Essay on Organizational Communication

In accordance with the conditional requirements of any given organizational context, appropriate communication media and methods have gradually altered and continue to do so. Photographs, audio and visual forms of music, and other major communication channels have all been distinguished by these elements. When a message is presented visually and audibly, it is easier to understand it when being transmitted from one channel to another. Modern organizations have undergone significant changes as a result of the use of new technologies, including changes to noises, speaking gestures, films, videos, theater, and posters. These changes in many means have given communication a huge potential for expansion. With a variety of communication tools and methods to be used, most organizations find it difficult to identify the most appropriate method of communication. This brings the organization to decision making where a choice has to be made (Corman, 2000).

Communication is useful in sharing of thoughts, ideas, plans and activities within an organizational setting. It is used in creating relationships amongst employees, friends, family members, and individuals in any given organization. An organization cannot be managed without effective communication and clear understanding of duties and responsibilities of workers. Through effective communication, the goals of an organization are clearly defined and understood thus enabling accomplishment of these goals easily. Limited communication may lead to some problems such as disagreements amongst employees as well as poor coordination among various departments. Understanding the audience of employees will enable an organization to know the most suitable terms to use in messages thus enhancing easy understanding of messages (Miller, 2014).

The choice entirely depends on the understanding of the effect of information technology on the organization. Technology will always need people; it is the input of human that are essential in ensuring effective communication and in understanding the effect of communication to the organization. Very high standards have to be laid down in ensuring appropriate communication. The following are the methods of communication that are mostly found in an organization setting. They include face to face meeting, video conferencing, virtual meeting, phone call, voicemail, and email. On the methods of communication, the most used communication channel used is visual communication. It’s used to strengthen communication as it helps individuals in remembering what they heard. It is easier remembering pictures than just mere words. It presents a good representation of facts and information is very precise in nature and accuracy. It also boosts the memory of the receiver of the message as it helps people remember what they have seen. Examples of visual communication include; pictures, broadcast media, videos and audio cassettes. Videos are used in demonstrating how something is done, and this captures audience attention (Corman, 2000).

In general, effective communication in an organization setting raises productivity, reduces workers’ turnover and improves working conditions. Modern companies have turned their forms of communication to pass messages across from business conferences, workshops, teleconferences. The second outcome of HRMN 302 that am going to discuss is communication theories to organizational communication challenges. The fist theory is cognitive dissonance theory that argues that experience of dissonance is very aversive and individuals are motivated to disown it. People will tend to avoid hearing facts that offend their factors, change their beliefs to be like their actions (Miller, 2014).

The second theory is communication accommodation theory that examines motivations and effects of shift of communication styles of various speakers. During communication, people will try to accommodate themselves to the styles of others due to divergence and convergence. People with racial pride experience divergence while convergence takes place where there is a requirement for social approval.

The third communication theory is coordinated management of meaning where individuals create meaning by attaining a level of coordination and coherence. Coordination takes place where stories happen while coherence occurs when stories are being told. This theory looks at the relationship between a society and its community. In addition, we have cultivation analysis as another theory that explains how individuals perceive the world. In modern culture majority of individuals receive information on a mediated system rather than via experience. Hence mediated channels influence individual’s sense. Another theory is cultural studies that argue that media has ideologies of majority class in society. The information portrayed to the public is mainly framed and influenced by profit making motive. This theory is concerned with how media affects and how power has a role in culture interpretation. The last theory is symbolic interaction theory which argues that individuals are motivated to behave based on the ideal meanings assigned to things, events and people (Miller, 2014).

By looking at cultural differences in communication, culture is literally a set of commonly shared values by a group of people. These values influence how people think and act and the manner in which they judge other people. Every culture has its principles that its members follow. However, two individuals belonging to the same culture does not mean that they will act the same way. Generalization is accepted to the level that they give a clue of what one is likely to encounter in a given society and how these differences influence communication. Each aspect of communication is affected by culture differences including the medium of communication. In some of the cultures, personal relationships and informal engagements are more binding than formal engagements (Rogers, 2007).

High context cultures such as in central Europe and Latin America leave out more message unspecified but to get meaning through its nature, nonverbal cues is used to interpret what is being said. On the other end, low context cultures such as German and countries that speak English usually expect messages to be specific and explicit in nature. The high context cultures look for meaning in understanding in body language but not in what is being said. The latter emphasize on receiving and sending of accurate form of information and being clear in either written or spoken words (Rogers, 2007).

One of the most critical skills required in for effective intercultural communication is the power to recognize in any association with an individual from another culture. It is important to listen carefully without passing any judgement, confirm meaning for what you don’t understand, give opinions and acknowledge what others say. The best way to have an intercultural communication is through developing an intercultural mindset and skills. We should recognize cultural differences and develop a positive attitude towards the differences.

An electronic portfolio consists of a collection of electronic evidence managed by the user. It may include electronic files, images, input text and blog entries. Records of communication are closely related to the plan of learning. Portfolios facilitate reflection on learning which results in more awareness on strategies of learning needs. The main aim to provide a platform for communication between an instructor and a student. Students can quickly reflect on their work hence making an experience of developing a portfolio meaningful (Mumby, 2013).

E-portfolios also promote thinking and supports growth and development of technological skills as it fosters independent and critical thinking. On creation, of E-portfolio on the Google site, the following steps are involved. The first step is deciding on the purpose of the portfolio that is what the portfolio is meant for, its contents, results, and objectives that are shown on the e-portfolio. For instance, e-portfolio on interactive steps using a blog to give a response on student’s activities.

The second process is classification consisting of aspects. These aspects should be clearly stated. For instance, creating a digital platform for work. GoogleDocs spreadsheets can be used in listing the artifacts and each outcome that the artifact will represent. The third step is the reflection. This is the core and heart of the designed portfolio. It provides a platform that shows how these artifacts represent attainment of a specific goal. The next step is dialogue or interaction. This provides an opportunity for feedback on work posted on the Google portfolio. This is the point where the power of interactive tools is active. The fifth step is summary reflection or evaluation. This is at the end of the program. Here one needs to write a reflection that looks at the whole developed program and give an analysis of learning encounter as shown on the reflections on the blog. The final step is publication. The developer of the portfolio will decide parts of the portfolio that can be made public for communication purposes (Mumby, 2013).

In conclusion, organization communication is an important aspect at any level within the organization, and proper communication should be employed to promote better understanding and peaceful co-existence among the employees.

References

Corman, S. R., & Poole, M. S. (2000). Perspectives on organizational communication: Finding common ground. New York: Guilford Press.

Miller, K. (2014). Organizational Communication. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

Mumby, D. K. (2013). Organizational communication: A critical approach. Thousand Oaks: SAGE.

Rogers, E. M., & Agarwala-Rogers, R. (2007). Communication in organizations. New York: Free Press.