Communication

Communication

1. Main methods of communication

   • Internal Communication - Between people who work within the same building e.g managing director and the secretary
   • External communication – is between someone who works for the business and someone outside it. It takes place between the business and outside individuals or organisation e.g. Production Director and supplier.
   • Formal communication – takes place when information moves from higher management to subordinate employees, upward where information moves from employees to management and horizontal where information is shared between peers. Examples: invoices and minutes of meetings
   • Informal communication – is sometimes called the grapevine and might be observed occurring in conversations, email, text messages and phone calls between employees socialising together.

2. Barriers of Communication

   • Too much noise
   • Jargon
   • Physical disabilities such as hearing problems or speech difficulties

3. Consequences of poor communications

   • Mistakes
   • Lost profits / lost of business

4. Main types of communication

   • Verbal communication – the sharing of information between individuals by using speech. Individuals working within a business need to use verbal communication that employs understood spoken words.eg Telephone face to face interviews
   • Written communication – involves any type of interaction that makes use of the written word. Written communication is the most common form of business communication. eg letters email text message
   • Electronic communication – is defined as passing of information from one individual to another using computers. eg Internet Phone Computer
   • Visual communication – is communication through visual aid. It is portrayed as the conveyance of ideas and details in forms that can be read or looked upon. eg Tables Charts Graphs

5. Methods of communication

   • Memorandums – also known as memo. These are the main internal and informal written method used in a business.
   • Letters – these are the main external and formal method used in a business. They can also be used internal in a business.
   • Agendas – used with formal meetings. An agenda summarises the structure and contents of the meeting.
   • Minutes – these are typed up after a formal meeting. They highlighted what was discussed at the minute.
   • Reports – detailed written information of business activity

6. Advantages of ICT for communiations

   • Enhanced Quality
   • Faster production
   • More up to date materials

7. Disadvantages of ICT for communications

   • ICT users may suffer from eye strain, back ache, headaches
   • Capital outlay / how much it will cost to install the new technology
   • Training costs / employees may need to be trained or retraining