Learning Outcomes
By now you know that business communication can take different forms and flow between different kinds of senders and receivers. Another way to classify communication is by network. An organization’s formal communication network is comprised of all the communication that runs along its official lines of authority. In other words, the formal network matches the organizational structure of an organization. As you might expect, when a manager sends an email to her sales team describing the new commission structure for the next set of sales targets, that email (an example of downward communication) is being sent along the company’s formal network that connects managers to their subordinates. An informal communication network, on the other hand, doesn’t follow authority lines and is established around the social affiliation of members of an organization. Such networks are also described as “grapevine communication.” They may come into being through the rumor mill, social networking, graffiti, spoof newsletters, and spontaneous water-cooler conversations. Informal versus Formal Networks
In the past, many organizations considered informal communication (generally associated with interpersonal, horizontal communication) a hindrance to effective organizational performance and tried to stamp it out. This is no longer the case. The maintenance of personal networks and social relationships through information communication is understood to be a key factor in how people get work done. It might surprise you to know that 75 percent of all organizations’ practices, policies, and procedures are shared through grapevine communication. While informal communication is important to an organization, it also may have disadvantages. When it takes the form of a “rumor mill” spreading misinformation, informal communication is harmful and difficult to shut down because its sources cannot be identified by management. Casual conversations are often spontaneous, and participants may make incorrect statements or promulgate inaccurate information. Less accountability is expected from informal communications, which can cause people to be indiscreet, careless in their choice of words, or disclose sensitive information. Contribute!Did you have an idea for improving this content? We’d love your input. Improve this pageLearn More
Networks are divided into two types, a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network), which are generic terms referring to two important basic types of networks. The Internet can be thought of as a bunch of LANs interconnected by WANs. An average packet will run across a company’s local Ethernet (LAN), up an ISDN or leased line or PPP link (WAN) to an Internet Service Provider. The ISP has Ethernet too (LAN) that transports the packet to the right router for delivery to a cross-country provider (WAN). The packet begins bouncing from one LAN site to another over WAN links. Local Area Networks (LAN) is widely used to share resources and exchange information by connecting personal computers and workstations in company office and factories. A LAN is a network that is limited to an area such as a building or school. In a LAN, computers and hardware such as printers can be connected by cable (copper wiring), fibre optic cabling (glass fibres) or using a wireless (radio waves) connection. Advantages of LANs:
Disadvantages of LANs:
A Wide Area Network (WAN) is not confined to one building. The computers and terminals forming part of the network can be spread around the world. External communication links such as satellites, microwaves, and telecommunication links and optical fibre will be used to connect the parts of a WAN. The connection must normally be paid for because the links are external. The Internet is a worldwide WAN and a LAN can be connected to it using a router. Advantages of WANs:
Disadvantages of WANs:
LAN/WAN Comparison
A good networking design must answer both the LAN and WAN needs of its users. WAN links tend to operate with tight bandwidth margins, but many LAN applications depend on lots of surplus bandwidth. This is especially true of Ethernet, which begins to show performance degradation once you exceed about 20% “theoretical capacity”, don’t expect standard Ethernet to carry more than about 2 Mbps. A network’s biggest startup cost is the labor needed to install it. So don’t just install two-pair cable; install eight-pair and leave six unused. Don’t just install one Ethernet cable; install two or three, and maybe run some fiber alongside it. Be ready to expand your LAN capacity as this becomes needed. On the other hand, consider your WAN needs. Do you want global email and Web access? If so, you’ll need some form of WAN connection, but what kind? Probably the best advice here is the same – plan for expansion, but in a different way. Plan so that you can upgrade your WAN service without changing your LAN configuration. Dialup SLIP or PPP is fine for one or two computers. Once you have half dozen computers in regular use, I suggest shifting to a router configuration, even if the router is still using PPP. It is much easier to track six LAN links and one WAN link than track six LAN links and six WAN links. As much as possible, I suggest static IP address assignment, and intelligent inverse name server entries. More Related: WAN & WAN Devices |