Organizational Communication Theories and Barriers for Covid-19 Vaccination

This report discusses the theories of organizational communication and analyses the barriers of communication for Covid-19 vaccination. It also recommends strategies to overcome these barriers.

Business Communication
Project

Executive Summary
Communication refers to process in which people exchanged their knowledge and ideas
by common system such as sign, symbol and behaviour etc. In this report discussed the theories
of organizational communication. Moreover, analysed the barriers of communication for covid-
19 vaccination, lastly recommended the strategies that can be overcome all the above barriers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................4
Analysis and discussion...................................................................................................................4
General theories of organizational communication ...................................................................4
Evaluating barriers of communication for covid vaccine...........................................................5
Recommendations............................................................................................................................6
Government strategies to overcome these barriers.....................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Communication defines as act that transferring the information to another person or place
with the help of sender and receipt (Polat and et.al., 2018). It is also including the writing,
reading and speaking that involves some medium of exchange. Covid-19 is affected in many
ways in UK and all over the world in order to lost jobs by people and also suffer from pandemic
for no reason. This report will discuss the covid-19 vaccination related communication by
analyse the general theories that are essential for organizational communication also for
government and public of UK. Moreover, discuss the barriers of communication while taking
vaccination and further evaluating the relevant recommendation strategies to overcome the
barriers.
Analysis and discussion
General theories of organizational communication
Organisational communication refers to all the communication that encompasses in any
sector such as government agencies, companies and NGOs etc. in order to connect with
stakeholder for contributing the society (Saleem and Perveen, 2017). There are various theories
of communication in which 5 are main such as formal/ informal, directional, internal/external,
oral/written and 7c's.
Formal and informal- The formal communication sometimes followed specific structure
in order to sent email to clients, whereas informal communication follow in any direction.
Formal email would be right option to share the information about the vaccination in right way
without wasting the time.
Directional- This is a method in which writer should carefully while sending the
message to the client, it is included with upward, downward, horizontal or lateral and crosswise
or diagonal communication. Downwards interaction is the best way to travel the message by one
category with lastly lower level of hierarchy. This also include with top-level to low level
communication.
Internal and external- It is occurred when the client already in the same organization or
same department whereas external communication happens when the client is related to outside
party of the company (Painter and Martins, 2017). Both of the theories are depended on the
factors or topic of discussion that can be sent to manager by exchanging ideas and information.

Examples of external communication are newsletter, brochures, emails, posters and
advertisement (Watanavisit, 2017). The objectives regarding this is based on the client.
Oral or written- Oral communication related to verbal and non-verbal, it is essential
when client is present at office or ready to communicate with cellphones. On other hand, written
communication refers sending messages or writing letter and emails to the clients. This also
includes manuals, telegrams, reports, circulars and bulletins etc. The main object of these is to
follow particular rules and policy for communicate with seniors or it is useful for maintain the
record for future or proof. This is suitable in case of long distance interaction or sending the
information by the formal ways.
7C's- This included with seven c's that contain list of principle regarding spoken and
written communication for ensuring its effectiveness, such c's are correct, conciseness, courtesy,
consideration, clarity, concreteness and completeness (Lee and Ghosh, 2020). Clarity refers to
whatever a person written or spoken that should be clear so that anyone can understand the
concept. Concrete message related to provide clear picture to the audience so that client get the
correct message for focus. Coherent refers to provide logical information that are relevant to the
client.
Evaluating barriers of communication for covid vaccine
Attitudinal- People have own perception and assumption that can be discriminated
against person or programs, for vaccination there are so many people who were thinking that
corona is much better than its vaccine because they have wrong perception about it. In reference
to this misconception many people did not vaccine on time that may get result of symptoms of
covid-19. Most of the people who are between age 40 to 60 are more conscious than other and
not ready to get vaccination.
Emotional- At covid situation people are more careful about their health and safety in
UK, so many people not going outside for taking food, shopping, office etc., for precaution
government provide vaccination for public but still so many of them are emotional about not
taking vaccine to avoid contact with others. On that time people are getting away from doctors
who are participated in covid-19 vaccination (Chen and et.al., 2021). This includes pride, anger,
anxiety etc. it is also called fear of people for not to get ill from others. Because of these factors
many of them are still not take the vaccine.

