Month: April 2020

Trademark infringement

Section 29 of the Trademark Act, 1999 provides remedy in cases of trademark infringement. The statutory provision also enlists the circumstances under which a mark is infringed:

1. Infringement of a mark occurs when a person not being registered proprietor uses a mark which is identical or deceptively similar to a registered mark in relation to goods or services in respect of which the trademark is registered.
2. When a person not being a registered proprietor uses a registered trademark which because of its identity with registered trademark and similarity with goods or services is likely to cause confusion in public.
3. When a person not being registered proprietor of a mark uses mark which is identical or similar to the registered trademark in relation to similar goods or services and the registered mark has a reputation in India.
4. A registered trademark is infringed by a person if he uses such registered trademark as part of his trade name of his business concern dealing in goods or services in respect of which the trade mark is registered.
5. A registered trademark is infringed by any advertising of that trademark if such advertising takes unfair advantage and is detrimental to its distinctive character.

Cases on Trademark Infringement

When mark adopted by Defendant is identical to Plaintiff’s registered trademark

If on comparison of the trademarks of the two parties in case the trademark adopted by the Defendant is identical to that of the Plaintiff, the Plaintiff may not be required to prove anything further. Section 29 of the Trademark Act, 1999 statutorily mandates so as well. However, when the two marks are not identical, then the plaintiff would be required to establish that the mark used by the defendant so nearly resembles the plaintiff’s registered trademark as is likely to deceive or cause confusion in the minds of the consumer public.

Onus to prove infringement on Plaintiff

The Supreme Court in the case of Kaviraj Pandit Durga Dutt case held that in an action for infringement the onus would be on the Plaintiff to establish that the trade mark used by the defendant in the course of trade in the goods in respect of which his mark is registered, is deceptively similar.

How can the Plaintiff establish that the Defendant’s mark is identical or resembles the Plaintiff’s mark?

This issue was elaborately discussed by the Delhi High Court in the case of Atlas Cycle Industries Ltd. v. Hind Cycles Limited, wherein the Court stated that in a case of trademark infringement, the plaintiff may establish that its trademark is identical with or so nearly resembles the plaintiff’s work either visually or phonetically or otherwise, that it is likely to deceive or cause confusion in relation to the case in respect of which the plaintiff got his mark registered.

Thus, if the essential features of the trade mark of the plaintiff have been adopted by the defendant, the fact that there are some additional features in the defendant’s mark which show marked differences is immaterial in an action for infringement.

Trademar Passing-off

Section 27 of the Act  recognizes common law rights of the trademark owner to take action against any person for passing of goods as the goods of another person or as services provided by another person or remedies thereof. The remedy made available under Section 27 of the Act protects the rights of the proprietor of an unregistered trademark to register complaint against another person for passing off his goods as goods the goods of proprietor. An unregistered proprietor of trademark can also oppose an application for registration on grounds as enumerated under Section 11 of the Act.

In an action of passing off, the Plaintiff has to establish prior use to secure an injunction and that the registration of the mark or similar mark in point of time, is irrelevant.

Lord Oliver in the case of Reckitt & Colman Products Ltd. v. Borden Inc. enumerated three elements for a successful passing off action:

• Goodwill owned by a trader
• Misrepresentation
• Damage to goodwill

Thus, the passing action is essentially an action in deceit where the common law rule is that no person is entitled to carry on his or her business on pretext that the said business is of that of another.

Tests in the case of passing off– The Supreme Court in the case of Cadila Healthcare Ltd. v. Cadila Pharmaceutical Ltd., laid down the test of passing off and observed that a passing off action depends upon the principle that nobody has a right to represent his goods as the goods of some body. In other words a man is not to sell his goods or services under the pretence that they are those of another person. As per Lord Diplock in Erwen Warnink BV v. J.Townend & Sons[, the modern tort of passing off has five elements, namely

• A misrepresentation
• Made by a trader in the course of trade
• To prospective customers of his or ultimate consumers of goods or services supplied by him
• Which is calculated to injure the business or goodwill of another trade (in the sense that this is a reasonably foreseeable consequence), and
• Which causes actual damage to a business or goodwill of the trader by whom the action is brought or (in a quia timet action) will probably do so.

Further in the case of Corn Products Refining Co. v. Shangrila Food Products Ltd., it was observed that the principle of similarity could not to be very rigidly applied and that if it could be prima facie shown that there was a dishonest intention on the part of the defendant in passing off goods, an injunction should ordinarily follow and the mere delay in bringing the matter to Court was not a ground to defeat the case of the plaintiff.

Is fraud an essential element of passing-off?

According to Kerly Law of Trademarks– Passing off cases are often cases of deliberate and intentional misrepresentation, but it is well-settled that fraud is not a necessary element of the right of action, and the absence of an intention to deceive is not a defence though proof of fraudulent intention may materially assist a plaintiff in establishing probability of deception. The burden to prove passing off is on the Plaintiff or goods, besides the essential features which are sufficient to distinguish the same from that of the plaintiff. Thus, while in an action for infringement of a registered trade mark the plaintiff has to establish either an use of his registered trade mark as such or of an identical mark or of a deceptively similar mark by the defendant, he has to establish in an action for passing off that the defendant’s mark or goods are such that the defendant can pass off his goods as those of the plaintiff.

Difference between Trademark Infringement and Passing Off

The difference between a passing off action and an action for trademark infringement was expounded by the Delhi High Court in the case of Cadbury India Limited and Ors. v. Neeraj Food Products as under:

• An action for passing off is a common law remedy whereas an action for trademark infringement is a statutory remedy.
• Passing off action in essence is an action of deceit that is, a passing off by a person of his own goods as those of another whereas in case of infringement, the Plaintiff on account of being registered proprietor of the disputed trademark, claims to have an exclusive right to use the mark in relation to those goods.
• The use by the defendant of the trademark of the plaintiff may be prerequisite in the case of an action for infringement while it is not an essential feature of an action for passing off.
• If the essential features of the trademark of the plaintiff have been adopted by the defendant, the fact that the getup, packing and other writing or marks on the goods or on the packets in which the defendant offers his goods for sale show marked differences or indicate clearly a trade origin different from that of a registered proprietor of the mark, would be immaterial for the case of infringement of the trademark. The liability of the defendant for such infringement may be absolute. In the case of passing off, the defendant may escape liability if he can show that the added material is sufficient to distinguish his goods from those of the plaintiff.

The distinction between passing off and infringement was examined by Judge Clauson in the case of Listen Ltd. V. Harley, wherein he opined that if you are restraining the infringement of a registered mark, you can restrain the man from using the mark; but, restrain him from selling the articles under the label containing that word without clearly distinguishing his goods from the goods of the Plaintiff is quite a different thing.

The Supreme Court in a recent case of S. Syed Mohideen v. P. Sulochana Bai, stated that passing off right is a broader remedy than that of infringement. This is due to the reason that the passing off doctrine operates on the general principle that no person is entitled to represent his or her business as business of other person. The said action in deceit is maintainable for diverse reasons other than that of registered rights which are allocated rights under the Act.

Many business laws in India precede the country’s independence in 1947. For example, the Indian Contract Act of 1872 is still in force, although specific contracts such as partnerships and the sale of goods are now covered by newer laws. The Partnership Act of 1932 covers partnership firms in India. Business laws regulating chartered accountants and cost accountants were passed in 1949 and 1959, respectively. The Banking Regulation Act of 1949 continues to regulate private banking companies and manage banks in India. In 2012, it was amended by the Banking Law (Amendments) Act. Under these amendments, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was given power to restrict voting rights and shares acquisition in a bank. The RBI established the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund. Banks are now able to issue both equity and preference shares under RBI guidelines.

While India is often criticized for complex regulations, it is important to keep in mind that that in some cases, these laws are simpler than those of the U.S. Furthermore, most regulations are consistent across the country, and attorneys in India can practice in any state. Filing lawsuits is seldom productive in most commercial disputes since court cases can drag on for decades and collection can take even longer. For large deals, binding third-country arbitration can be the best way to resolve disputes.

Following India’s economic development in the 21st century, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs passed the Competition Act of 2002 and the Limited Liability Act in 2008. These promote sustainable competition in markets, prohibit anti-competitive business practices, and protect consumer interests while ensuring free trade.

