Grapevine means “the informal transmission of information, gossip or rumour from person to person.”

The term grapevine can be traced to civil war days when vine like telegraph wires were strung from tree to tree across battlefields and used by army intelligence.

In this network of communication, flow of communication is omni-directional.

Grapevine network communicators can exercise positive or negative influences in the organizational activities. Person of any rank can communicate with person of any rank.

Advantages-

• Rapid transmission

• Feedback mechanism

• Creates unity

• Stress buster

• Supplement

• Mentally prepares for challenge

• Promotes efficiency

Disadvantages-

• Lacks credibility

• Affects productivity

• Distortion

• Hampers goodwill

• Cannot trace responsibility

• Ruin reputation