Organizational communication has been a field of study within the broader study of communication since the 1930s. At this time mass communication studies examined the nature of the way businesses communicated with consumers and employees. Scholars Herbert Simon and W. Charles Redding contributed early on to the establishment of organizational communication as a field of study. Its existence as a distinct field of study for more than 80 years gives it importance and weight. Students learn about theory, diversity, conflict management, relationships, organizational culture, structure and leadership through the study of organizational communication.
Studying organizational communication is important, according to Oregon State University, because it gives a foundation for gaining knowledge about the way individuals within an organization communicate with each other. Individual relationships between co-workers and group members are influenced by the overall communication style and goals of the organization. Students can gain an advantage in functioning well within companies after graduation by studying the principles of organizational communication.
Organizational communication is important because it concerns the way managers communicate with employees (downward communication) as well as the way employees communication with each other (horizontal communication) and with their bosses (upward communication). Organizational culture shapes how the transmission of information is carried out within these relationships. Some organizational cultures dictate that only certain forms of communication are appropriate for upward or downward communication. Some managers may have the expectation that their workers do not make requests of them any way but in-person, while other cultures mandate that communication between employees at different levels of responsibility cannot occur (such as a shipping and receiving clerk communicating directly with the president of the company).
Organizational communication is increasingly important to the overall success of the business. According to Kathryn Baker, work is becoming more complex, workers are increasingly separated by great distances, the pace of work is accelerating, and innovation is ever more critical for success. These realities are strained by poor organizational communication practices and improved by those that are healthy. Therefore the study and application of organizational communication principles is essential to achievement of a healthy bottom line for a business.