A Report on the Effectiveness of Business Communication Strategies

This report delves into the effectiveness of business communication within organizations, emphasizing its critical role in managerial responsibilities such as leading, controlling, planning, and organizing resources to achieve objectives. The report examines various communication strategies, including internal and external communication, and explores both verbal and non-verbal approaches. It presents real-world examples of effective and ineffective communication, such as the contrasting cases of Yahoo and Vodafone, highlighting the impact of communication methodologies like face-to-face interactions, written communication, web conferencing, social intranet software, and group messaging. The analysis compares different communication methods, discusses the factors contributing to their success or failure, and details approaches for organizational improvement. The report concludes that effective communication is a two-way process that satisfies employees, emphasizing the importance of adopting modern and preferred communication modes to foster collaboration and enhance overall performance. The report uses examples to illustrate the importance of effective communication strategies for employee motivation and organizational success.

Running head: EFFECTIVENESS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Effectiveness of Business Communication
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................2
2.0 Discussion and analysis of findings...........................................................................................2
2.1 Communication Examples.....................................................................................................2
2.2 Communication Research......................................................................................................3
2.2.1 Face-To-Face Communication.......................................................................................4
2.2.2 Written Communication.................................................................................................4
2.2.3 Web Conferencing..........................................................................................................4
2.2.4 Social Intranet Software.................................................................................................5
2.2.5 Group Messaging............................................................................................................5
2.3 Communication Methodology...............................................................................................5
2.4 Report Analysis.....................................................................................................................6
3.0 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................7
4.0 Reference List............................................................................................................................8

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1.0 Introduction
Bloom et al. (2014) stated that communication plays a crucial role in the organization and
through effective communication managers in the organizations perform their basic
responsibilities. These responsibilities are leading and controlling people, planning strategies and
organizing the resources in order to accomplish the organizational objectives. McChesney (2015)
depict that communication promotes motivation as everyone can participate in a decision-making
process. On the other hand, Den Hartog et al. (2013) affirm that communication helps people to
share their concern with proper logic. Large firms use a different type of communication
strategies like internal and external communication (Bloom et al., 2014). These companies also
emphasize on both verbal and non-verbal communication approach for a better result.
The prime aim of this business report is to discuss the communication process in a larger firm.
Relevant examples of both excellent and poor communications occurred in big forms will also
discussed along with types or forms of communication used in these firms. Moreover, the nature
of the communications used in the firms will be compared and the factors for the success and
failure of the opted communication methods will also be illustrated. The discussion will also
comprise of the details of the approaches through which each selected communication method
for the betterment of the organization. Lastly, an overall conclusion will be presented based on
the entire discussion.

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2.0 Discussion and analysis of findings
2.1 Communication Examples
Hartley (2012) stated that in big firms the management should encourage every employee
to share their concern. This will allow them to enhance their knowledge base and a best-
optimized way to accomplish the organization objectives. Cornelissen and Cornelissen (2017)
highlighted that conducting regular meeting is one of the most effective communication ways
that is followed in big firms. This type of communication is also known as internal
communication. The benefit of regular communication allows the employees to focus on the
organizational goals and monitor their performance compared to that of the others.
Castells (2013) highlight that lack of justifications and poor approach through written
communication medium, adverse result can be obtained. Taken for instance, in the year 2013,
Yahoo’s HR department send a mail to all their employees that no employee will be allowed for
work from home. These employees either have to join the office or quit. Daim et al. (2012) stated
that this incident raises disappointment among the employee as no prior notice was sent to the
employees. The CEO of the organization denied that the company does not prefer to discuss
internal matters. However, two months later, the memo holding such decision leaked in public.
Bovee et al. (2016) thus depict that poorly written emails can disrupts the communication by
distorting the information. Castells (2013) suggested that in written communication medium all
the details regarding a decision should have to be present along with the reason for taking such
actions.

