Communication Models

What is a Model

A model is widely used to depict any idea, thought or a concept in a more simpler way through diagrams, pictorial
representations etc. Models go a long way in making the understanding of any concept easy and clear. Through a model
one can easily understand a process and draw conclusions from it. In simpler words a model makes the learning simple.

Let us now learn about the various communication models:

 Aristotle Model of Communication

 Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication
 Schramm’s Model of Communication
 White’s Model of Communication

Aristotle Model of Communication

-The Aristotle model of communication is the widely accepted and the most common model of communication where
the sender sends the information or a message to the receivers to influence them and make them respond and act
accordingly.

Aristotle was the first to take an initiative and design the communication model.

Let us first go through a simple situation.

In a political meeting, the prospective leader delivers speech to the audience urging for more votes from the constituency. He
tries to convince the crowd in the best possible way he can so that he emerges as a winner. What is he actually doing?

He is delivering his speech in a manner that the listeners would get convinced and cast their votes only in his favour, or in other
words respond in the same manner the speaker wanted to. Here the leader or the speaker or the sender is the centre of
attraction and the crowd simply the passive listeners.

The example actually explains the Aristotle model of communication.

According to this model, the speaker plays a key role in communication. He is the one who takes complete charge of the
communication. The sender first prepares a content which he does by carefully putting his thoughts in words with an objective
of influencing the listeners or the recipients, who would then respond in the sender’s desired way. No points in guessing that the
content has to be very very impressive in this model for the audience or the receivers to get convinced.

The model says that the speaker communicates in such a way that the listeners get influenced and respond accordingly.

The speaker must be very careful about his selection of words and content in this model of communication. He should
understand his target audience and then prepare his speech. Making eye contact with the second party is again a must to create
an impact among the listeners. Let us again go through the first example. The politician must understand the needs of the
people in his constituency like the need of a shopping mall, better transport system, safety of girls etc and then design his
speech. His speech should address all the above issues and focus on providing the solutions to their problems to expect
maximum votes from them.

Voice tone and pitch should also be loud and clear enough for the people to hear and understand the speech properly.
Stammering, getting nervous in between of a conversation must be avoided.

Voice modulations also play a very important role in creating the desired effect. Blank expressions, confused looks and similar
pitch all through the speech make it monotonous and nullify its effect. The speaker should know where to lay more stress on,
highlight which words to influence the listeners.
Aristotle model of communication is the golden rule to excel in public speaking, seminars, lectures where the sender makes his
point clear by designing an impressive content, passing on the message to the second part and they simply respond accordingly.
Here the sender is the active member and the receiver is passive one.

Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication

In 1948, Shannon was an American mathematician, Electronic engineer and Weaver was an American scientist both of
them join together to write an article in “Bell System Technical Journal” called “A Mathematical Theory of
Communication” and also called as “Shannon-Weaver model of communication”.

This model is specially designed to develop the effective communication between sender and receiver. Also they find
factors which affecting the communication process called “Noise”. At first the model was developed to improve the
Technical communication. Later it’s widely applied in the field of Communication.

The model deals with various concepts like Information source, transmitter, Noise, channel, message, receiver, channel,
information destination, encode and decode.

Sender :  The originator of message or the information source selects desire message
Encoder : The transmitter which converts the message into signals
Note: The sender’s messages converted into signals like waves or Binary data which is compactable to transmit the
messages through cables or satellites. For example: In telephone the voice is converted into wave signals and it transmits
through cables
Decoder : The reception place of the signal which converts signals into message. A reverse process of encode
Note : The receiver converts those binary data or waves into message which is comfortable and understandable for
receiver. Otherwise receiver can’t receive the exact message and it will affect the effective communication between
sender and receiver
Receiver : The destination of the message from sender
Note : Based on the decoded message the receiver gives their feed back to sender. If the message distracted by noise it
will affect the communication flow between sender and receiver
Noise:  The messages are transferred from encoder to decoder through channel. During this process the messages may
distracted or affected by physical noise like horn sounds, thunder and crowd noise or encoded signals may distract in the
channel during the transmission process which affect the communication flow or the receiver may not receive the correct
message
Note : The model is clearly deals with external noises only which affect the messages or signals from external sources.
For example: If there is any problems occur in network which directly affect the mobile phone communication or distract
the messages
Practical Example of  Shannon-Weaver model of communication :
Thomson made call to his assistant “come here I want to see you”.  During his call, noise appeared (transmission error)
and his assistant received “I want” only. Again Assistant asked Thomson (feedback) “what do you want Thomson”.
Sender       :   Thomson

Encoder     :   Telephone (Thomson)

Channel     :   Cable

Noise          :   Distraction in voice

Reception  :   Telephone (Assistant)

Receiver     :   Assistant.