Physical- It is described as all the factors related to natural and man-made environment,
in context to this there are people who were not taken covid vaccine because of physical barriers
like they have not able to go the vaccination centre due to bad architecture, heavy rainfall,
thunder storms etc. some of them are not having time to go there because of their work from
home, also disabilities in people like who are not able to walk proper. Along with this many of
them have low capabilities like pregnant women not able go for vaccination.
Information- There are four types of vaccine in UK moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca/
pfizer/bioTN and janssen vaccine all have different side effect and causes. This is related to
information barrier because in UK many people not sure about what vaccine should be perfect
for them. Also, people are not aware about how to book the slot for covid-19. This is due to lack
of knowledge which may cause negative effect on the patient by causing covid-19 symptoms.
Public of UK faced so many problems regarding this and that is why they need proper care and
knowledge.
Cultural- In UK there are so many people who have different culture to follow also use
the different language for communicating with others (Burm and et.al., 2019). All the
information related to covid-19 vaccination is provided in english so it is hard to get proper
knowledge about it, people who speak French, Spanish, Chinese are not able to understand
English properly. All the medical staff and doctors speak english so that many people not taking
covid vaccination.
Recommendations
Government strategies to overcome these barriers
To overcome all these barriers government should follow these strategies such as:
Engage in clear communication- During the crises many people face issues regarding
the gathering, precaution etc. so that people can get vaccine on time. Public has no idea about
what to do or what do not to do, how to maintain distance in hospitals and vaccination centres for
avoiding any hustles. Also provide the days that are available for vaccination according to
specific areas. Government provide message for suddenly change in physical issue like heavy
rainfall, people get afraid to go out and get the vaccination. Hospital staff should use easy
language and hire those who are able to talk in 2 3 languages so that people can understand
easily.

Strive for maximum credibility- Government should follow strategies for making effort
for general public and achieve maximum credibility during the pandemic. Public health experts
are not taking seriously, so they should careful about the health of people and motivate more and
more people for take the vaccination on the time (Armona, 2018). Along with this, senior citizen
are afraid of taking vaccines because of their symptoms related to next days. So government
should describe the information about it what vaccine should use for particular age. This process
can be easy for doctors as well to not get confused about the category of vaccine.
Communicate with empathy- While communicating with patients medical staff should
express genuine concern for public who are afraid and not ready to take vaccine. Expression of
them enhance the credibility as well as more effective communication with them. People faced
so many problems regarding covid-19 like some lost their jobs, lost their loved ones at that kind
of situation they want to need some care and advice so that they feel good enough to take
vaccination and communicate with them.
Recognise the uncertainty- Government should focus on uncertainty that may be effect
the vaccination. There are so many people who are not taking vaccine due to its uncertainty
reaction so government should provide proper information regarding the future uncertainty and
also provide them proper care for pregnant women who are afraid of getting vaccine. This
strategy can avoid the barrier of information by providing all the relevant information related to
vaccination (Ali and Varoğlu, 2021). If people not getting vaccine it may affect them as well as
other public who are attached to them.
CONCLUSION
It has been comprised that communication played important role for exchanging
information as well as for transferring knowledge and ideas to others. In this report analysed the
various theories of organizational communication for providing proper information to
government related to covid-19. Moreover, in this process public suffers a lot due to various
barriers regarding language, future uncertainty that impacted bad on physical and cultural
barriers of people. Further, recommended that strategies for overcome the barriers by the
government and also clarify the things which are affected the public by not taking vaccine on
time.

REFERENCES
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Burm, S., and et.al., 2019. Recognising the importance of informal communication events in
improving collaborative care. BMJ quality & safety. 28(4). pp.289-295.
Chen, Q. and et.al., 2021. Employee use of public social media: Theories, constructs and
conceptual frameworks. Behaviour & Information Technology. 40(9). pp.855-879.
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for construction: relationships between formal and informal communication
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