Interpersonal & E-Communication: IKEA's Communication Report

This report provides an in-depth analysis of IKEA's communication strategies, focusing on both interpersonal and e-communication methods. It begins with an introduction to interpersonal skills and their importance in business, followed by a synopsis of IKEA's past communication practices, including verbal, non-verbal, and written methods used to engage with customers, suppliers, staff, and the public. The report then details IKEA's current communication strategies, highlighting the use of websites, social media, and electronic platforms. A comprehensive SWOT analysis is included, assessing IKEA's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to its communication approaches. The report compares previous and current communication practices, offering insights into their effectiveness. The assignment is based on a group assignment for Holmes Institute's HC1021 Interpersonal & E-Communication course, T3 2020.

Interpersonal & E-
Communication

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Project 1 covered in PPT..................................................................................................................1
Project 2...........................................................................................................................................1
Synopsis of the key communication methods and practices that the company previously used
to engage customers, suppliers, staff members and the public....................................................1
Current communication strategy that uses by company .............................................................2
SWOT analysis: ..........................................................................................................................3
Assess and compare the company’s previous and current communication practices .................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCE...................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Interpersonal skills are defined as learning abilities of a person that understand the task
and bring the new changes in their performance. This is important for individual to analysis the
skills and working performance of a person that can help to understand what needs to do and
how a person can complete the task in certain period of time (Archiopoli and et. al., 2016).
Interpersonal communication is needed to maintain the good relations among between two and
more than two people. It has been seen that many people are facing the problem while a business
and bringing new things due to which sales and profitability are reducing. The report is about
IKEA that is multinational conglomerate company that design and sells ready to assemble
furniture. This was founded in July 1943 for the purpose of providing variety of products and
services. The management are running their business by managing all functions and activities
accurately that increases performance. The report is categorised in two sections as first is about
synopsis of key communication method, current communication strategies and SWOT analysis
that helps to operate a business.
Project 1 covered in PPT
Project 2
Synopsis of the key communication methods and practices that the company previously used to
engage customers, suppliers, staff members and the public.
Communication is the important thing for each person as it develops the mutual
understanding that happens between two and more than two people which can help to complete
the project on time. The method of communication such as Verbal, non-verbal and written are
being used by IKEA to engage the employees collectively and run the business performance
effectively. The suppliers, staff members, customers and the public in relation to chosen
organization are using verbal, non-verbal and behavioural communication method that supports
to run the business and develop the understanding to run a business effectively (Deane and Fain,
2016).
Different practices in relation to communication are as explained:
Ensure consistency in communication: This is important practice where
communication strategies should be consistent and clear as it reduce the risk of
miscommunication that creates the problem to operate the business. By communicating
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consistently, frequently, and fairly there is changes of building trust between both parties and
increase the performance.
Provide channel for feedback and ideas: Two way feedback is important component of
any strong communication programme as it involves online software and application for
encouraging conversation between all members of organization. By using this practice, IKEA
can increase the business performance and also improve interpersonal relationships (Del Fresno,
2020).
Encourages cross departmental communication and collaboration: Cross
departmental communication is important if company wants its employees to be able to learn
from from one another. In this practice management of IKEA holding Q&A sessions for special
gathering between different department that helps to operate a business accurately and increase
the performance.
Current communication strategy that uses by company
The environment is changing day by day where it is important for business organization
to understand how people can share their information more effectively. Communication
strategies are related to sharing information between more person who are working collectively.
If strategies are regulated and implemented properly then a business can be grow and develop the
competitive benefits. IKEA is multinational company that deals in designing furniture and other
items in order to operate the business. The management of company uses websites, social media
and other electronic platform to share the information and increase the understanding that how to
communicate effectively (Denes, Bennett and Winkler, 2017). With the help of website, all
informations of products and services are updated on websites which uses by customers to make
the effective buying decision and complete the project timely. This brings the changes and
innovation that are shown by websites that supports to develop the organizational performance.
Social media such as Facebook, twitter, Instagram and others are handling by management that
can help to share the information and develop the business understanding by managing all
functions and activities. Electronic platform are Skype, video calling, and voice calls are using
by management for the purpose of sharing information and running all activities continuously. E-
commerce is the way of enhancing business trade and performance of organization.
