What is Informal Communication?

[munina]

Describe Informal Communication with its advantages and disadvantages

[bankdream]

Such communications are free from all formalities because they are based on the informal relationship between the parties. Such communication includes comments, suggestions or any other informal reactions. Such types of communication are also called 'grapevine communications'. They may be conveyed by a simple glance, gesture, nod, smile or mere silence too. It is not the result of any official action but of the operation of personal, social and group relations of the people. Informal communication is unplanned but may follow a predictable pattern.
Advantages of informal communication
There are the following advantages of this type of communication:
(i) Communications are transmitted at a greater speed and more flexible.
(ii) It is dynamic and reacts quickly to its changing environment.
(iii) Il meets the social needs of people which are not met by informal communication.
(iv) It provides a means for exchange of mutually beneficial information belwen people who are not linked through formal channels.
Disadvantages of informal communication
There are following limitations of this type of communication system:
It is less orderly and less static—Any action taken on the basis of such communication may be erratic and may lead the organisation in difficulty.
It very often carries half-truth rumours and distorted information and it is difficult to fix the responsibility of such erratic information.