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Informal Communication and Employee Productivity: A Comparative Study of Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith Bank, Port Harcourt

Gbeke Immaculate Azunda, Prof. R. N. Amadi, Dike, Harcourt Whyte PhD

Abstract

This study examined the role of informal communication in influencing employee productivity in Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and Zenith Bank, Port Harcourt. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through surveys and interviews with 384 employees and 2 management staff. The study explored the nature and forms of informal communication, its impact on productivity, the factors influencing its effectiveness, and its potential benefits and drawbacks on team dynamics and the work environment. Findings revealed that informal communication in both banks predominantly occurred through face-to-face conversations, instant messaging, and casual phone calls. This communication fostered collaboration, reduced delays, and boosted morale, leading to enhanced productivity. Factors such as organizational culture, trust levels among employees, and the accessibility of digital communication tools significantly influenced the effectiveness of informal communication. While informal communication offered benefits like improved collaboration and innovation, challenges such as misinformation and distractions were also identified. Based on these findings, the study recommends fostering a supportive organizational culture that values open communication, enhancing the accessibility and training for digital communication tools, and implementing policies to manage the potential drawbacks of informal communication. These measures aim to maximize the benefits of informal communication while mitigating its challenges, ultimately driving higher employee productivity in the banking sector. This study contributes to the understanding of how informal communication operates in a developing country's banking sector, offering insights into improving workplace communication dynamics and productivity.

Keywords

Communicationinformal communicationemployeeproductivityemployee productivity

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