PR is a strategy which uses by organization to promote their products and services in
changing environment as it brings the number of customer and increase the organizational
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productivity. PR means public relation that uses by company to operate the business and run it
continuously by creating the good relations with employees and employer that helps to attain the
competitive advantages. In relation to IKEA, public relations professionals helps a business and
individual cultivate a positive reputation with public by using various paid and unpaid
communication method. The management uses social media, print media and face to face with
people for the purpose of providing information about products and services which are taking by
management in order to operate a business and increase the brand image. By using public
relation people be aware and conscious regarding particular product and services then make
efforts to increase the customer satisfaction. This helps to complete the project and increase the
business performance efficiently that provides competitive advantages (Kholiq, Purwoko and
Sartinah, 2020).
Public relation is protecting the IKEA from public disturb as employees are the brand
ambassadors as they sleep, eat and breathe the company The management understand the
problem which are running to weak and unclear communication between people. It has examined
that to run a business and developing the performance communication practices should be
followed by management and employees that helps to share the information and increase the
working by managing all functions and activities. To increase the business productivity
management are bringing new technology and innovation by sharing with working group of
people that build their confidence to work properly and increase the brand image in competitive
environment. The company is reducing public disturb as running communication programme for
internal audience, corporate social responsibility programme, website, social media interface,
formulating effective communication plan and daily updated information that can help to manage
the all task and increase the sales as well as profitability of organization (KNOPP, 2020).
SWOT analysis:
Strength
Largest organization in global environment: IKEA is one of then largest furniture,
appliances and home accessories company in the world, which is known for its unique design.
IKEA makes assemble furniture that attracts the number of customers and increases the business
performance.
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Brand Value : IKEA is currently operating its business at number of locations and it
maintains 46th positions in all over the world. The values stands at $11.9 billion. This stands
number 6th position in the top 10 companies as its brand values is higher.
Products and services: The organization is providing the kind of products by
manufacturing and developing the designs that can help to operate and continue the business.
The quality of products which are providing by organization are at high range that develop the
understanding and attain the profitability (Kurniawan, van Eymeren and Aryati, 2020).
R&D : The strength of IKEA is proper research and innovation that keep brining the
prices down for the customers and provide the products and services accordingly. This helps to
complete the research and manage the all functions accurately as management are liable to
understanding problems and providing solution.
Marketing : Marketing is important activity for IKEA as management are using you
tube channel, social media and print media to increase the sale by influencing number of
customers and get profitability. This helps to attracts the customers and increase the sales of
organization (Miller and Poston, 2020)
Weakness
Control for standards: The main concern of IKEA is reducing cost so that maximum
number of customers can attracts. Due to reduction in cost quality of products are not focusing
by management that created the problem to operate the business and increase profitability.
Negative image: This has been evaluated that IKEA is operating business in many
countries due to which it keeps getting problems in some of them that create the negative image.
IKEA got into corruption case due to expansion problems in Russia.
Scalability : As IKEA is operating their business in many countries where it become
difficult to follow all standards everywhere. Thus, their product portfolio is not entirely
replicable at the location that create the problems while running business.
Environmental issues: While manufacturing products wastages and pollution is
increasing that creates the problem in operating the business.
Increasing cost of raw material: The another problem which are facing by chosen
organization is increasing cost of raw material and other stock that create the problem in
operation and selling the products because customers does not ready to buy products at higher
cost (Naumovski and et. al., 2017).
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Opportunities
Environmental friendly: In relation to IKEA that manufactures different design of
furniture is having certain growing demand for eco-friendly products. By providing good
products it helps in growth and higher productivity.
Proper training and learning programme to customers: The management of IKEA
provides proper training and programme to customers which can help to manage the all functions
and performance.
Brining new technology and innovation: The management of organization conduct the
proper research and brings new technology in furniture industry that can helps to introduce new
design of furniture and products.
Focusing on customer demand: The organization is mainly focuses on customer
demand regarding particular products and services that are provides to customers which helps to
attain the competitive advantages.
Increasing performance: IKEA is increasing sales and profitability by selling the
number of products and services which influences number of customers and complete the project
on time (Wulandari, Napitupulu and Panjaitan, 2017).
Threats
Counterfeit: It has been seen that many local and regional companies have copied IKEA
products that created the challenges in operation. In this situation, selected company needs to
keep updating and innovating their offerings to stay ahead that become a challenge for
organization.
Changing in needs and wants of customers : The environment is changing day by day
where needs of customers also changing, it is important for organization to understand what
customers wants and provide products accordingly.
Higher income: Growth of disposable income have led consumers to trade higher in the
market chain (Pawar, 2019).
