Answer to Question #227169 in Management for cosmos

Question

Question 2 The use of proper communication skills is essential for successful organizational operations. It ensures proper transfer of information from one level to the other.  a) In light of the above statement, critically explain the three main formal communication structures that can be used in an organization.             (AP 6 marks) b) Critically analyze three ways in which the lack proper communication can be detrimental to an organization.  (AN 6 marks) c) Discuss with aid of concrete examples how high-risk taking managers operate differently from low-risk taking managers by offering two (2) characteristic distinctions in each case.

Please these questions are under group dynamics and communications  

Answer 1

Formal communication structures.

Downward communication 

Downward communication is the flow of information and messages from a higher level inside an organization to a lower one. Effective downward communication is crucial to an organization's success. The prime objective of downward communication is to communicate organizational goals, plans, programs, policies, and procedures to the employees. Downward communication also helps the employees to understand their duties and to relate their duties to those of others in the organization.

Upward communication.

Upward Communication is the process of information flowing from the lower levels of a hierarchy to the upper levels. The more traditional organization types such as a hierarchy place people into separate ranks. Upward communication helps employees to express their requirements, ideas, and feelings.

Horizontal communication

Horizontal communication, also called lateral communication, is the practice of sharing information between employees, departments and units within the same level of an organization. ... This type of communication allows employees from different departments to work together in a synchronized work environment.

Disadvantages of lack of proper communication in an organization

Poor customer service

Customer service is impacted in two ways by poor communication in the workplace. First, employees don’t have the information they need to do quality work, which can be quite detrimental for customer-facing roles such as field service technicians.

Lower employee productivity

With poor communication in the workplace comes lower productivity because employees don’t have access to the people, knowledge, and resources that help them do their jobs and don’t have the passion and motivation to perform well or even exceed expectations.

Employee mistrust, absenteeism and low morale

Employees want to be engaged so they feel connected to the organization. When they are, they are willing to work harder, smarter, and be active in the workplace in ways that drive business results. When they aren’t engaged, when they don’t feel connected, they suffer. This might seem like a touchy-feely, soft business issue, but unhappy and disconnected employees can have a profound effect on business through absenteeism, lack of motivation, and turnover.

High risk-taking managers and low risk-taking managers.

High risk-taking managers make more rapid decisions/useless info in making their choices than do low risk-taking managers, In some jobs, high risk-takers lead to more effective performance. They make decisions relatively quickly after considering the most important criteria and once they decide what they'd like to do, they're impatient to get started.

Low-risk managers make slow decisions based on concrete information available. They take their time to chose the way forward and mostly make decisions that lead to known outcomes. They don't make decisions until they already have a possible outcome in the picture low risk-taking managers exercise Professional Skepticism and they manage risks with Objectivity.