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Grapevine Communication

The grapevine is an informal communication channel that spreads information quickly through an organization. It tends to be inaccurate due to exaggeration and the omission of details over time. While it often conveys truthful information, the full truth is seldom communicated. The grapevine accounts for 70% of organizational communication and has an estimated accuracy rate of 75-90%. Ambiguous information and times of stress or change lead employees to rely more on the grapevine. Longer grapevine chains result in more distortion of the original message. Management should accept that the grapevine cannot be stopped and instead use it to supplement formal communication channels.

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223 views20 pages

Grapevine Communication

The grapevine is an informal communication channel that spreads information quickly through an organization. It tends to be inaccurate due to exaggeration and the omission of details over time. While it often conveys truthful information, the full truth is seldom communicated. The grapevine accounts for 70% of organizational communication and has an estimated accuracy rate of 75-90%. Ambiguous information and times of stress or change lead employees to rely more on the grapevine. Longer grapevine chains result in more distortion of the original message. Management should accept that the grapevine cannot be stopped and instead use it to supplement formal communication channels.

Uploaded by

somaks12
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT or read online on Scribd
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Grapevine Characteristics

• oral  mostly undocumented


• open to change
• fast (hours instead of days)
• crossing organizational boundaries
Grapevine Characteristics
• inaccuracy:
– levelling
deletion of crucial details
– sharpening
exaggeration of the most dramatic details

while the grapevine generally carries the truth it


seldom carries the whole truth
Grapevine Figures
• 70% of all organizational communication
occurs at the grapevine level
• estimated accuracy rates: 75-90%
• the incorrect part might change the meaning
of the whole message though
• an estimated 80% of grapevine information is
oriented toward the individual while 20%
concerns the company

3
Factors Influencing Grapevine
Activity I
According to Gordon Allport:
• importance of the subject for both listener and speaker
• ambiguousness of the facts

Formula:
R=ixa
“R“: intensity of the rumor
“i“: importance of the rumor to the persons
“a“: ambiguity of the facts associated with the rumor
Factors influencing Grapevine
Activity II
Employees rely on the grapevine when:
• they feel threatened,
• insecure,
• under stress
• when there is pending change
• when communication from management is
limited

11/18/2003
Four Types of Grapevine Chains
E
C
K
H
Y G I
X
F B D
J
D E
G
J
D F H I B I
C C A
B J Probability
B A K D
Gossip C F
A Cluster A
Chain

11/18/2003
 The longer the strand the more distortion and
filtering affects

 Most inaccuracies occur in this chain


Coping or Managing the Grapevine
“the grapevine cannot be abolished, rubbed out,
hidden under a basket, chopped down, tied
up, or stopped“
(Managing the Grapevine, p.222)

don‘t try to control or restrict it


use it to supplement formal channels
Conclusion
To Behave like

Rather than

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