Changing in laws and legislations: In relation to business environment changing in laws
and legislations are facing by companies that creates the problem in operation as needs to follow
legislations according to different countries.
Pandemic : Natural disaster, pandemic and epidemic situation can be arises while
running a business that has created the problem in running a business appropriately.
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Increase in transportation cost: IKEA's sales and productivity can be affect negatively
as transportation cost is increasing that create the cost for organization and reduces profitability.
From the SWOT analysis it has explained IKEA is multinational company that operates
the business by understanding all workings and managing the higher performance by taking
competitive advantages. The management understand the needs of customers and design kind of
assemble furniture by using effective ways of communication that helps to complete the task and
attain the profitability. The management are using the effective ways of communication as some
employees belongs to different culture so management make efforts to provide the language
programme and expressions that can help to easily communicate with customers (Pimenta and
et. al., 2020).
Electronic method of communication are uses by selected organization whenever it bring
new products and services that can help to operate the business increase the profitability
effectively. For example, when ever customers have query regarding product, design, quality,
price, service and durability then they can put questions by using chatbots facility and writing a
mail direct on websites that help to get respond instantly and it develop the understanding to
make the buying decision and increase the profitability. Having proper communication, explore
the opportunities and develop the productivity as management as well as employees are enough
capable to work collectively and acceptance of challenge. This also reduce the work culture and
allocate the work between employees who are able to work progressively (Poyraz, 2020).
Assess and compare the company’s previous and current communication practices
Business communication is the process of sharing information as well as messages
between employees in and outside a company. An effective communication is explained as
activity that states how employees and management interact between each other to reach the
organizational goals and objectives. The main purpose of communication is to improve the
company practices, eliminate silos, keep informed all working staff and reduce the errors which
is important to run a business and complete the goals. In relation to business enterprise
communication is needed for success and growth of organization as it brings new process and
technology of increasing workings. Types of business communication is internal upward,
internal downward, internal lateral and external that helps to share the information and increase
performance. In Internal upward communication there is communication exist between
subordinate to a manager in an organization, in internal downward communication the sharing of
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information relates from manager to subordinate in an organization. In internal lateral the
communication process exist between employees in an enterprises. Moreover, external parties
which are working outside the company are involved in external communication that helps to
complete the all task and activities effectively (Rahmalia and Zulyadi, 2019).
Comparison
Previously IKEA followed non-verbal and behavioural communication strategies and
practices where employer and employees handled all functions and activities in order to operate
the business and run it properly. The management are employees were sharing information in
written form and by using expressions as well as gesture, posture that helps to understand what
needs to be done and how their customers be satisfied. After some period business of such
organization has expended as it operated at various location where it became difficult to operate
the business by using such traditional method and practices of communication (Tkachenko,
2017).
Currently IKEA is using verbal, non-verbal, PR platform and other ways of
communication practices and method that can help to maintain a clear and effective
communication between people who are working at workplace and increase the performance in
competitive environment. With the help of new technology robotics conversation, chat bots,
social media and other methods are using that helps to operate a business at various location and
increase the sales as well as profitability of business industry.
Therefore, by comparing it has assessed that management of selected organization are
using effective ways and practices of communication that helps to reach the targeted customers
and increase the business performance.
CONCLUSION
From the report it can be concluded that a process of sharing information in relation to
business and other task is known as communication. This is important to have clear and effective
ways of communication as it influence number of employees and customers to perform their
roles and responsibilities properly. Different method and practices of communication is verbal,
non verbal and behavioural that develop the understanding of people and maintain the higher
performance in competitive environment. The practices are consistency, transparency, channel of
communication, and maintaining cross departmental communication which can help to manage
the all workings and increase the productivity. PR means Public relation that is a strategy of
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promoting the products and services of organization by maintaining good relations between
number of people.
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REFERENCE
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Pawar, G., 2019. A Study on Effects of Virtual Communication Technology on the Interpersonal
Skills of Employees in E-Commerce Sector. Asian Journal of Management, 10(4),
pp.301-304.
Pimenta, C.J.L. and et. al., 2020. Pleasure, suffering and interpersonal communication in the
work of nurses in the hospital setting. Texto & Contexto-Enfermagem, 29.
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Rahmalia, R. and Zulyadi, T., 2019. Performance In Public: Interpersonal Communication Of
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COMMUNICATION ON STUDENT’S ACHIVEMENT.
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