„‚ CONDITIONS THAT HINDER EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

1. The structure of a communication pattern affects the accuracy of messages
communicated.
2. The structure of a communication pattern affects the task performance of groups.
3. The structure of a communication pattern affects the satisfaction of group
members.
Four communication patterns investigated are called (1) radial, (2) hierarchical, (3)
“Y,” and (4) leader centered. In the diagrams in Figure 1, each letter represents a person
and each line a potential communication link. For example, in the radial pattern, person
A may communicate with persons B and E but not with person C or D.
Figure 1. Four Communication Patterns
One way of characterizing communication patterns is by centrality. Centrality
measures a person's closeness to other people in a particular pattern. The most central
position is the position closest to all other positions. Position C has the greatest
centrality within the hierarchical, “Y,” and leader-centered patterns. In these, position C
has the greatest degree of centrality in the leader-centered pattern, less in the “Y,” and
still less in the hierarchical pattern. No position in the radial pattern has greater
centrality than any other. Within any pattern, centrality limits the independent action of
some group members and, therefore, primarily determines the leadership role, variation
of activity, and group-member satisfaction.
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The Pfeiffer Library Volume 6, 2nd Edition. Copyright ©1998 Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer