Advantages and Disadvantages of Downward Communication

Advantages of Downward Communication

Advantages of downward communication are given in the diagram below.

Image credits © Manoj Patil.

Benefits of downward communication are followed:

1. Useful for management
2. Good organization
3. Useful for employees
4. Superiors well informed
5. A Sense of belonging

Downward communication advantages are.

1. Useful for management

Downward communication is the backbone of an organization. The management finds it useful to communicate necessary official information or plan of work to employees.

2. Good organization

In downward communication, there is a clear-cut division of responsibility and accountability. Discipline, satisfaction, harmony and co-operation follow automatically.

3.Useful for employees

Downward communication is useful for employees as they are well informed about their work from time to time. It gives them motivation and raises the morale of employees.

4. Superiors well informed

Downward communication keeps the superiors well informed about the development of the work as communication takes place along the well-defined lines.

5. A Sense of belonging

In downward communication, the employees carry a strong feeling of participation in the management of the organization. They regard themselves as important employees.

Disadvantages of Downward Communication

Disadvantages of downward communication are given in the diagram below.

Image credits © Manoj Patil.

Drawbacks of downward communication are followed:

1. Time consuming
2. Distortion
3. Authoritarian approach
4. Over and under Communication
5. Different priorities
6. No confidential matter

Downward Communication disadvantages are.

1. Time consuming

Downward communication is time consuming communication because it moves along the line of command of the hierarchy. It results in waste of time as the line of communication is long.

2. Distortion

Downward communication has to pass through many levels of authority, so there is a delay as well as distortion of the message.

3. Authoritarian approach

In downward communication, there is too much concentration of authority at the higher level. As people in the lower levels are merely receivers of decisions. So they unconsciously receive such message and miscommunication results.

4. Over and under Communication

Downward communication suffers from over communication or under-communication. In over-communication supervisors talk too much and merely waste the time of his subordinates. Due to this, the juniors are not respecting the seniors and there is indiscipline among the juniors. In under-communication, the supervisor does not talk enough and leaves his subordinates to his guessing about what he wants them to do.

5. Different priorities

In downward communication, the employees seek information about job security, salary, promotion and other beneficial schemes, but the management prefers to pass down orders and directions only. The gap between their priorities leaves the employees and employers dissatisfied.

6. No confidential matter

In downward communication, confidential matter cannot be disclosed at lower levels.