7:3 Chapter 8: Information Flow

In reading Chapter 8 on Organizational Communication, I found the section on information flow to be the most interesting and useful. In the work place communication is very important. Knowing who to communicate with and how to communicate with them is essential to success in an organization. Information can flow downward from superiors to other lower level employees. Messages also flow upward from low levels to upper levels of management, or even horizontally among same level departments. The way communication is used can make a difference to the productivity of the employees. In downward communication if not enough information is given an employee feels a lack of direction and can end up not doing the right thing that the boss wants. Also if higher management has a problem to address and their approach is poor or aggressive an employee may get defensive and feel attacked. For example, at my job with the changes in the economy we continue to make adjustments at work to remain successful. The owner started to become more involved in the production of our company and began questioning certain accounts. Usually, well in the past, all departments operated independently. We all do our jobs without question. My manager takes care of balancing accounts and reporting to the owners. She doesn't really understand all of the things I do on a daily basis, and I know she doesn't really care to know, as long as I'm getting the work done. When the owner began questioning certain things in my account which she couldn't explain or didn't remember what postings were for, she had to address the issues with me. However, when I was approached she was already aggrevated over the owner's review of her and she did not share the entire situation with me. I felt attacked, as if I had been doing my job wrong or something even more serious. I was basically being accused of stealing money from the company when I had always done as directed. I immediately became defensive due to her poor downward communication. Once she took the time to listen and then review my account, it was found I was not doing anything wrong and everything was good. Due to this situation it did increase how we use information flow. Instead of being so independent in the work I do, I now use more upward flow to relay progress and problems that is related to my department. Sometimes organizations get relaxed on communicating or even they can provide too much information, but the only way to be successful is to have proper communication flows in downward, upward, and even horizontally among same level departments.