What are the common pitfalls of Lateral communication?

Answer 1

Although this system of communication can be effective, problems can often ensue within organizations. According to Papa's book "Organizational Communication," "horizontal communication problems occur because of territoriality, rivalry, specialization, and simple lack of motivation." In addition to these problems and in general, "organizations that traditionally have functioned under rigid authority structures with fixed lines of communication may find that the values and expectations that members have acquired under such systems inhibit attempts at horizontal communication." (Papa and Daniels 56). Other problems with this form of communication can happen between multinational corporations. "Horizontal communication between subsidiaries of the same multinational corporation (MNC) is a problem faced by staff as the demands for communicating across borders are pushed downwards in the organizational hierarchy." (Mirjaliisa and Marschan-Piekkari 9).[5]

Territoriality

Territoriality often occurs when members of an organization "control task-related activity within a defined and fixed jurisdictional area" and as a result "regard others' involvement in that area as territorial encroachment." "Departments value their turf and strive to protect it. This problem may be compounded through interdepartmental rivalries that arise from win/lose competition for rewards and resources" (Papa and Daniels 56).[3]

Rivalry

Rivalry within organizations occurs for example when the different levels of an organization fail "to cooperate with one another"(Papa and Daniels 56). For example, Papa gives an example of "corporate executives in a national department store chain" who "encountered territorial rivalry when they discovered that local stores within each of the company's major sales districts refused to cooperate with one another on sales promotions"(Papa and Daniels 56). "Stores within the same sales region literally were in competition with one another as well as with other department store chains" (Papa and Daniels 57).[3] Rivalries such as the example stated in this paragraph inhibit the effectiveness of horizontal communication.

Specialization

Specialization is a problem that often happens when organizations do not have uniformity within departments, causing communication difficulties. Specialization can occur with procedures or vocabulary used by different departments. For example when "different specialties use the same terms in different ways," this can create confusion and miscommunication. When this occurs organizations have trouble functioning properly and do not run smoothly (Papa and Daniels 57).[3]

Lack of Motivation

"Horizontal communication often fails simply because organization members are unwilling to expend the additional effort that it requires." "Horizontal communication may require contact with people in units that are well removed from our own. The channels and rules of interaction may be unclear. We do not really know these people. The need to communicate with them makes us uneasy or takes too much time, so we avoid or ignore it"(Papa and Daniels 57).