Compare and Contrast

[ITS]

Compare and contrast organizational communication and interpersonal communication.

[Preston]

Interpersonal communication is dialogue between two people and/or small groups. It is essential for the development of interpersonal relations. This communication is exclusively with people and is primarily done with words.

Organizational communication is that which takes place in an organization or structured environment. It occurs along well defined lines influenced by the hierarchical structure of the organization. The primary purpose of organizational communication is the transfer of information rather than the sharing of meaning (as in interpersonal communication).

It is not uncommon for the communication in an organization to be a monologue as opposed to the dialogue of the interpersonal setting. Because of the constant flux in an organization caused by the changes in staff make-up, communication can be more difficult in this setting.

[waltzb]

The face-to-face communication in which two or more people engage and influence what is being said by the other person is the essence of interpersonal communication. It necessarily involves the mutual transmission of ideas between persons in a language common to both. Organizational communication elevates this same process to a grander scale and as we have been told, is a two-way process in which facts and information travel between parties in interpersonal relationship so that adequate decisions can be made, tasks carried out, and goals achieved.

[waltzb]

Interpersonal communication is dialogue between two people and/or small groups. It is essential for the development of interpersonal relations. This communication is exclusively with people and is primarily done with words.

Organizational communication is that which takes place in an organization or structured environment. It occurs along well defined lines influenced by the hierarchical structure of the organization. The primary purpose of organizational communication is the transfer of information rather than the sharing of meaning (as in interpersonal communication).

It is not uncommon for the communication in an organization to be a monologue as opposed to the dialogue of the interpersonal setting. Because of the constant flux in an organization caused by the changes in staff make-up, communication can be more difficult in this setting.

I believe you have synthesized well the meanings of organizational communication and interpersonal communication. Comparatively, both organizational and interpersonal communications deal with the transmission of ideas or information. In contrast, while interpersonal communication?s focus is on this process as it plays out between persons, organizational communication examines, as you have noted, the same process within the structure and hierarchy of an organization. I?m not sure, however, if I understand how meaning exchange in organizational communication is secondary to information exchange. Isn?t it the meaning behind the information that makes it actionable for the organization?

[vacleslie]

Organizational communication is communication that is often done to larger groups and is reliant on some sort of structure to make it work efficiently. In organizational communication the approach has a tendency to be more of a "talk at" situation.

Interpersonal communication is communication that takes place on a smaller scale, often to a small group or to another individual. Because of the intimacy, the situation is often more of a "talk with" and one that requires less structure or formality.

[vacleslie]

Reply to: "I?m not sure, however, if I understand how meaning exchange in organizational communication is secondary to information exchange. Isn?t it the meaning behind the information that makes it actionable for the organization?"

The primary goals of organizational communication and interpersonal communication are different. Organizational, because it is often to a larger group, generally has the focus of being more of an infomation exchange that will aide in decision making. There isn't much room for getting to know the individuals on a more personal level as this generally is not the purpose. In an interpersonal communication setting, while information and facts are exchanged, there is often more importance put on getting to know the other on a more personal level. Because of this it would make sense that there would be more time spent on finding meaning in the communication as this information leads to commonality and intimacy.

[Hamelink]

Organizational is a bigger group and involves many people. Interpersonal is an individual or one on one type communication. Orginizational would be institutional whereas interpersonal ideographic. The basic question to all organization would have differences of communication and handled in different ways. In communicating in a organization, there would be a certain culture and system to follow. Interpersonal could be a family member of friend. The relationship would be different. For instance, daugher wants to borrow a car. The communication would be different. The emotional tie would be different in this relationship as opposed to an organization.

If teenager daughter was to become pregnant or want to marry someone who parents viewed as not the best match for her, communication would be different say than a group of people defining goals in an institution.

Feedback could happen both both and that might be a similarity. How am I doing? Listening skills would be the same in both in some ways. You would be working hard at understanding what people are saying in conflicts of any description. You would be wanting to hear what they are saying, but relationship itself would be different and responsibility.

Personal script could play a role here as well. We see ourselves by things that we have learned and we interact in those sort of ways. Self concept would be important as well. How I see myself as a parent; how I see myself as a supervisor. I may be more careful in my interaction as a supervisior since this is not a family member and not quite as careful with family because we already know we are bonded for life. I don't have a lot of lose so to speak.

Scripture would play a signficant role in both as behaviors for both needs to reflect the expectations God has of us.

Bargaining could be different and coalitions would for sure be different.

Roles we play are important in both, but once again in different ways.

[Hamelink]

Interpersonal communication is dialogue between two people and/or small groups. It is essential for the development of interpersonal relations. This communication is exclusively with people and is primarily done with words.

Organizational communication is that which takes place in an organization or structured environment. It occurs along well defined lines influenced by the hierarchical structure of the organization. The primary purpose of organizational communication is the transfer of information rather than the sharing of meaning (as in interpersonal communication).

It is not uncommon for the communication in an organization to be a monologue as opposed to the dialogue of the interpersonal setting. Because of the constant flux in an organization caused by the changes in staff make-up, communication can be more difficult in this setting.

This was said so well. I don't have anything to add. I agree with all the statements presented.

[Hamelink]

The face-to-face communication in which two or more people engage and influence what is being said by the other person is the essence of interpersonal communication. It necessarily involves the mutual transmission of ideas between persons in a language common to both. Organizational communication elevates this same process to a grander scale and as we have been told, is a two-way process in which facts and information travel between parties in interpersonal relationship so that adequate decisions can be made, tasks carried out, and goals achieved.

Well said. I don't have anything to add because it was so well written.

[PT]

The postings that exist already are quite good and make excellent points. I agree with the major points of everyone of them. To add to their remarks different material I would say that personal communication has much more feedback potential because of the context of the consersation being better understood, because of the probable ability to read and react to body language and the other non-verbal cues, and the understanding of our role as well as the other people's roles in the conversation. With organizational communication, the probablity of misreading or misunderstanding the intent or content of the communication is much higher, even though our roles in such communication are even more clearly defined, usually by our job title and/or place on the system's "totem pole".

[matt07serv]

Compare and contrast organizational communication and interpersonal communication.

Interpersonal communication is the giving and receiving of messages both verbal and non verbal between people. This can be between two people or more on a very personal level or simply an exchange of information between colleagues.

Organizational communication is also the giving and receiving of messages and information both verbal and non verbal between people. However the difference lies in the fact that the information being given and received is in accordance to the smooth running and overall goals of the organization. It is communication within the context of the organization.

[matt07serv]

in reply to vacleslie,
I agree tht orgnizationl communication is done in larger groups and is based on achieving the overall goals of the organization. Although there can be alot of "talk at" communication, it is important to realize that there is also alot of brainstorming ideas and good communication and information exchange can come from those sessions.

I totally agree that interpersonal communication is a "talk with" style of communication that does involve less structure. I would also add that it is important to realize that good message exchange takes place within this form of communication as well.