Individual Report: Communication Barriers at Business United College

This individual report examines the communication challenges faced by Business United, a private college in London, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It begins by outlining general theories of organizational communication, including the Gatekeeper theory, Lasswell’s Model, Actor Network Theory, and Cultivation Theory. The report then analyzes various communication barriers encountered by Business United when transitioning to online classes, such as poor internet connectivity, regular interruptions in video classes, cultural differences, physical limitations, and emotional barriers. Furthermore, the report proposes several strategies to overcome these barriers, including the use of efficient communication apps, physical meetings at regular intervals, focusing on the issue rather than the person, and creating a conducive learning environment. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of effective communication in business and highlighting the need for proactive strategies to address communication challenges, particularly in the context of remote learning environments.

Individual Report

Abstract
Business communication is an essential part for any business which has its impact on its
profitability. Knowing the value of communication in an organization there are several authors
who provide general theories for maintaining a good and effective organizational
communication. This report contains Lasswell’s model and gatekeeper theory given by different
authors to establish an effective communication in an organization. This report contains a case
study of business United which is a private college and in the situation of covid-19 following
several problems office travelling and effective communication between their teachers and
students. Covid-19 has changed each and everything in complete manner and business United
decided to provide online classes to their students so that their education cannot be affected by
this pandemic. This report contains several types of communication barriers which are faced by
Business United in order to provide online classes to their students. Further, it contains several
strategies which is used by Business United to overcome these barriers.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
General theories of organizational communication.....................................................................3
Analyze the barriers of communication at Business United........................................................3
Strategies used by company to overcome these barriers.............................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
Books and Journal........................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Business communication refers to the process of sending and receiving information for
the purpose of business in effective manner (Argenti, 2017). Business communication involves
communication between employees which are working in the organization and for the
organization. It is essential to maintain effective business communication in an organization to
improve organizational practices, keep employees informed and reduce chances of errors and
omissions in the operations. Business United is a private college operating in London. The
college decided to provide online lectures to their students as a new way of learning in this
pandemic situation of covid-19.
The college gets several negative feedbacks from teachers and students regarding the
communication in their e-learning experience. This report contains general theories of
organizational communication and analyzes the barriers of communication which are faced by
business United. It also contains various strategies which can be used by the college to overcome
these barriers.
MAIN BODY
General theories of organizational communication
There are various theories which are given by different writers to establish effective
communication in a business. These theories of organizational communication are given below:
Gatekeeper theory – Gatekeeper theory is given by Kurt Zadek Lewin who is a great
psychologist and Pioneer in social psychology. This theory is based on a concept that top
management decides what information should be provided to the group and what not. Top
management worked as a gatekeeper in the organization and are responsible for the decision
making in the organization. This theory can also be useful for the organisation to prevent various
communication barriers such as Cultural barriers, Physical Barriers and Emotional barriers. The
managers hide sensitive information with them which helps them to manage the working
environment of the organisation.

Lasswell’s Model: This model is designed by Harold Dwight Lasswell who finds the
proper manner to describe the act of communication in an organization is to answer these
questions that are who, says what, to whom, and with what effect (Bannier, Pauls, and Walter,
2019). According to this theory of communication, there is always something miscommunicated
when a message is gone through with several people in an organisation. It can create a situation
of miscommunication of important message and in some cases message loose it real meaning
completely. According to Lassewell, an organisation should adapt a system to transfer message
of communication that it does not lose its real meaning.
Actor Network Theory: Actor network theory helps to understand that communication
is affected by both human as well as non-human factors and both the factors have its equal
insurance in success of technological innovation. According to this theory one person is not
responsible so lonely for advancement of these technologies and scientific knowledge creation
and analyse that in order to establish effective communication actor and the network both plays
equal room. In order to communicate effectively it is essential for an actor to have effective
communication skills on the other hand if network does not work properly then active will not be
able to communicate their point in effective manner. This theory helps to understand the various
barriers of communication paste in the organisation business United due to poor internet
connection cultural barriers and regular interruptions in video classes.
Cultivation Theory: Cultivation theory of communication helps to understand that the
communication of an individual is affected by media which shapes the person's sense of reality.
It has been observed that individual acquire information from mediated sources rather than there
direct experience from the real world which is shown in their views and message they
communicate. In order to become an effective communicator it is essential for an individual to
do not affect their message with the information they have from mediator sources. This will help
in transfer of information on message in effective manner and establish effective communication
accordingly.
Analyze the barriers of communication at Business United
Communication barriers are those factors which are the reason for not receiving and
understanding the message which is conveyed by the sender to the receiver. There are many
types of barriers which can affect effective communication between two or more people. In case