The Parliament of India passes and amends regulations for both businesses and investors. In addition to provisions from the Companies Act of 1956, the Companies Act of 2013 features provisions regarding mergers and acquisitions, board room decision-making, related party transactions, corporate social responsibility, and shareholding. The act was further amended through the Companies Act of 2015 which eliminated the procedural common seal, declarations for commencement of businesses, and minimum paid-up capital requirements. The amendment also relaxed governing-related party transactions while limiting access to strategic corporate resolutions in India.

As a member of the International Labor Organization, India offers protections for employees. These include the Payment of Wages Act of 1936, the Industrial Employment Act of 1946, the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947, the Payment of Bonus Act of 1965, and the 1972 Payment of Gratuity Act. Protections include annual bonuses of 8.33% and separation fees of about 15 days per year of employment. Other labor laws such as the Building and Other Construction Workers Acts of 1996 and the Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1923 (amended in 2000) are in effect. Passed in 1926, the Trade Unions Act deals with the registration, rights, liabilities, and responsibilities of trade unions. The Industrial Disputes Act of 1946 regulates trade unions and matters between industrial employers and employees.

Business laws in India include consumer protection. The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 mandates Consumer Dispute Redressal Forums at local and national levels. Older laws, such as the Standards of Weights & Measures Act of 1956, ensure fair competition in the market and free flow of correct information from providers of goods and services to consumers.

Due to the growth of trade, the Indian government passed the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act of 1992 to facilitate imports and augment exports. The latest EXIM Policy, known as the Foreign Trade Policy, was issued for April 2015 to March 2020. The Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) replaced the Served from India Scheme. The SEIS extends the duty-exempted scrip to Indian service providers and provides notified services in a specified mode outside the country. Under the Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme, the export obligation requires six times the duty saved on imported capital goods; in the case of local sourcing of capital goods, the export obligation is reduced by 25%. Beyond goods and services, the Foreign Exchange Management Act of 1999 regulates foreign exchange transactions including investments abroad.

As a founding member of the World Trade Organization in 1995, India has updated business laws regarding copyrights, patents, and trademarks to meet the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. Indian companies and the federal government honor global IP rights. However, because music copyrights are different in India, both Indian and Western IP owners in the entertainment industry have suffered due to digital piracy. Even so, there are few IP-related disputes outside of several celebrated pharmaceutical industry cases. In 2013, India’s Supreme Court denied Novartis an extension to update its cancer drug Glivec due to “evergreening” charges.

E-commerce and online expansion of companies prompted India to create regulations to cover cyber law and security compliances, such as the techno legal regulatory provisions in the Companies Act of 2013. The Information Technology Act of 2000 is the primary law for e-commerce regulation in India. In 2008, the IT Act was amended to provide explicit legal recognition of electronic transactions.

Importance of Communication in Corporate World in Recent Time

In 21st Centuries, business has become highly complex and competitive. To survive one needs the services of specialists are required in every single field. Communication takes place within the organization as well as between the business and outside world. Today professionals have to compete globally and hence they have to be extra cautious while communicating.

In a global world, we have to communicate globally to negotiate, to deal and to reach out the targeted audience. The ability to communicate effectively with others also and along with a variety of different types of personalities are two of the most desirable qualities in job candidates.

Good communicators have complete control of oral and written communication. Today business communication skills are important for executives as businesses in a professional environment require a rapid inflow, and environment need fast inflow and outflow of communication.

Importance of communication in the corporate world is depicted in the following image.

1. Helps to increase the sale

To increase the sales, a company requires a salesman who is a good communicator, who can sell products, convey company’s ethos and also outlines the values of company to people who will not only buy the products but will become company loyalist. Thus, communication helps to increase sales.

2. Helps in retaining the client

A company executive must have necessary skills to deal with the customers. This helps in retaining the clients as customers are business lifelines and their concern is very important for the organization to succeed.

3. Helps to implement strategies

With the help of effective communication organizations can implement strategies. This builds employment commitment toward the organization, and they feel the sense of sharing of responsibility and capabilities.

4. Helps in corporate branding

Communication has always been the core of the corporate world. Communication between people and company is the core element of a good corporate reputation. Many companies invest millions in strategies, which aim to reinvest their profile in important ways.

5. Helps to develop global competence

Communication helps to develop an understanding of other regions, lifestyles and culture of all around the world. This helps in overcoming the cross-cultural barriers during the conduct of business.

