Applied Organizational Communication

Snap Patties fast food place will be installing downward communication within its organization. Snap Patties key question is "what is right for the enterprise" including employees from every level of the staff. The companies downward communication organization strategy is defined as communication "initiated by the organization's upper management and then filters downward through the 'chain of command'" (Tubbs 478). 

The leader of the organization, Mitch Meaty, believes the downward communication will be most beneficial for the efficiency of Snap Patties. Snap Patties will apply legitimate power where "the authority a person has by virtue of her or his position" where the boss handles all authority (Tubbs 482). Therefore, Mitch Meaty will be at the top of the pyramid for the communication of Snap Patties, the communication will then funnel down to "chain of command" through e-mails, faxes, and phone calls because combined, oral and written, suggestions are most effective in downward communication. 

If one has not noticed yet, Mitch Meaty choose downward communication not only because he has seen the wonders Jim Donald has created with Starbucks through downward communication, but Mitch Meaty wants the control. This can be positives and negatives for the organization. On the upside, Mitch Meaty with easily be able to trace where the accidents have occurred within the organization. When looking for an error in communication, Meaty will easily be able to look down the funnel of communication his staff practiced and see where the accident went wrong. However, on the down side, such a demanding and controlling boss can intimidate employees and make the staff of the company unsuccessful.

If Meaty employs his power wisely through downward communication he can work the wonders Donald did. He just has to make sure he makes the choices.