Functions of Communication
Communication serves four major functions within a group or organization: control, motivation, emotional expression, and information. Communication acts to control member behavior in several ways. organization have authority hierarchies and formal guidelines that employees are required to follow. when employees, for instance, are required to first communicate any job-related grievance to their immediate boss, to follow their job description, or to comply with company policies,communication is performing a control function. but informal communication also controls behavior. when work groups tease or harass a member who produces too much and makes the rest of the group look bad, they are informally communicating with, and controlling, the member's behavior.
Communication fosters motivation by clarifying for employees what is to be done, how well they are doing, and what can be done to improve performance if it's sub par. we saw this aspect of communication operating in our review of goal setting and reinforcement theories. the formation of specific goals, feedback on progress toward the goals and reinforcement of desired behavior all stimulate motivation and require communication.
For many employees, their work group is a primary source for social interaction. the communication that takes place within the group is fundamental mechanism by which members show their frustrations and feelings of satisfaction. communication, therefore, provides an avenue for expression of emotions and fulfillment of social needs.
Communication serves four major functions within a group or organization: control, motivation, emotional expression, and information. Communication acts to control member behavior in several ways. organization have authority hierarchies and formal guidelines that employees are required to follow. when employees, for instance, are required to first communicate any job-related grievance to their immediate boss, to follow their job description, or to comply with company policies,communication is performing a control function. but informal communication also controls behavior. when work groups tease or harass a member who produces too much and makes the rest of the group look bad, they are informally communicating with, and controlling, the member's behavior.
Communication fosters motivation by clarifying for employees what is to be done, how well they are doing, and what can be done to improve performance if it's sub par. we saw this aspect of communication operating in our review of goal setting and reinforcement theories. the formation of specific goals, feedback on progress toward the goals and reinforcement of desired behavior all stimulate motivation and require communication.
For many employees, their work group is a primary source for social interaction. the communication that takes place within the group is fundamental mechanism by which members show their frustrations and feelings of satisfaction. communication, therefore, provides an avenue for expression of emotions and fulfillment of social needs.
