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)

These are the most popular information Networks.

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