What is communication?
-process by which a message or information is exchanged from a sender to a receiver
What are the forms of communication a business can use?
Communication can be internal or external depending on the stakeholders
What are the definitions of internal and external communications?
Internal is between people in the same business
External is between people outside he business
Examples of internal communication
Formal meetings and briefings
Email
Intranets
Wikis,blogs,podcasts,internal social media tools
Informal meetings between employees & senior management
Conference calls + webinars
Internal newsletters, brochures and other printed materials
Team briefing meetings
Message boards
Training packs
What are features of internal communication?
- links together all the different activities involved in a business
- aims to ensure that all stakeholders are working towards the same goal
- needs to be strong when business is going through change
Examples of external communication
Press releases
Marketing materials
Published financial info
Letters, emails and telephone
Conversations with customers + suppliers
Reports to gov’t and other agencies
Consultation w/ trade union or employee groups
What are the personal forms of communication?
- either one way or two way
- one way communication doesn’t have any feedback (notice board)
- two way has feedback such as a meeting
What is good communication?
- message is communicated clearly
- communication is made using appropriate method
- receiver is able to pass relevant and appropriate feedback
What are some barriers to communication?
- too many intermediaries, layers in hierarchy so message changes over time
- geographical distance between a firms offices, plants or outlets
- too much info can cause problems like slow decisions
Why is good communication important?
- makes decision making easier, decisions based on more complete and accurate info
- so a business knows what stakeholders want and consider their views
- gaining support from key players who need to be managed closely will mean the project will more likely to be successful
- stakeholders will understand decisions if they’re informed
