Horizontal Communication

It is also called as the face to face communication. Communication between department or people on the same level in the managerial hierarchy of an organisation may be termed as horizontal communication. It is most frequently used channel of communication. Workers communicating with other workers, clerks exchanging information with one another, supervisors holding a coffee break sessions to discuss some organisational problems are all engaged in horizontal communication. Horizontal communication is most effectively carried on through oral means. It is also called face-to-face communication. These situations carry with them an air of informality. Formal channels tend to make managers status-conscious so that they express their views in extremely measured terms. Periodical meetings among the departmental heads are also use for oral communication. Among written means, letters, memorandums and reports are most frequently used.

Advantages of horizontal communication
Horizontal communication is extremely important for promoting understanding and coordination among various departments. Not much imagination is needed to visualise the embarrassing situations that lack of coordination might creates for the organisation. The purchase department might keep on purchasing material, which is neither immediately needed nor can be adequately stored. The stores may report shortage of material when production is fully geared up. Scarcity of raw material may cause the production to slow down but the sales department may continue booking orders.

In a small organisation, these functions are often concentrated in the same person or in a few persons who are stationed in close proximity to one another. Some managers discourage horizontal communication, feeling that workers may get friendly with one another and may pose problems for the managements. They believe in issuing orders from the top and insist on their unqualified acceptance. However, such a procedure suffers from two very grave disadvantages. If all authority rests with one person at the top, and no scope is left for mutual discussion and solutions at the lower levels, work may be held up every now and then for want of fresh directives. This causes unnecessary delay. Secondly, this kind of authoritarianism is likely to provoke bitterness and indignation among the workers.