Question

Explain any four organisational barriers to communication.

Hint:

Organisational barriers come from the set-up of the firm. Think of policy, rules and regulations, status, complex structure and facilities.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understand the question:
Organisational barriers are blocks in communication that come from the structure, rules and policies of the organisation.
I need to explain any four. I will give a heading and a short explanation for each.

Step 2: Organisational policy:
If the policy of the organisation, written or unwritten, does not support a free flow of communication, the effectiveness of communication goes down.
For example, a policy that all messages must go through a long chain slows the message.

Step 3: Rules and regulations:
Strict rules about the channels, the forms and the persons to be followed in communication make it rigid.
They cause delays and, at times, the message is held up and loses its use.

Step 4: Status:
A superior with a high position may create a distance between himself and his subordinates.
A status conscious manager does not allow staff to express their feelings freely.

Step 5: Complexity in organisation structure:
When there are many levels of management, a message has to pass through many hands.
Parts of the message get lost or changed, and it arrives late.

Step 6: Organisational facilities:
Lack of proper facilities like a good system of feedback, meetings, notice boards or equipment hurts communication.
The facilities help people to communicate easily, so their absence is a barrier.

Final Answer:
Organisational policy, rules and regulations, status and complexity in organisation structure are four organisational barriers. (Organisational facilities is another.)