6. Helps in crisis management

To handle the economic crisis is the worst. Each person associated with the company needs information and reassurance with proper communication, thus employees can become the strength of the organization. The stockholders should be communicated properly so they do not indulge in panic and sell off their shares.

THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS IN THE WORLD TODAY

In a globalized world, effective communication is a necessity. When friends, relatives, and colleagues need to reach all corners of the world, it is easy to see the importance of global communications in the world today. Whether you need to connect from Barcelona to Buenos Aires or Boston to Beijing, instant contact has become the norm and expectation. But how did we get here? Just 10 years ago, we were being introduced to new programs called YouTube, Skype, and Facebook. Now these are household names that are used on a daily basis at home and in the office. But in a business environment, there is more to communications than just opening up Skype and connecting to the other side of the planet. Learning the importance of global communications and implementing effective communications policies are key to helping a global organization thrive in this new world.

Global communications is not only the interaction between two employees within your organization. The first step in achieving effective communications is to know your audience. Your entire company profile and history is available to the whole world at the click of a button, making you a sitting duck if you’re not prepared. If you’re not, your company could wind up as the next viral sensation. Communicating with your customers, your suppliers, your stockholders, and many other stakeholders all factor into the global equation. Proper handling of a customer complaint can be just as important whether it is sent to company headquarters or at a local store – one insensitive comment could wind up being viewed by millions on Twitter. Company owners have to be kept informed about the status of the business and employees have to be able to be in constant contact in order to reach deadlines. Even governments need to be involved in your communications strategy, and having a good one can save you a big headache.

Affecting the true meaning of global communications would be the intercultural factor. Now that we expect to do business on multiple continents, understanding the language and cultural difference between two people can bridge gaps and make business transactions much smoother. Even within Europe, making sure your organization understands the business customs of Spain versus Germany will help grow your business. And in a globalized world, it is absolutely vital.

When analyzing the changes in global communications, technology is, by far, the biggest factor. There have been many changes in technology and something new seems to develop every single day. But just because communication has gotten faster and easier doesn’t mean that it’s always a good idea to implement. Video conferencing is a great way to have face-to-face communication while separated by thousands of kilometers. Without the need for travelling, video conferencing can instantly and vastly improve your internal and external communications over what can be done with a phone call. But installing a video conferencing network can be very costly. Is clear and visual communication a necessity worth such an investment or is it just a nice-to-have? How do you go about making a decision like this?

These are just a few of the many issues that affect global communications on a daily basis. And with an ever-growing globalized world, the importance of global communications becomes more evident every year. Studying a Master’s in Communication can help prepare you to understand how to tackle the various issues and make decisions on your communications strategy. With thorough studying of the core concepts and specific examples, you will be able to cope with the ever-changing world and be ready to guide your organization to new heights in a global world.

Business communications consisted of formal business letters and a conversation in the boss’s office. Today’s technological advances have moved communications into a new realm, where messages are delivered almost instantly, tasks are assigned and managed by computer programs and people are even removed from the communications equation. And while most advances have improved workflow and efficiency, some concerns about the quality of business relationships have surfaced.

Continued Evolution of Email

Perhaps one of the most obvious developments in business communications has been that of direct correspondence through email. Although it’s existed for almost 50 years, email has experienced continual change. It’s gone from being simply a method of sending a message to becoming a means of workflow management. Within an email system users can:

• Flag priority messages and set tasks for follow-up
• Program alerts for when messages from VIP senders arrive
• Send automated responses when out of the office and unable to personally respond

Project Management Systems and Scheduling

Another use of technology in business is the implementation of project management systems for collaboration between employees. Workers no longer need to be in the same building or sit in a lengthy meeting to share their ideas. Whether they’re at the corporate headquarters or working from home, individuals can create task lists, assign work, upload content, set appointments and track progress all in one online application.

Automated Voice Systems Provide Service

Automated voice response systems are another way to provide customer service while allowing employees to stay focused on other tasks. Instead of a “live person,” the automated system handles the call and either directs the customer to the appropriate individual or retrieves data and communicates the basic information requested by the caller. Similarly computer “bots” handle online requests for information through live chats. Customers feel like they are being served by a live representative, but often the site is served by a computer programmed with basic responses to routine questions.