of Business United the classes are to be taken through the online sources which includes various
types of communication barriers which are faced by students during the lectures which affect
their education in the college. All these various types of barriers which are identified by teachers
and students are given below:
Poor internet connection: In this modern world, internet service is provided in each and every
part of the world. But still as a part of Technical world there are many times in which different
areas of the world face problem of internet connectivity. To take classes through online sources it
requires a proper connectivity to avoid buffering and other improper communication in the class.
This problem is also faced by teachers and students of business United due to which they were
not able to complete their courses as sometimes these barriers of poor internet connection too
much to even connect the class.
Regular interruptions in video classes: There are several issues which are faced by students
and teachers in the video classes such as unclear voice, unclear video, intruption of many
students in between the class, background voices and many more (Grant, 2016). Regularity in
this interaction causes barrier in the communication between teachers and students. In case of
business United when teachers started to take video classes they observe a lot of interaction from
Student side after every minute. It interacts the whole class and the class will get disturbed which
causes problem to the teachers to take the class and maintain effective communication with their
students.
Cultural barriers: Cultural barriers are those barriers which shown in the communication of
people who belong to different cultures and work together in an organization. Many times people
are not able to exchange their ideas due to the cultural barriers. Business United is a private
college in which there are many students who belongs to different cultures and is not able to get
familiar with the culture of their teachers and their class fellows. In online classes when teachers
provide lectures to the students some of them belong to different cultures which is the reason
behind there improper communication between the teacher and students (Holmes, and Parker,
2017).
Physical Barriers: A proper physical learning environment is very essential for an individual to
take the class in attentive manner. The students of business United and not getting the physical

environment and taking class without friends in front of their laptops and mobiles create Bodom
in them and they are not able to pay proper attention to their studies. This boredom decrease their
interest in their studies and effects the communication between teachers and those students.
Emotional barriers: Regular meeting with the friends and colleagues what's a positive impact
on the mental health of students. Meeting with the friends help them to share their feelings with
them and complete their studies without having any emotional trauma. Meeting with the friends
and follows also develop interest in the students for their studies. Due to the video lectures and
online classes the students are not able to meet their friends and it also became reason for the
communication barrier in the video lectures.
Strategies used by company to overcome these barriers
In order to overcome from these communication barriers between teachers and students which
negatively impact the studies business United needs to make effective strategies (Kelly, and
MacDonald, 2019). The strategies should be made in such a manner that it takes cares of all the
barriers which are faced by the students and teachers during their e learning. The effective
strategies which are used by company to overcome these barriers are given below:
Use of efficient apps with multiple options: There are various apps and software which are
developed which take less usage of data and helps to identify the problem of coupling between
the video which is very useful for the situation of online classes. In order to remove the problem
of internet connectivity or no internet in the area those apps can be used by the business United
to provide e learning in best possible way. This type of apps also provides great services to avoid
disturbance in the class and have options available to mute other people at the time when the
teacher is speaking. Zoom is considered as the best app as it allows the users to mute and Un-
mute on the basis of their speaking and take the classes with uninterrupted video calls. So in case
of business United the college can use Zoom app or any other App which is efficient to avoid
disturbance and establish or improve proper communication between teachers and students to
overcome the problem of barriers in communication in the organization.
Physical meetings after regular intervals: Due to the pandemic which is faced by whole world
it is effective and good to beat online with people but it is not effective for long (Kuehn, 2016).

College needs to provide a physical meeting in a regular interval so that they can facilitate good
communication among the members of the organization as well as students.
Focus on the issue, not the person: To solve or overcome other barriers of communication it is
essential for the college to focus on the problems which are faced by the college and not the
person who is behind the problem. It is essential to always express ideas in efficient manner to
control other person.
Create a good environment of learning: Sitting in front of mobiles and laptops to take the
classes can cause various physical problems to the student and teachers which can distract the
students from studies. To solve this problem business United can guide teachers to provide
education in such a manner that it includes some physical activities. It will help the students to be
physically fit which will create a good learning environment for them and they can focus on their
studies. It will establish good communication between teachers and students as they will
understand the point of teacher (Sanden, 2016).
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it can be concluded that communication is an important factor which
need to be considered by each and every individual as an required skill. Business communication
is very essential to inform employees regarding various Strategies and other policies of the
business in effective manner. The above discussion helps to conclude the various barriers which
are faced by the teachers and students of a private college business United during their video
lectures at the time of covid-19 pandemic. There are several variables in their communication
such as your internet connection regular interaction cultural physical and emotional barriers. In
order to overcome from all these barriers the organization needs to make several effective
strategies which can help them to provide better facilities to the teachers and students of business
United so that their students can complete their studies without any barrier.

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Argenti, P.A., 2017. Strategic communication in the c-suite. International Journal of Business
Communication, 54(2), pp.146-160.
Bannier, C., Pauls, T. and Walter, A., 2019. Content analysis of business communication:
introducing a German dictionary. Journal of Business Economics, 89(1), pp.79-123.
Grant, D., 2016. Business analysis techniques in business reengineering. Business Process
Management Journal.
Holmes, W.T. and Parker, M.A., 2017. Communication: Empirically testing behavioral integrity
and credibility as antecedents for the effective implementation of motivating
language. International Journal of Business Communication, 54(1), pp.70-82.
Kelly, S. and MacDonald, P., 2019. A look at leadership styles and workplace solidarity
communication. International Journal of Business Communication, 56(3), pp.432-448.
Kuehn, S., 2016. Exploring US business leaders' strategies for enhancing team communication.
Sanden, G.R., 2016. Language: The sharpest tool in the business strategy toolbox. Corporate
Communications: An International Journal.