University of Suffolk BABS Assignment 2: Communication Theories

This report, submitted by a student to Desklib, examines various theories of organizational communication, including formal and informal, internal and external, and directional communication. The report then applies these theories to address communication barriers that might arise when returning to work, particularly after a global pandemic. It identifies physical, emotional, interpersonal, perceptual, and organizational barriers, and proposes specific strategies to overcome them at Brit-Tech. These strategies include discounts on alternative transport, distribution of COVID prevention kits, mental health support services, work bubbles, flexible schedules, and awareness campaigns regarding personal choices and cultural differences. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of structured communication channels and the benefits of effective communication in the workplace.

BABS Foundation Year UOS BC Assignment 2
Theories of organizational communication &
Strategies to overcome return to work
barriers at Brit-tech
Student ID:234316
BA in Business Studies (Foundation Year)
University of Suffolk
Date of Submission:24h of March 2022
I declare that this assignment is all my own work and that I have acknowledged all materials
used from the published or unpublished works of other people. All references have been
duly cited.
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BABS Foundation Year UOS BC Assignment 2
Abstract
Various theories have been created by social and behavioural scientists to define the
proper way to grasp and approach the key to an organization's productivity and
success. These organisational theories describe several approaches that managers and
supervisors may take to meet their leadership responsibilities in the most productive
and efficient manner. The different theories are: formal and informal communication,
directional communication, internal and external communication, oral and written
communication. These theories can be effective in communicating strategies to
overcome issues that might come from circumstances such as returning to work after
a worldwide pandemic. Some of the issues are communication barriers and they can
be: physical, emotional, interpersonal, perceptual and organizational.
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BABS Foundation Year UOS BC Assignment 2
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................................................... 2
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................ 4
1. THEORIES OF ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION..............................................................................5
2. BARRIERS OF COMMUNICATION THE MAKE EMPLOYEES RELUCTANT TO RETURN TO WORK.................7
3. STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME COMMUNICATION BARRIERS RETURNING TO BRIT-TECH...........................8
4. CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................................... 10
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................... 11
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BABS Foundation Year UOS BC Assignment 2
Introduction
Communication is essential to the success of any firm. The flow of information between all
relevant parties is ensured via effective communication. Overall, constant and open
communication within an organisation ensures that all workers, from management level to
the entry-level employees, understand the organisation's aims and culture, as well as how it
portrays itself to its customers and clients. As such, this report discusses different theories of
organizational communication and their benefits specifically, to introduce and find strategies
to overcome communication barriers of returning to work at Brit-tech.
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BABS Foundation Year UOS BC Assignment 2
1. Theories of organisational communication
According to (Granite State College) good communication is critical to the success of any
business. Communication is perhaps most the most important part of a
business functioning irrespective of any company capacity. Organizational communication is
how organizations represent, present, and constitute their organizational climate and culture,
values and goals.
Communication in an organisation can occur in multiple ways, nonetheless
specific organisations have specific forms of communicating, that being, organizational
communication can be divided into 4 main theories:
 Formal and Informal Communication
Communicating formally and objectively, is an excellent way to ensure proper and
effective information flow (Ahmed,2019). Everyone is kept informed of and aligned
with the company’s goals through formal communication. It has a top down
management structure and generally , communication is done through meetings,
memos, conferences or press releases, among other formal ways.
On the other hand, informal communication has more flowing features, as it takes
place on the same level in organization, like as from colleague to colleague. There’s
no expected accuracy, is spontaneous and not official.
 Internal and External Communication
According to (Cheng, 2021) the focus of internal communications is on how
employees or different departments interact with each another. This workplace
communication may include elements such as: training modules, Interpersonal
communication, workplace interaction activities, etc.
External communication is applicable when communication is carefully conducted to
focus outside the company, to customers for example, in order to promote, share
achievements or just inform.
 Directional Communication (Downwards, Upwards and Horizontal)
From the top down, the management team, communicates with employees. This form
of communication tends to include instructions or tasks that employees ought to
perform. Policies and performance evaluations for the organisation might also be part
of it. This communication method can be done through email, messages, video-call or
in person.
Upward communication is the opposite, it starts from the employee towards the
management, usual for queries, guidance, suggestions, feedback or information
sharing. It’s beneficial as it erases hierarchy awkwardness and promotes a better work
environment.
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Horizontal communication stands on the same level of workplace hierarchy, for
example a meeting amongst the management team, or a co-worker talking to another
about workplace related matters (Chen, 2021).
 Oral and Written communication
Last, however not less important, oral, and written communication are standard
categories of communication in business. Regarding oral communication, it can either
be formal and structured or informal and spontaneous. It holds the facilitation to spark
up conversation since it happens in real-time so it allows things like brainstorming
and immediate response.
Written communication essential to business, it’s useful for writing down contracts,
press releases, memos, business plans. It can be a formal or informal type of
communication simultaneously.