Artificial Intelligence Engages in Marketing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are being used to predict and influence future sales based on consumer preferences. Knowledge of customer preferences in real time can assist marketing departments in determining where to spend their money by tracking trends more closely and adapting promotional and sales efforts. The streaming entertainment industry, for example, suggests additional programming based on shows already being watched. “Because you watched this … you might enjoy this.”

Easy Collaboration with Remote Workers

The gig or freelance industry has also grown dramatically because of technological advancements that allow talented workers to be hired and perform remotely for an organization. Needs can be posted online and workers hired, sometimes within hours. Freelancers can collaborate with managers and employees through project management platforms, without any one-on-one interaction. The cost savings by using contractors adds up as companies save time and effort by not hiring and managing long-term employees.

The Downside of Technology in Communications

Despite the savings to companies, there are some negative effects to this surge in technological integration into business communications. Some studies have shown a decrease in productivity over the long term due to an “always connected” lifestyle fueled by easy access to information. Many employees may never actually take a break from the work routine because they are always checking email or status updates on a project through a mobile app, resulting in high levels of stress and increased illness. Additionally, many workers are lacking in proper sleep, less connected with people outside the office and lacking the ability to relate to each other in face-to-face interactions.

Communication is the lifeblood of an organization. It is the vehicle that ensures proper performance of organizational functions and achievement of organizational goals. As a separate field of study, business communication has the following objectives:

1. To exchange information

The main objective of business communication is to exchange information with internal and external parties. Internal communication occurs within the organization through orders, instructions, suggestions, opinions etc.

2. To develop plans

Plan is the blueprint of future courses of actions. The plan must be formulated for attaining organizational goals. In order to develop a plan, management requires information. In this regard, the objective of communication is to supply required information to the concerned managers.

3. To implement the plan

Once a plan is prepared, it is to be implemented. Implementation of a plan requires timely communication with the concerned parties. Thus, communication aims at transmitting a plan throughout the organization for its successful implementation.

4. To facilitate policy formulation

Policies are guidelines for performing organizational activities. Policies are also termed as standing decisions to recurring problems. Every organization needs to develop a set of policies to guide its operation. Preparing policies also require information from various sources. Therefore, the objective of communication is to collect necessary information for policy formulation.

5. To achieve organizational goal

Collective efforts of both managers and workers are essential for achieving organizational goals. Communication coordinates and synchronizes the efforts of employees at various levels to achieve the stated goals of the organization.

6. To organize resources

Various kinds of resources are available in an organization such as human resources, material resources, financial resources and so on. In organizing these resources in an effective and efficient way is a key challenge to the managers. Communication is the vehicle to overcome this challenge.

7. To coordinate

Coordination is a basic management function. It involves linking the various functional departments of large organizations. Without proper and timely coordination, an achievement of organizational goals is impossible. Therefore, the objective of communication is to coordinate the functions of various departments for the easy attainment of organizational goals.

8. To direct the subordinates

The job of a manager is to get the things done by others. In order to get the things done, management needs to lead, direct and control the employees. The performance of these managerial functions depends on effective communication with subordinates.

9. To motivate employees

A pre-requisite of employee motivation is the satisfaction of their financial and non-financial needs. Financial needs are fulfilled thorough monetary returns. However, in order to satisfy non-financial needs, management must communicate with employees on a regular basis both formally and informally.

10. To create consciousness

Employees of an organization must be conscious regarding their duties and responsibilities. Communication supplies necessary information and makes them conscious about their duties and responsibilities.

11. To increase efficiency

In order to increase employee efficiency, they should be provided with necessary information and guidelines. Communication supplies such information and guidelines for them.

12. To bring dynamism

Organizations should be dynamic to cope with the internal and external changes. Bringing dynamism requires finding new and better ways of doing things. For this purpose, communication helps to seek new ideas and suggestions from the internal and external parties.

13. To improve labor-management is relationships

Harmonious relationship between workers and management is a prerequisite for organizational success. In this regard, the objective of communication is to ensure the free and fair flow of information and to create good understanding between them.

14. To increase job satisfaction

Communication enhances job satisfaction level of employees. It creates a friendly environment where employees can express themselves. As a result, they become more satisfied with their job.

15. To convey employee reaction

Communication conveys employees’ reactions, opinions, suggestions, and complaints to their superiors about the plans, policies, programs and strategies of the company.