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2.2 Communication Research
Communication is the approach where a sender sends a message or information and then
shares it with the receiver (Hartley, 2012). However, these messages are transmitted through
several form of communication medium that are discussed below:
2.2.1 Face-To-Face Communication
Jiang et al. (2012) stated that this type of communication requires the physical presence
of both sender and receiver and is also known as the oldest form of communication. This face-to-
face communication can be accomplished through meetings, formal and informal gatherings.
Cornelissen and Cornelissen (2017) depict that the advantage of this type of communication
ensures high level of mutual understanding.
2.2.2 Written Communication
Not all the communication between the managers and the employee are done verbally.
McChesney (2015) portrays that in some cases written form like formal letters, bulletin boards,
business memos and posters are formulated. These forms of communication are mainly used for
one-way communication. Wright et al. (2013) however argued that, the choice of words plays an
important role to convey the message. Pictorial representation can also be used in order to make
every employee understand regarding the new policy or new approaches.
2.2.3 Web Conferencing
Kear et al. (2012) depict that this is a recent used technique for communication where
employee in distant place or onsite client can be contacted. This type of communication is not a
direct face-to-face communication but message are conveyed directly in form of words.
Ellingson and Notbohm (2012) stated that larger firms like multi-national companies use this

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method to know the status of the work. In this way, the employee also sense the feeling of being
valued and they get motivation to outperform.
2.2.4 Social Intranet Software
Reilly and Hynan (2014) stated that in recent times, the traditional way to communicate
with employee often fails due to lack of an easy way to connect together or communication
breakdown among different departments. This adversity may also rise from missing documents
during the process of communication and unclear orientation of the policy. Thus, larger firms
like Vodafone use the concept of social intranet software that helps the organization to engage
their employees through internet (Gustafsson et al., 2012).
2.2.5 Group Messaging
This way of communication is different from formal talking. Coombs (2014) stated that
informal medium of communication like chat tools and group messaging allow employees to
collaborate effectively. This medium of communication also ensures the teamwork even after the
office hours (Reilly & Hynan, 2014). Employees can share some ideas and solution to problem at
anytime of the day with their team members.
2.3 Communication Methodology
Reilly and Hynan (2014) stated that face-to-face communication allow the people to
share thoughts and ideas directly and a mutually agreed solution can be formed in real time.
However, in case of mail or other written communication tool, there is a chance for employees to
misunderstand the main motive behind the information. In such cases, the suggestion from other
employees regarding the information and then reply from manager on the same took more time
than face-to-face meetings. On the other hand, Bloom et al. (2014) stated that social media and

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personal chat system might allow employee to connect with the organization with interest. In this
technological world, people spend 8 hours on average in social media sites as it promotes their
interest to communicate with know people. However, McChesney (2015) argued that excess use
of social media or personal chats and messaging tools might hamper the professionalism among
the employees.
Taken for instance, Yahoo’s employees felt disappointed when they received a sudden
mail from their higher authorities without prior notice. These employees had been asked to shift
to the office on the next day or the option for quitting the job was suggested to them. Coombs
(2014) on the other hand highlight that companies like Vodafone developed social enterprise
tool Circle. This circle allow the employee to share external behaviors in order to enhance the
knowledge sharing. The benefit can be seen through the result that 15,000 unique users were
identified over the next 12 months from the implementation of the circle. In recent times,
Vodafone’s social enterprise tool Circle has 76,000 registered users (Kear et al., 2012).
The factors that did not work for the company Yahoo are giving less value to the
employees, poor choice of words and lack of determination to follow the organizational
culture. Moreover, the communication option through the social circle in case of Vodafone
proved to be a great success because they emphasize on employee brand alignment, value the
recent trend to communicate with team members, employee involvement and Vodafone’s ‘one
team’ culture.
2.4 Report Analysis
The use of only written communication can never bring success and it does not allow
two-way communication. Bovee et al. (2016) thus stated that formal communication through e-