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2. Barriers of communication the make employees reluctant to
return to work
Physical barriers
Returning to work at Brit-Tech has sparked some worry among employees about the
possibility of Covid-19 transmission while commuting to work during peak times or using
lifts. According to virologists, sharing an enclosed space exposes the masses to the possibility
of inhaling the airborne virus.
Emotional barriers
It was also revealed that there is some worry among the workers about returning to work due
to variables like as limited flexibility, commuting to work, and the accompanying costs.
According to global research (Sandhu, 2021), there is some concern and resistance to
abandoning work-from-home and its related productivity as a standard and re-adapting to pre-
covid life situations.
Organisational structure barriers
A different concern is how Brit-Tech would address the risk of exposure inside the
company's structure. Given that the virus is also transported through the air, the ventilation
system, as well as the social distancing systems, may be insufficient.
Perceptual barriers
When hiring people from many backgrounds, there needs to be awareness and acceptance
regarding personal choices. Some employees might choose not to receive the covid
vaccination for personal, medical, or cultural reasons, as s a result, there is apprehension
about segregation in the workplace.
There is also recognition that some that chose to be vaccinated are concerned about
apprehensive due to the risk of transmission from unvaccinated co-workers. It’s not only the
about being infected by the virus, but to also spread it to their loved ones, particularly those
with more delicate health circumstances.
Interpersonal barriers
Employees may be experience social anxiety and nervousness in the workplace as a result of
the length of time they were in isolation. As people have been deprived of an active social
life, there are some skills that were lost or became less evident after 1+ in lockdown.
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3. Strategies to overcome communication barriers returning to Brit-
Tech
Physical barriers strategy
To prevent covid spread, there will be a discount on services that allow employees to avoid
public transportation, such as biking to work, as recommended by the (Department of
Transportation, 2022), as well as distribute Covid prevention kits with masks, gloves, and
hand sanitizer to all employees, as well as prevention leaflets. Sanitation stations will be
located throughout the building as well.
Emotional barriers strategy
To tackle emotional barriers when returning to work, there will reinforcement if the health plans
with mental health support services such as therapy for employees and online platforms on the
employee’s portal. Part of the strategy is also to implement a "Mental-break," which is a paid leave
of one day that can be used at any point for sudden circumstances
Organizational barriers strategy
Structures that are efficient are critical, especially in adverse conditions. Brit-tech will
implement work bubbles, which will be made up of assigned groups that will only work on
specific days to prevent that interaction between groups leads to spread of the virus.
Schedule flexibility and commuting will also be improved to as such, rotas will enable
employees to spend two days in the office and three days working from home to ease the
transition back to the office.
Perceptual barriers strategy
We recognise that personal choices and culture have a significant impact on each employee's
life and want our employees to feel safe. According to (Mental Health First Aid USA,2019)
It is necessary to think beyond race or religion and respect choices. There will be regular
covid testing, strict policies, and consequences to eliminate any disagreement. In addition
there will also online platforms available in the portal to exchange experiences, make
connections, and learn about other cultures.
Interpersonal barriers strategy
As previously mentioned, in the same platform where is support and guidance towards
afflictions that isolation b=might have surfaced, or returning to work might bring, there will
also be information and online guidance towards sensitive subjects such as emotional
management, active listening, social anxiety. And as the situation progresses there will be
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available vouchers distributed to promote informal social meetings between employees in
assigned restaurants in bars near the workplace.
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4. Conclusion
In summary, organizational communication is efficient in the sense that brings benefits such
as mitigating misunderstands, promoting the business, sharing information and
communicating across different levels within the organization. In this specific context it helps
to tackle issues that raise concern among employees, and perhaps even increases morale in
the workplace. Before building any strategy, it is important to plan and create a structure that
enables a safe and effective channel, where information, instructions and solutions can go
across different hierarchy levels.
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References
• Sandhu, Reetu (2020).The New Normal Facing the Challenges of Returning to
Work.Available at: https://www.limeade.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-
EmployeeCareReport-3.0.pdf [Accessed 21 February 2022]
• Department of transport (2022).Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for
passengers.Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-
travel-guidance-for-passengers (Accessed 21 February 2022)
• BBC news (2021). Coronavirus: What's the risk of Covid on public
transport?.Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51736185 (Accessed 20
February 2022)
• Ahmed, Anam (2010). Types of Organizational Communication. [online] Available
at: https://bizfluent.com/list-7613677-types-organizational-communication.html
(Accessed 24 March 2022)
• Zink, J. (2017). Chapter 1: Introducing Organizational Communication.
[online]Pressbooks.pub. Available at:
https://granite.pressbooks.pub/organizationalcommunication/chapter/chapter-1/.
(Accessed 24 March 2022)
• N.D. (2020). Organizational Communication: 9 Steps to Create a Successful Strategy.
[online] Available at: https://blog.smarp.com/organizational-communication-9-steps-
to-create-a-successful-strategy (Accessed 23 March 2022)
• Cheng, Andy (2021). A guide to organizational communication. [online] Available at:
https://www.ringcentral.com/us/en/blog/a-guide-to-organizational-communication/
(Accessed 24 March 2022)
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