Grapevine is an informal channel of business communication. It is called so because it stretches throughout
the organization in all directions irrespective of the authority levels. Man as we know is a social animal.
Despite existence of formal channels in an organization, the informal channels tend to develop when he
interacts with other people in organization. It exists more at lower levels of organization.
Grapevine generally develops due to various reasons. One of them is that when an organization is facing
recession, the employees sense uncertainty. Also, at times employees do not have self-confidence due to
which they form unions. Sometimes the managers show preferential treatment and favour some employees
giving a segregated feeling to other employees. Thus, when employees sense a need to exchange their
views ,they go for grapevine network as they cannot use the formal channel of communication in that case.
Generally during breaks in cafeteria,the subordinates talk about their superior’s attitude and behaviour and
exchange views with their peers. They discuss rumours about promotion and transfer of other employees.
Thus, grapevine spreads like fire and it is not easy to trace the cause of such communication at times.
Examples of Grapevine Network of Communication
1. Suppose the profit amount of a company is known. Rumour is spread that this much profit is there
and on that basis bonus is declared.
2. CEO may be in relation to the Production Manager. They may have friendly relations with each
other.
Pros and Cons of Grapevine Communication
Advantages of Grapevine Communication
1. Grapevine channels carry information rapidly. As soon as an employee gets to know some
confidential information, he becomes inquisitive and passes the details then to his closest friend
who in turn passes it to other. Thus, it spreads hastily.
2. The managers get to know the reactions of their subordinates on their policies. Thus, the feedback
obtained is quick compared to formal channel of communication.
3. The grapevine creates a sense of unity among the employees who share and discuss their views
with each other. Thus, grapevine helps in developing group cohesiveness.
4. The grapevine serves as an emotional supportive value.
5. The grapevine is a supplement in those cases where formal communication does not work.
Disadvantages of Grapevine Communication
1. The grapevine carries partial information at times as it is more based on rumours. Thus, it does not
clearly depicts the complete state of affairs.
2. The grapevine is not trustworthy always as it does not follows official path of communication and is
spread more by gossips and unconfirmed report.
3. The productivity of employees may be hampered as they spend more time talking rather than
working.
4. The grapevine leads to making hostility against the executives.
5. The grapevine may hamper the goodwill of the organization as it may carry false negative
information about the high level people of the organization.
A smart manager should take care of all the disadvantages of the grapevine and try to minimize them. At the
same time, he should make best possible use of advantages of grapevine.
the organization in all directions irrespective of the authority levels. Man as we know is a social animal.
Despite existence of formal channels in an organization, the informal channels tend to develop when he
interacts with other people in organization. It exists more at lower levels of organization.
Grapevine generally develops due to various reasons. One of them is that when an organization is facing
recession, the employees sense uncertainty. Also, at times employees do not have self-confidence due to
which they form unions. Sometimes the managers show preferential treatment and favour some employees
giving a segregated feeling to other employees. Thus, when employees sense a need to exchange their
views ,they go for grapevine network as they cannot use the formal channel of communication in that case.
Generally during breaks in cafeteria,the subordinates talk about their superior’s attitude and behaviour and
exchange views with their peers. They discuss rumours about promotion and transfer of other employees.
Thus, grapevine spreads like fire and it is not easy to trace the cause of such communication at times.
Examples of Grapevine Network of Communication
1. Suppose the profit amount of a company is known. Rumour is spread that this much profit is there
and on that basis bonus is declared.
2. CEO may be in relation to the Production Manager. They may have friendly relations with each
other.
Pros and Cons of Grapevine Communication
Advantages of Grapevine Communication
1. Grapevine channels carry information rapidly. As soon as an employee gets to know some
confidential information, he becomes inquisitive and passes the details then to his closest friend
who in turn passes it to other. Thus, it spreads hastily.
2. The managers get to know the reactions of their subordinates on their policies. Thus, the feedback
obtained is quick compared to formal channel of communication.
3. The grapevine creates a sense of unity among the employees who share and discuss their views
with each other. Thus, grapevine helps in developing group cohesiveness.
4. The grapevine serves as an emotional supportive value.
5. The grapevine is a supplement in those cases where formal communication does not work.
Disadvantages of Grapevine Communication
1. The grapevine carries partial information at times as it is more based on rumours. Thus, it does not
clearly depicts the complete state of affairs.
2. The grapevine is not trustworthy always as it does not follows official path of communication and is
spread more by gossips and unconfirmed report.
3. The productivity of employees may be hampered as they spend more time talking rather than
working.
4. The grapevine leads to making hostility against the executives.
5. The grapevine may hamper the goodwill of the organization as it may carry false negative
information about the high level people of the organization.
A smart manager should take care of all the disadvantages of the grapevine and try to minimize them. At the
same time, he should make best possible use of advantages of grapevine.
