Difference between formal and informal communication
This research compares formal and informal organizational communication structures, specifically focusir^ on salience, channel factors, and channel usage.
The major hypotheses of this research were partially supported with data collected from a large, technically oriented governmental agency (n = 380).
Differences Between Fbrmal and
Informal Conuniinication Channels
J. David Johnson
William A. Donohue
Charles K. Atkin
Mtchtgan State Untverslty
Sally Johnson
Lansing Community College lis research focuses on a central problem in organizational comJL munication structures, the relationship between formal and informal structures (Hartman & Johnson, 1990). An organization's communication structure consists of formal and informal elements, as well as other ingredients, and is not reducible to either (March & Simon,
1958). However, to most organizational researchers this fundamental distinction captures two different worlds within the organization, worlds that have different premises and outlooks and most importantly, different fundamental assumptions about the nature of interaction (AUen,
1977; Dow, 1988).
LITERATURE REVIEW
Very few research studies have attempted tocompare these approaches directly, to assess how they may differ along critical dimensions. A recent attempt to systematically compare formal and informal groupings and their impact on the levels of role ambiguity found more similarities than differences and suggested a complex set of contingencies in which one or the other would have the most impact on organizational variables
(Hartman & Johnson, 1990).
A formal structure identifies individuals who are the official sources of information and the information that is their special concern. This has been the traditional view of managers and professional business communicators. Since relationships are determined by one's role, structure is viewed by managers as a static entity which conforms to a top down configuration (Monge
The major hypotheses of this research were partially supported with data collected from a large, technically oriented governmental agency (n = 380).
Differences Between Fbrmal and
Informal Conuniinication Channels
J. David Johnson
William A. Donohue
Charles K. Atkin
Mtchtgan State Untverslty
Sally Johnson
Lansing Community College lis research focuses on a central problem in organizational comJL munication structures, the relationship between formal and informal structures (Hartman & Johnson, 1990). An organization's communication structure consists of formal and informal elements, as well as other ingredients, and is not reducible to either (March & Simon,
1958). However, to most organizational researchers this fundamental distinction captures two different worlds within the organization, worlds that have different premises and outlooks and most importantly, different fundamental assumptions about the nature of interaction (AUen,
1977; Dow, 1988).
LITERATURE REVIEW
Very few research studies have attempted tocompare these approaches directly, to assess how they may differ along critical dimensions. A recent attempt to systematically compare formal and informal groupings and their impact on the levels of role ambiguity found more similarities than differences and suggested a complex set of contingencies in which one or the other would have the most impact on organizational variables
(Hartman & Johnson, 1990).
A formal structure identifies individuals who are the official sources of information and the information that is their special concern. This has been the traditional view of managers and professional business communicators. Since relationships are determined by one's role, structure is viewed by managers as a static entity which conforms to a top down configuration (Monge