Models of Communication: Analysis and Business Application

This essay delves into the topic of communication models, with a primary focus on the Shannon-Weaver model, often referred to as the "mother of all models." It explores the key components of this model, including the information source, message, noise, receiver, encoding, decoding, and channel capacity. The essay explains how these components interact to facilitate communication and also addresses the concept of noise and its potential impact on message interpretation. Furthermore, the essay discusses the importance of understanding communication models in various aspects of life, particularly in business contexts. It highlights how effective communication is crucial for building relationships, providing customer service, and preventing errors in business transactions. The essay also emphasizes the application of communication models in social media marketing, showcasing how these models can be used to connect with customers, establish trust, and measure marketing performance. The author, a business-oriented individual, emphasizes the value of communication models in organizing clear, concise, and well-planned communications to achieve success in a business career.

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Models of Communication
Student’s Name
Code + Course Name
Professor’s Name
University Name
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Date

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Models of Communication
Question 1
One of the most interesting topics of this subject is the models of communication. These
are the conceptual models that explain how communication between human beings takes place.
People communicate on a daily basis and from time to time (Yadava, Eswara, and Rahim, 2017:
27). They, therefore, use both verbal and non-verbal communication cues to communicate with
each other. Communication is an intrinsic ability of human beings. People express their emotions
and feelings, share information and express attitude through communication. Communication
does not happen haphazardly but follows certain sequence or models. There are different types of
communication models developed by theorist from various disciplines (Yadava, Eswara and
Rahim, 2017: 30). These theorists include; Lasswell, Maclean, Shannon, Aristotle, Cherry,
Berlo, Weaver, Westley, Osgood, and Rileys. The theorists provide models that seek to explain
how communication takes place. To understand the communication models, I will focus on
Shannon and Weaver's model.
Shannon-Weaver model is described as the "mother of all models". Essentially, the model
encompasses significant aspects that take place in a communicative context. Some of the key
components of this model include; the speaker, also commonly known as the information source,
message, noise, receiver/hearer (information destination), encoding and decoding, channel
capacity, transmitter, and others. The model operates such that the information source chooses
the intended message from a set of many messages. The message is then transmitted into a signal
by the transmitter and is then relayed to the communication channel to the receiver. The receiver
changes the received signal into the message. The change usually involves interpretation of the
message. The message is sent to the destination. Destination, in this case, may refer to another

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receiver. However, the message may just be received by the primary receiver if there is no need
to transmit it to the second receiver. The transmission of the message is considered complete.
Nonetheless, the model also considers the unintended message by the source information. The
unintended message is known as the noise. The noise can be external or internal and may
strengthen or weaken the intended effect of the message (Leydesdorff, Petersen, and Ivanova,
2017: 5-6).
Question 2
The topic on communication models is critical and applied in every aspect of life. People
do communicate frequently. The topic is interesting in that it informs how people pass and
receive messages in the context of communication. The purpose of communication is to relay my
message to the others in a clear and unambiguous manner. In so doing, there should be
cooperation between the sender and the receiver. I also understand that the process of
communication is sometimes defected by errors. These errors result to misinterpretation of the
message by the receiver hence creating confusion, misunderstanding and missed opportunities.
The second reason as to why the topic is interesting is because it explains why
communication breakdowns occur. A successful communication occurs when both the sender
and the receiver have a shared understanding of the information (Hamilton, 2013: 37). An
unsuccessful communication occurs where the receiver receives different information from that
which was communicated by the sender. In this case, there is communication breakdown hence
the distortion of the goal of communication. Communication breakdown thus accounts for the
reasons why conflict arises during communication (Hamilton, 2013: 16). Usually, a receiver will
have their interpretation of the message which may in turn conflict with the sender's intended
message.

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Thirdly, communication models are important in improving my communication skills.
Communication skills can be interfered with by the barriers that arise during communication.
These barriers can arise at any stage of communication (Yadava, Eswara, and Rahim, 2017: 30).
For instance, barriers result from the channel, sender, receiver, context, feedback, or the message
itself. Essentially, the topic on models of communication is essential in helping one to become an
effective communicator. It also helps in minimizing the occurrence of barriers in any stage of
communication. In addition, the models help a speaker in organizing accurate, clear, well
planned, and concise communications.
Question 3
As a business oriented person, the knowledge of models of communication will be highly
applicable in my business career. To be a successful business person, I require excellent
communication skills. These skills can be derived from the various models of communication.
The ability to connect with customers and other employees will help me build and maintain
relationships, provide quick response to the customers, and prevent any errors that are likely to
occur when transacting business (Rodriguez et al. 2015: 637). As a marketing professional, I
need to connect widely with the customers, and one way of doing so is through communication.
Social media communication is an effective mode of communication where I can connect with
the customers. Rodriguez et al. (2015: 636) note that there is increased access and use of internet
in the 21st century. There are also numerous social media platforms where people interact. For
this reason, I would apply a similar strategy not only to reach the customers but also to establish
trust with the existing and the potential customers.
One of the benefits of social media marketing is that the strategy encourages one-on-one
communication (Taylor, 2017: 22). That is, it is easier for the customers to reach me and get an

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immediate response. Additionally, social media communication supports worldwide
communication whereby I can be able to talk to several customers simultaneously. Social media
communication enhances maximum collaboration not only with customers but also with other
business' stakeholders. It also encourages easier and fast feedback from the customers.
The models of communication stress on the flow of information from the sender to the
receiver. The receiver is also sometimes expected to provide feedback to the sender. This loop of
communication is important in business marketing (Schivinski and Dabrowski, 2016: 191). I
wish to apply the same in the marketing profession. Social media communication borrows a
similar strategy from the models in that it is a two-way communication. That is, I market the
brands to the customers while they provide feedback or make requests. Social media business
communication is also effective in measuring performance (Ashley and Tuten, 2015:23). It is a
platform that enables the measurement of one's efforts through the evaluation of how well the
customers respond (Cardon and Marshall, 2015: 289). The models of communication will direct
me on how and when to communicate in every stage since the social media users employ
different platforms. Therefore, my engagement in various touch-points will require the use of
different information. That way, I will be able to reach a broad range of consumers.

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References
Ashley, C., and Tuten, T. (2015). Creative strategies in social media marketing: An exploratory
study of branded social content and consumer engagement. Psychology & Marketing,
32(1), 15-27.
Cardon, P. W., and Marshall, B. (2015). The hype and reality of social media use for work
collaboration and team communication. International Journal of Business
Communication, 52(3), 273-293.
Hamilton, C. (2013). Communicating for results: A guide for business and the professions.
Cengage Learning.
Leydesdorff, L., Petersen, A. M., and Ivanova, I. (2017). Self-organization of meaning and the
reflexive communication of information. Social Science Information, 56(1), 4-27.
Rodriguez, M., Peterson, R. M., and Ajjan, H. (2015). CRM/social media technology: impact on
customer orientation process and organizational sales performance. In Ideas in
Marketing: Finding the New and Polishing the Old (pp. 636-638). Springer, Cham.
Schivinski, B., and Dabrowski, D. (2016). The effect of social media communication on
consumer perceptions of brands. Journal of Marketing Communications, 22(2), 189-214.
Taylor, C. R. (2017). How to avoid marketing disasters: back to the basic communications
model, but with some updates illustrating the importance of e-word-of-mouth research.
Yadava, U., Eswara, H. E., and Rahim, A. (2017). Unit-2 Models of Communication.
Introduction to Communications, pp.27-41