Thursday, April 23, 2009
chapter8 question 3
One of the concepts I found interesting was the section on the grapevine, an informal channel of communication. In a work context the grapevine can be an important means by which to keep abreast of what is actually going on at one's company. the nature of formal channels of communication makes it such that only the “official word” is given on a particular matter. Through the grapevine one may be able to discover information such as who has been reprimanded and why or whether there will be any layoffs. Many people take this activity as mere gossip, but our text advances the idea that the grapevine arises out of personal need because of the inadequacy of formal channels; that the grapevine can be an important and useful means of acquiring information and that grapevine information can be quite accurate. (trenholm, 224)
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Hello,
ReplyDeleteI think the grapevine is a very interesting approach to communication. I know that my husband is always getting information through the grapevine of co-workers at his company. He finds out some very useful things such as talks of layoffs and he also hears some pure gossip about who is doing what, like an employee who tends to come in loaded. I think grapevines are an important part of a workers morale as long as they don't go to far to the point where they harm reputations or spread false rumors. I know the news of potential layoffs always seems to spread the fastest in his company grapevine!
Capone's Mom
Hello NYP! You talked about the grapevine as a useful tool. What dangers does listening to the 'grapevine' present? Also, what other advantages do you see other than what you have already discussed here?
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