity to every employee.

Disadvantages

1. Only partial information spreads

Grapevine communication has partial information. It cannot depict the clear picture of complete matter.

2. Not trustworthy

Yes, it is not trustworthy because it follows the unofficial part of communication.

3. Productivity resistor

It hampers productivity level of the employees working in the organisation because they spend time in gossiping rather than working.

4. Enmity builder

Grapevine communication creates public hostility against the bosses, upper level managers or executives.

Grapevine Communication