非正式沟通的模式

Patterns of informal organizational communication

The informal organizational communication network非正式组织沟通网络, or grapevine, has 3 main characteristics:

(1) It springs up and is used irregularly within the organization

(2) It is not controlled by top executives, who may not even be able to influence it

(3) It exists largely to serve the self-interests of the people within it

Understanding the grapevine is a prerequisite for a complete understanding of organizational communication.

The four most common grapevine patterns are outlined by Keith Davis (Harvard Business Review). They are as follows:

(1) The single-strand grapevine

(2) The gossip grapevine

(3) The probability grapevine

(4) The cluster grapevine

单线连锁single-strand grapevine

单线连锁single-strand grapevine就是由一人转告另一人，他也只再转告一个人，这种情况最为少见。

A tells B, who tells C, who tells D, and so on. This type of grapevine tends to distort messages more than any other.

随机连锁probability grapevine / chain

随机连锁probability grapevine / chain即碰到什么人就转告什么人，并无一定中心人物或选择性

A communicate randomly—for example, to F and D. F and D then continue to inform other grapevine members in the same way.