Main Difference
Communication is one of the pivotal processes in our lives, through which one can exchange thoughts, information, feelings and much more. The means of communication keeps on changing with the advancement in technology, for example in 90’s telephones were mostly used for the communication, nowadays smartphones are widely used for the communication purpose. Mainly the communication can be of two types; verbal communication and non-verbal communication. In organizations, the mode of verbal communication is used for sharing of information or transfer of the message. Furthermore, the verbal communication is divided into two forms of communication; formal communication and informal communication. Both these types of communication are done in the organizations, by the formal and informal groups respectively. The group in the organization, formed by the organization themselves to fulfill the certain tasks in the office is known as the formal group. The formal group does the formal communication, which means the communication takes place through the officially designated channel. On the other hand, the informal group is formed by the employees themselves, it is based on their personal likeness, attitude, relation, and other factors. Within the organization, the informal groups go up with the informal communication as there is no officially designated channel and the topic of discussion is even broader.
Comparison Chart
What are Formal Groups?
The formal groups are assigned by the organizations to increase the work efficiency or fulfill specific tasks. The employees made part of this have strong communication between each other and also have prior experience of teamwork. The size of the formal group can even be large, depending upon the initiative of the organization. The sole purpose of the formal group is to make sure the certain work is done on time. It has nothing to do with the personal attachments and leisure. The employees made part of this have strong coordination between them, and have importance according to their defined positions in the company. The formal groups use formal communication to exchange the thought, information and ideas. It should be kept mentioned that formal communication takes place through the officially designated channel. The context of the conversation is already chosen in this form of communication and more work-oriented discussions are done. While doing this type of communication, a certain type of rules and regulations and conventions and styles are being followed.
What are Informal Groups?
The employees form the informal groups within an organization. The main reason for forming such a groups is to have strong bonding and relation with the fellow colleagues, based on their likes, attitude and interests. The informal groups are never work-oriented so no one has the importance due to the designation in the company. The context of the conversations in the informal groups are wider as people joke, share, and have gossiping with each other during the free time in the office. The informal communication takes place in between the informal groups in the organizations as the officially designated channels are not used in this for communication. The informal communication is the mode of communication that take place when colleagues interact with each other, that can be at canteen during a coffee break or while sitting in the garden area of the office. No rules and regulations are followed in this types of communication and it can be in any convention or style. The conversation can also be purposeful regarding the office work, although mostly it revolves around the personal life, gossips about office staff or many more topics.
Key Differences
- The formal groups are assigned by the organizations, whereas the employees form the informal groups within an organization.
- The formal groups are made to increase the work efficiency or fulfill specific tasks. On the other hand, the informal groups aren’t work-oriented, mostly it revolves around the personal life, gossips about office staff or many more topics.
- The size of the formal group can even be large, depending upon the initiative of the organization, whereas the informal group is comparatively smaller in size.
- In formal groups certain type of rules and regulations and conventions and styles are being followed. Contrary to this, in informal groups no rules and regulations are followed or assigned.
- The one has more importance in the formal groups according to his/her designation in the organization, while no one has the importance due to the designation in the company.
Comparison Video