Due to transmission error or noise, Assistant can’t able to understand Thomson’s messages.

*The noise which affect the communication flow between them.

Criticism of Shannon-Weaver model of communication :

1.       One of the simplest model and its general applied in various communication theories
2.       The model which attracts both academics of Human communication and Information theorist to leads their further
research in communication
3.       It’s more effective in person-to-person communication than group or mass audience
4.       The model based on “Sender and Receiver”. Here sender plays the primary role and receiver plays the secondary
role (receive the information or passive)
5.       Communication is not a one way process.  If it’s behaved like that, it will lose its strength. For example: Audience
or receiver who listening a radio, reading the books or watching television is a one way communication because absence
of feedback
6.       Understanding Noise will helps to solve the various problems in communication

Formal vs. Informal Communication

Communication plays a key role in our life, as people interchange their views and thoughts by communicating. It is
a core tool that plays an important role even in the growth of the organization.

In an organization, there are two channels of communication - formal and informal. The main difference between
the two is that formal communication is backed by predefined channels while there is no such rule for informal
communication.

What is Formal Communication?

The communication in which information flows through proper and pre-defined solutions is referred to as
Formal Communication. It follows a hierarchical chain that is generally established by the organization itself.
Types of Formal Communication
1. Vertical

In this type of formal communication, information exchange takes place at different organizational levels. Either
the communication takes place from superior authority to subordinate or vice-versa.

It is also classified into two types:

 Bottom-up: Communication flow is from subordinate to superior authority.

 Top-down: Communication flow is from superior authority to subordinate.

2. Lateral or Horizontal

This type of communication takes place between two employees of the same level but working in different
departments.

For example, communication that takes place between the Sales Manager and Human Resource Manager.

3. Diagonal or Crosswise

This type of communication takes place between employees of different departments working at different
levels.

For example, communication between Salesman and Manufacturing manager.

What is Informal Communication?

Informal communication is multidimensional, it flows freely in the organization without any restraint of
predefined channels or routes. It is comparatively very quick and relational.

In organizations it is often called the ‘grapevine’. It is also important for the growth of a company because
employees can discuss work-related issues more openly which ultimately saves the company’s time and money.

Some general examples are - chats between team members, a private journal or diary, etc.
Types of Informal Communication
1. Single Strand Chain

The communication in which one person tells something to another who again says something to another
person and the process continues.

2. Cluster Chain

In this type of informal communication, one person tells something to some of his friends then they circulate
that among their close friends and the process goes on.

3. Probability Chain

In this type, one person randomly chooses some persons and transfers information to them and they also do the
same later on.

4. Gossip Chain

This type of communication is very common in an organization, where a person tells something to a group of
people then they also spread it further to another group of people till it gets passed to everyone.

Key Differences Between Formal and Informal

Communication
1. A set of commands is followed for formal communication whereas informal communication can move freely in all
directions.

2. Formal communication is time-consuming, whereas it costs less time for informal communication.

3. Formal communication has its scope restricted within the organization whereas informal communication has no

boundary.

4. A high level of secrecy is maintained for formal communication, whereas it’s not guaranteed for informal

communication.

5. Formal communication is designed at the organizational level whereas informal communication occurs naturally.
 6. Documentary evidence is always available for formal communication whereas there are no supporting documents

available for informal communication.

7. Slang words are never used in formal communication while they can be used in informal communication.

8. Formal communication is also known as official communication and informal communication is also known as

grapevine communication.

9. Examples of formal communication are - business letters, reports, orders, etc. while examples of informal

communication are face-to-face communication, telephonic conversations, etc.

10. Generally, documentation happens for formal communication whereas no documentation happens for informal

communication.

11. Formal communication has a long chain of command whereas informal communication is very simple due to its

short chain of command.

12. The main motive of formal communication is to fulfill organizational objectives whereas informal communication is

intended to meet personal interests and needs.

GRAPEVINE used to refer to the circulation of rumors and unofficial information.