An all-inclusive definition of communication is difficult to develop for its obvious all-encompassing effects. Hence to the extent possible, we will restrict our effort to define communication in organizational context.
Denis Mcquail defined communication as ‘a process which increases commonality.’ Carl Hovland, on the other hand, defines it as ‘a process by which an individual communicator transmits to modify the behaviour of other individuals.’ Warner Weaver, going one step further considers communication as ‘the procedure by which one mind can affect another.’
According to American College Dictionary, ‘communication is the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions or information by speech, writing or signs.’ From organization’s point of view, therefore, communication has the features of interaction, interchange, sharing and commonness.
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Elements of Communication:
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From the above definition, we can identify following elements of communication.
i. Communication is a two-way process. It involves a sender and receiver. The sender or receiver can be an individual or a group.
ii. All communication carries a message. Message can be an information, a directive, an enquiry, a feeling, an opinion an idea or any other.
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iii. Communication can occur only when there is commonness of understanding between the sender and the receiver. The commonness includes factors like common culture, common language and common environment. Words, phrases, idioms, proverbs, gestures and expressions are deeply influenced by culture and possess high communicative potential for people from similar background.
iv. Communication must be able to evoke response from the receiver, evident in the form of some behavioural changes.
v. Communication method can be given words or non-verbal like, signs gestures, expressions, etc.
vi. All these five elements can also be called as the process of communication, i.e., Sender – Message – Method – Receiver – Response of Receiver.