Business Communication Report: Analysis of Tesco PLC's Strategies

This report provides a detailed analysis of business communication, focusing on Tesco PLC as a case study. It begins by defining business communication and its importance, then dives into different types of business information, their sources (internal and external), and purposes. The report explores various communication methods and presents Tesco's corporate communication plan, including advertising strategies. It delves into the legal and ethical issues surrounding the use of business information, such as the Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, and Computer Misuse Act, and discusses operational issues like information security, backups, and business continuity. Finally, the report examines electronic and non-electronic communication methods, comparing letters, memorandums, and faxes, and their respective audiences. The report concludes by highlighting the significance of effective business communication in organizational success, and the importance of internal and external communication in building a strong market position.

BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 - Different types of business information, their sources and purposes..................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
P2 Business information through different methods...................................................................2
P3 Cooperate Communication Plan of Tesco.............................................................................2
P4 External corporate communications of existing product.......................................................2
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
P5 Legal and ethical issues in relation to the use of business information.................................3
P6 Explain the operational issue in relation to the use of business information ........................4
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................4
P7 Electronic and Non electronic methods used for communications........................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Business communication is the way of sharing information among people and outsiders of
organisation which is performed for achieving benefits. Communication is neither transmission
of message nor message itself. In this, person is exchanging their information with others. In
every organisation, communication needs to be very effective as it is considered as essence of
management (Ainsworth, 2013). Present report is based on Tesco PLC. This company deals in
retail sector. The main focus of this company is on satisfaction of needs and desires of customers
by providing them high quality of products and services. In this report, different types of
communication are explained. Along with legal and ethical issues regarding the use of business
information is also discussed.
TASK 1
P1 - Different types of business information, their sources and purposes
Verbal Information - It can either be done face to face or over the phone. This is much easier to
communicate verbally that any other way because you can understand the body language used
and the tone. This is an advantage because any questions can be asked about the changes and can
express their opinions.
Written Information - It allows businesses to communicate developments, expectations and
legalities to employees and contracts in the outside world. This involves message that makes use
of written word. There is no need for personal contact, communication can be through email
rather than wasting time (Alshare, Lane and Miller, 2011).
Onscreen information - This is where information may be produced on screen. For example, this
could include a multimedia clip, a power point, a video, or an email. All of this is available on
screen, and can be made easy to read and clear. It has disadvantages a lot of things on screen or
over the internet is false.
Multimedia Information - It is through animation, audio, graphics, text and full motion video
through computer hardware and software for education, entertainment or training. This can be
used to advertise products for sale and to allow users to buy products online and to use online
services, for example online banking.
Web based information - It displays many benefits of technology. Using today’s fast broadband
connections it is possible to stream sophisticated content to a computer anywhere in the world.
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This is an information system that uses internet web technologies to deliver information and
services to users or other companies (Conrad and Newberry, 2012).
Internal sources:
This type of information could come from a variety of sources within the organisation as:
 Finance will have a wealth of information relating to company performance.
 Sales departments will often store information about customers, as well as sales records
for the organisation’s existing products and services.
External sources
 Communication about what competitors are doing.
 Candidate Application form, reference from previous employers.
 Government law on discrimination.
TASK 2
P2 Business information through different methods
Covered in PPT
P3 Cooperate Communication Plan of Tesco
Covered in Poster
P4 External corporate communications of existing product
The cooperate communication plans of Tesco are described below as:
Advertisement are the best source a company has to appeals to its target market. The
aesthetic and wording of these specific adverts are what will attract a person into reading and
observing these adverts increasing the likelihood of them then to invest in that precise product.
Colours and location of these adverts are also very important for a similar reason. Bellow, I will
be evaluating an advert to explain the strengths and weaknesses involved within advertisement.
This specific advert is designed by Tesco as a visual attraction for its consumers to entice them
to invest into the brands products (Kernbach, Eppler and Bresciani, 2015).
These particular corporate communications from Tesco are very simple, the simplicity
comes in the fact that they only include the logo, strap line and some images. The simplicity
could perhaps be the most successful part about it because it gets straight to the point and people
won’t come away from seeing them and be confused about what the advert was actually
advertising.
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They are eye-catching without being confusing due to the use of colour and simple
images to complement the text. What is the purpose of these corporate communications? The
purpose of these corporate communications are to keep Tesco in people’s minds. Brand
recognition is imperative for a business’s success, and Tesco has to continually ensure that they
do not get forgotten about. Cited firm does not just want people to know about them, they want
consumers to want to buy groceries from them instead of a different shop, so these adverts try to
make people see Tesco in a positive light and that they sell groceries that consumers will “love
every mouthful” without having to spend too much money (Okoro, Washington and Cardon,
2011).
TASK 3
P5 Legal and ethical issues in relation to the use of business information
The types of legal law that exists are data Protection Act 1998, freedom of information
act 2000, Computer Misuse act 1990, Human Right Act 1998 and Privacy Act 1974. The main
three legal issues that I'll be discussing in detail will be Data Protection Act, Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and Computer Misuse Act 1990. Data Protection Act 1998 is the data
Protection Act controls how your personal information is used by organizations, businesses or
the government. Everyone responsible for using data has to follow strict rules called ‘data
protection principles’. They must make sure the information is: used fairly and lawfully, used for
limited, specially stated purposes, used in a way that is adequate, relevant and not excessive,
accurate kept for no longer than is absolutely necessary handled according to people’s data
protection rights kept safe and secure not transferred outside the UK without adequate protection
In this case Tesco follows all of these data protection principles to keep every bit of information
safe and guided so nothing goes wrong within the business or outside of the business. Tesco
collect personal information such as names, email address, billing address, delivery address,
telephone number, credit card details and this is all kept for the customer database. It complies
with the Data Protection Act 1998 by keeping the data from the customers secured so no one
from outside of the business has access to it, furthermore they are using the data in a right
method with helping them with their services (Robles, 2012).
