Blogpost 7: Grapevine!

                   As you read the title of my blogpost 7, what do you think is the meaning of grapevine? What’s the first thing comes in your mind? Let me guess, you thought that it is a plant whose stem requires support. As a matter of fact, it’s not a stem, a plant or even a fruit but a type of gossip that exists in the corporate setting. I got curious regarding with this word. I encountered the word ‘grapevine’ when I had my 1^st term as a freshman with our Management Principles class. Our professor in the aforementioned class is the Tourism Management Head, Ms. Maria Carmela Ibañez. I learned a lot of things from her concerning the things we ought to do once we’re in the corporate world, the do’s and don’ts of different matters in corporate world. I am looking forward to apply all the knowledge I’ve acquired in order to act in a nice way to everyone.

                     As far as I remember, grapevine is the informal communication system. I knew different things with our class how to cope with the grapevine and how to avoid it. Luckily, I have read an article in our book all about grapevine. We discussed the things we need to know about grapevine. The book is called 'Management Principles" with the author from California, Mr. Robert Kreitner. According to an article in the book, there are two internal communication systems in each and every organization namely: formal and informal communication. These communication systems can help or reinforce each other. Nevertheless, it causes conflict in the organization. As a matter of fact, the distinction of one another can be difficult.

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                   With the use of the definition, formal communication flows with structural boundaries and established lines of authority. But intertwined with the formal communication system is what we call “grapevine”. Grapevine is characterized as the unofficial and informal communication system. Back then the Civil war days, the term “grapevine” formed. It is likely a vine-like telegraph wires which were hang from tree to tree across the battlefields.

“Good news travels fast, bad news travels faster and embarrassing news travels at warp speed.” -Inc. Magazine

                     This saying is made by the observations of Inc. Magazine. According to one survey, an employee spends an average of 65 hours a year gossiping only at the office. Did you know that even grapevine is prevalent in the internet with the use of emails and blogs? Yes it is true and it is called the “e-grapevine”.

                      I am very much interested with this topic when Ms. Carms discussed it to us. I am not only the one who is informed but also my blockmates and they do have the idea what it is all about and its effect. I have learned in the article I've read in book are the managerial attitudes toward grapevine. Someday we will be a manager and we ought to know how to cope with the grapevine once you've heard about it. The predominantly negative feelings among managers toward the grapevine are prevalent because grapevine happened to be more influential. In spite of the negative attitudes, I must say that grapevine has also a positive side just like a person who has its positive and negative attitudes. Furthermore, grapevine helps the employees to feel a sense of belonging. Other than that, it can carry useful information and help the management learn how employees feel about with regards the policies and programs of the organization. Some information stated in the article could be a big help to the employees, managers and even us because we will face the situation where we can experience the grapevine matters.

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                     I remembered this approach because it is a big help to managers nowadays how to cope with the informal communication system in the organization. “Management by walking around”, an excellent way to monitor and correct the grapevine in a nonthreatening manner. We can feed information through it. This approach has been used widely in every organization. When I become a manger, I will not hesitate to try this approach in order to have a nice environment in the office.

              Moreover, I happened to read an article in the internet and it is entitled “The Importance of the Grapevine in Internal Business Communications”  by Kristie Lorette. I found this article in the small business website. From the title itself, it tells us how important grapevine is in the every organization whether a large or a small one. Within a business, a formal and informal communication exist. Formal communication may be in a type of memos, emails, newsletters, conferences and meetings while the informal one occurs through the mouth of different employees. Grapevine spreads throughout in an undocumented manner and even it is unstable, it still exhibits some importance in business.

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              In most cases, grapevine carries a trivial truth. Coming from the upper management, grapevine flows to the lower management about the struggles or problems the management or organization is facing. When the employees knew about the situation, then it is their time to recommend any suggestions and make their work improved each and everyday although they are really not aware of what's happening. Besides, the reaction of the employees can be tempered and managed and they can make plans in order to overcome the problems they are facing.

               In addition, grapevine can be a good channel when the formal communication is poor or when the upper management wasn't able to inform others. Although grapevine comprises gossips, it can help a lot to inform the employees about business matters. I think grapevine is somehow good because the employees have the chance to express their feeling using their own language whereas using the some technical jargons exist in a formal communication system.

                 I am glad because I learned a lot about the thing we called “grapevine” In the article, it gives the readers some warning. One statement that really struck me is this:

“The grapevine is unstable and unreliable; it can fuel anxiety, conflict and misunderstanding in small or large group situations.”

              We must always remember this thing because even a little misunderstanding can lead to a fight, quarrel and conflicts. Few untruthful gossips (grapevine) may not be good because it may hurt one's feelings. The grapevine travels faster than any other mode of communication. If we used to do spread gossips about other people once we are in the corporate world, it may affect our colleagues and even decide to quit. I know that we don't what that thing to happen. Let's just be a friend to our colleagues and treat them in a nice way.

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            After reading the two articles both in book and Internet, I am well equipped with the things I will do if grapevine will happen once I enter the corporate setting. I am looking forward to experience this not to spread gossip but the one to correct and monitor the grapevine. In brief, grapevine or gossip in the workplace is indeed inevitable in the corporate setting. Since chatting and gossiping has been a common behavior for some humans, we must still consider the words we say to others and be discreet all the time. Grapevine is also prevalent in the internet most especially in social networking sites. If you know that you are in the wrong track and spreading gossips, this is the time for you to stop because gossips (grapevine) may inflict a damage and cause a raging fire in the organization. Grapevine is often characterized as bad and negative, but it has its positive side. It is quite an effective method of communicating to your subordinates. As a human being, we must establish camaraderie with our colleagues and have fun and bond with them. Through this, conflict and misunderstanding will be out of our way and we can continue to do good deed to another human being and just be a part of their lives.