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mails, newsletters and bulletins does not allow employees to make a quick reply. Hartley (2012)
furthermore depict that even if an employee desires to state some recommendations in the taken
strategies, it takes huge time to research on those points and then implement on the same. This
also shows the lack of meeting prior taking the decision. Coombs (2014) argued that this
approach thus results in lack of employee motivation and they may not perform their job roles
with responsibility. This will furthermore lead to lower productivity and low brand recognition.
On the other hand, considering employees will motivate them to remain associated with
the organization. Involvement of employees in meetings or decision making process, allow them
to feel an important asset for the organization (Wright et al., 2013). Jiang et al. (2012) also state
that use of social media platform allows people to suggest ideas and encourage two-way
communication. In this way, the employee will get the motivation to outperform and highlight
them in front of other with effective ideas. This process also enhances the collaboration and work
performance that further impacts the productivity.
3.0 Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded from the above discussion that a communication method is
considered to be effective in an organization if more employees are satisfied through the
medium. The communication form should be a two-way communication so that active discussion
can be made. Examples of Yahoo and Vodafone are taken into consideration, whereas in the first
case, a strict e-mail drives disappointment among the employee and in the second case, employee
feel motivated to present ideas that enhance their collaborative work. It can also be said that in
order to make the employee more satisfied, larger firms should adopt a recent and most preferred
mode of communication.

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4.0 Reference List
Bloom, N., Garicano, L., Sadun, R., & Van Reenen, J. (2014). The distinct effects of information
technology and communication technology on firm organization. Management
Science, 60(12), 2859-2885.
Bovée, C. L., Thill, J. V., & Raina, R. L. (2016). Business communication today. Pearson
Education India.
Castells, M. (2013). Communication power. OUP Oxford.
Coombs, W. T. (2014). Ongoing crisis communication: Planning, managing, and responding.
Sage Publications.
Cornelissen, J., & Cornelissen, J. P. (2017). Corporate communication: A guide to theory and
practice. Sage.
Daim, T. U., Ha, A., Reutiman, S., Hughes, B., Pathak, U., Bynum, W., & Bhatla, A. (2012).
Exploring the communication breakdown in global virtual teams. International Journal
of Project Management, 30(2), 199-212.
Den Hartog, D. N., Boon, C., Verburg, R. M., & Croon, M. A. (2013). HRM, communication,
satisfaction, and perceived performance: A cross-level test. Journal of
management, 39(6), 1637-1665.
Ellingson, D. A., & Notbohm, M. (2012). Synchronous distance education: using Web-
conferencing in an MBA accounting course. American Journal of Business Education
(Online), 5(5), 555.
Gustafsson, A., Kristensson, P., & Witell, L. (2012). Customer co-creation in service innovation:
a matter of communication?. Journal of Service Management, 23(3), 311-327.
Hartley, J. (2012). Communication, cultural and media studies: The key concepts. Routledge.

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Jiang, J., Dai, B., Peng, D., Zhu, C., Liu, L., & Lu, C. (2012). Neural synchronization during
face-to-face communication. Journal of Neuroscience, 32(45), 16064-16069.
Kear, K., Chetwynd, F., Williams, J., & Donelan, H. (2012). Web conferencing for synchronous
online tutorials: Perspectives of tutors using a new medium. Computers &
Education, 58(3), 953-963.
McChesney, R. W. (2015). Rich media, poor democracy: Communication politics in dubious
times. New Press, The.
Reilly, A. H., & Hynan, K. A. (2014). Corporate communication, sustainability, and social
media: It's not easy (really) being green. Business Horizons, 57(6), 747-758.
Wright, K. B., Rosenberg, J., Egbert, N., Ploeger, N. A., Bernard, D. R., & King, S. (2013).
Communication competence, social support, and depression among college students: a
model of facebook and face-to-face support network influence. Journal of Health
Communication, 18(1), 41-57.