16. To orient employee

Communication orients the new employees with the company’s policies, rules, regulations, procedures etc.

In an organization, information flows forward, backwards and sideways. This information flow is referred to as communication. Communication channels refer to the way this information flows within the organization and with other organizations.

In this web known as communication, a manager becomes a link. Decisions and directions flow upwards or downwards or sideways depending on the position of the manager in the communication web.

For example, reports from lower level manager will flow upwards. A good manager has to inspire, steer and organize his employees efficiently, and for all this, the tools in his possession are spoken and written words.

For the flow of information and for a manager to handle his employees, it is important for an effectual communication channel to be in place.

The Working of a Communication Channel

Through a modem of communication, be it face-to-face conversations or an inter-department memo, information is transmitted from a manager to a subordinate or vice versa.

An important element of the communication process is the feedback mechanism between the management and employees.

In this mechanism, employees inform managers that they have understood the task at hand while managers provide employees with comments and directions on employee’s work.

Importance of a Communication Channel

A breakdown in the communication channel leads to an inefficient flow of information. Employees are unaware of what the company expects of them. They are uninformed of what is going on in the company.

This will cause them to become suspicious of motives and any changes in the company. Also without effective communication, employees become department minded rather than company minded, and this affects their decision making and productivity in the workplace.

Eventually, this harms the overall organizational objectives as well. Hence, in order for an organization to be run effectively, a good manager should be able to communicate to his/her employees what is expected of them, make sure they are fully aware of company policies and any upcoming changes.

Therefore, an effective communication channel should be implemented by managers to optimize worker productivity to ensure the smooth running of the organization.

Types of Communication Channels

The number of communication channels available to a manager has increased over the last 20 odd years. Video conferencing, mobile technology, electronic bulletin boards and fax machines are some of the new possibilities.

As organizations grow in size, managers cannot rely on face-to-face communication alone to get their message across.

A challenge the managers face today is to determine what type of communication channel should they opt for in order to carryout effective communication.

In order to make a manager’s task easier, the types of communication channels are grouped into three main groups: formal, informal and unofficial.

1. Formal Communication Channels

A formal communication channel transmits information such as the goals, policies and procedures of an organization. Messages in this type of communication channel follow a chain of command. This means information flows from a manager to his subordinates and they in turn pass on the information to the next level of staff.

An example of a formal communication channel is a company’s newsletter, which gives employees as well as the clients a clear idea of a company’s goals and vision. It also includes the transfer of information with regard to memoranda, reports, directions, and scheduled meetings in the chain of command.

A business plan, customer satisfaction survey, annual reports, employer’s manual, review meetings are all formal communication channels.

2. Informal Communication Channels

Within a formal working environment, there always exists an informal communication network. The strict hierarchical web of communication cannot function efficiently on its own and hence there exists a communication channel outside of this web. While this type of communication channel may disrupt the chain of command, a good manager needs to find the fine balance between the formal and informal communication channel.

An example of an informal communication channel is lunchtime at the organization’s cafeteria/canteen. Here, in a relaxed atmosphere, discussions among employees are encouraged. Also managers walking around, adopting a hands-on approach to handling employee queries is an example of an informal communication channel.

Quality circles, team work, different training programs are outside of the chain of command and so, fall under the category of informal communication channels.

3. Unofficial Communication Channels

Good managers will recognize the fact that sometimes communication that takes place within an organization is interpersonal. While minutes of a meeting may be a topic of discussion among employees, sports, politics and TV shows also share the floor.

The unofficial communication channel in an organization is the organization’s ‘grapevine.’ It is through the grapevine that rumors circulate. Also those engaging in ‘grapevine’ discussions often form groups, which translate into friendships outside of the organization. While the grapevine may have positive implications, more often than not information circulating in the grapevine is exaggerated and may cause unnecessary alarm to employees. A good manager should be privy to information circulating in this unofficial communication channel and should take positive measures to prevent the flow of false information.

An example of an unofficial communication channel is social gatherings among employees.

In any organization, three types of communication channels exist: formal, informal and unofficial.

While the ideal communication web is a formal structure in which informal communication can take place, unofficial communication channels also exist in an organization.

Through these various channels, it is important for a manager to get his/her ideas across and then listen, absorb, glean and further communicate to employees.