Types of communication network

Types of communication network

There are different types of network of communication. Communication Network means the channels by which information flows. Networks can be of two types:

(A) Formal Network and
(B) Informal Network.

(A) Formal Networks:
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Formal network are used for task-related communication. These are generally vertical type and follow the authority chain. Widely used formal networks are as follows:
1. Chain network
2. Wheel network
3. All channel network.

Types communication

1. Chain Network:
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The formal chain of command strictly followed in this type of network. Chain network can be depicted as follows:

                                                                 Fig-6: Chain Network
                                                                 (Source: S.P. Robbins)

2. Wheel Network:
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Here leader plays the key role. Other members depend on the leader for group communication. It is as follows:

Fig-7: Wheel Network

(Source: S.P. Robbins)

All Channel Network:
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This network allows all group members to communicate with each other freely. It can be shown by the following configuration:

 Fig-8: All Channel Network

(Source: S.P. Robbins)

(B) Informal Network:
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Informal Networks do not follow authority chain. Here information can move to any direction freely. There are four informal networks:

1. Single strand chain.
2. Gossip chain.
3. Probability chain and
4. Cluster chain.

1. Single strand chain:
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It indicates the passing of information by a long time. Here the 1st person tells to 2nd person who tells the message to 3rd person and so on. This process continues to the last receiver.

Fig-9: Single Strand Chain

(Source: R. Pal et al)

2. Gossip chain:
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Here the leader is the pivotal person. All flows of information have to pass through the leader. This is also known as restricted network.

Fig-10: Gossip Chain Network

(Source: R. Pal et al)

3. Probability Chains:
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This is also known as random chain. Here no specific rules are followed for transmitting information. At first a person transmits the information to any other person randomly, then in the similar way message is circulated randomly.

Fig-11: Probability Chain

(Source: R. Pal. Et al)

4. Cluster Chain:
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Unlike random chain here at first a person passes the information to other selected persons. These persons again pass the information similarly to other selected persons.

Fig-12: Cluster Chain

(Source: R. Pal et)

What are the limitations ofcommunication model?

These are the most popular information Networks.