The managerial functions of communication According to Wertheim (2008), majority of employees expend about 76% of their time in private communication with their colleges at workplace (p.1). Thus, efficient communication- whether at personal, intergroup, intra-group, or external level- is a vital factor needed by an organization to drive and achieve its goals. Effective communication enables vital information to be relayed, in a manner and form that is easily deciphered by the person receiving it within an organization. In addition, workers are highly motivated to be productive when an organization adopts effective communication skills. The active participation and loyalty of the labor force is one of the major components that enable an organization to attain world-class status and implement operations management strategies for instance Kaizen or just in time. This participation can be attained and maintained via effective communication. The ability to relay information, for example the goals and objectives of the organization is viewed as the first step in achieving this commitment. When these goals and objective are effectively communicated to all employees within the organization, then operational management strategies must be initiated to permit workers to play an active role in attaining these goals (Business Studies, 2008, p.1).Effective communication thus motivates employees to own the goals of the company and relate with their supervisors productively. Effective communication also enables an organization to know the requirements of customers. There are a number of communication channels that customers use to contact the organization. These include: checkout operators; sales staff; websites; and electronic media. When these channels are effectively used, valuable information can be gathered from customer’s feedbacks and integrated in the decision making process that shapes the operational and marketing strategies of the firm (Business Studies, 2008, p.2). The face-to-face chat is one example of effective communications channels that offers swift feedback. When an organization engages in face-to-face talk with their employees or clients, both parties involved give and receive swift feedback via facial expressions, gestures or remarks. This enables the business or customers to make rational choices about a business matter swiftly and effectively (Mack, 2011, p.3). There are basically two broad methods of communication: formal and informal. The traditional methods of communication have been based on the official route . The formal communication channels are those that are officially approved by the employers and the agents of the workers. Staff appraisal interviews, quality circles and habitual staff meetings are some of the formal channels used by organizations. Formal channels are used to relay instructions from senior staff to their junior counterparts under the Taylorian style. However, this style does not take into consideration that formal channels can as well be employed in a dual information flow. Effective communication takes place when information moves up and down the hierarchy. A number of firms have thus developed this dual information path as they know the value of communication in inspiring workers to not only spot and solve problems, but also helping their organization remain focused (Business S