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P6 Explain the operational issue in relation to the use of business information
The operation issues in relation to the use of a business, it will also state what they are
and why they are important and also the benefits of doing it well Security of information:
Security of information, is when a organisation has to make sure that all information held at the
origination is safe and not accessible by unauthorised personnel, if it is accessed by unauthorized
personnel than the organisation is liable The way that this relates to Tesco PLC is through the
following, Tesco PLC are a organisation that holds information about their customers and
suppliers and in order to protect the information they have security procedures that help Tesco
PLC protect the information being accessed by unauthorised personnel Backups: In information
technology, a backup, or the process of backing up, refers to the copying and archiving of
computer data so it may be used to restore the original after a data loss event (Crews and Stitt-
Gohdes, 2012).
Business continuances plan: The organisation is in charge of such continuance plans, the
organisation can provide guidance and instructions to employees, they communicate this through
training and emails or meetings Business continuance describes the processes and procedures an
organization puts in place to ensure that essential functions can continue during and after a
disaster. Business continuance planning seeks to prevent interruption of mission-critical services,
and to re-establish full functioning as swiftly and smoothly as possible. Tesco PLC as have such
procedures, in case of an emergency one of their backup is their backup station as it has a copy
of the information that might have been destroyed in the disaster (Grunig, 2013).
Cost: Additional resources required: Additional resources is when an organisation has
funds or man power on reserve in case it is required, an example of this is when a organisation is
hit by a disaster they have insurance that will cover the damages occurred in organisations.
TASK 4
P7 Electronic and Non electronic methods used for communications
There are many electronic and non-electronic methods which can be used by organisation to
convey their message to employees as well as investors.
Forms of
communication
Electronic/ Non
electronic
Description Audience and
examples
Letter Non Electronic Letters are a written The audience for
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communication
representing a speech.
Teller contains a
characters symbols of
an alphabet (Ru-Chu,
2013).
letters within a
business would be to
employees and
customers (the public).
An example of a letter
to employees would be
information regarding
a pay check or new
working hours, another
example for letters to
the public would be
letters via the post
regarding new deals or
promotions involving
the business. Mark and
Spencer would usually
send out a brochure
explaining their new
deals.
Memorandum Non Electronic Memorandum is a
written message used
in business and
diplomacy, it is used
to communicate
between different
departments within
the same organisation.
It is usually shorter
than normal business
letter and also deal
with one practical
Memorandums would
usually be used
between managers,
employees and other
departments within a
business in order to
communicate.
Examples would be
managers giving
employees and sales
assistants new tasks to
do or new targets.
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subject.
Fax Electronic Fax is an exact copy
of document that is
made by electronic
scanning and
transmitted as data
telephonic transition.
For many decades
before digital
technology became
widespread scanned
data with particle ones
They would be used to
transfer a hard copy of
data to one store to
another containing
information on may
finance or sales (Sharp
and Brumberger,
2013). The main
audience would be
high up managers
being in charge of
stores or big
departments.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from above report that business communication is important in
organisation. If managers are not properly convening with their employees, then it may become
difficult for them to achieve objectives. Further internal and external communication will help to
organisation to make strong position with all. Moreover, there are some ethical issues can be face
by organisation so it is their responsibility to deal with them on regular basis. They have to
comply with all rules and regulations which are framed by government. It will be helpful for
them to run their functions smoothly.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Ainsworth, J., 2013. Business languages for intercultural and international business
communication: A Canadian case study. Business Communication Quarterly. 76(1).
pp.28-50.
Alshare, K. A., Lane, P. L. and Miller, D., 2011. Business communication skills in Information
Systems (IS) curricula: Perspectives of IS educators and students. Journal of Education
for Business. 86(3). pp.186-194.
Conrad, D. and Newberry, R., 2012. Identification and instruction of important business
communication skills for graduate business education. Journal of Education for
Business. 87(2). pp.112-120.
Crews, T. B. and Stitt-Gohdes, W. L., 2012. Incorporating Facebook and Twitter in a service-
learning project in a business communication course. Business Communication
Quarterly. 75(1). pp.76-79.
DeKay, S. H., 2012. Interpersonal communication in the workplace: A largely unexplored
region. Business Communication Quarterly. 75(4). pp.449-452.
Grunig, J. E. ed., 2013. Excellence in public relations and communication management.
Routledge.
Kernbach, S., Eppler, M. J. and Bresciani, S., 2015. The use of visualization in the
communication of business strategies: An experimental evaluation. International
Journal of Business Communication. 52(2). pp.164-187.
Meredith, M. J., 2012. Strategic communication and social media: An MBA course from a
business communication perspective. Business Communication Quarterly. 75(1).
pp.89-95.
Okoro, E. A., Washington, M. C. and Cardon, P. W., 2011. Eportfolios in business
communication courses as tools for employment. Business Communication Quarterly.
74(3). pp.347-351.
Robles, M. M., 2012. Executive perceptions of the top 10 soft skills needed in today’s
workplace. Business Communication Quarterly. 75(4). pp.453-465.
Ru-Chu, S. H. I. H., 2013. Effect of using Facebook to assist English for business
communication course instruction. TOJET: The Turkish Online Journal of Educational
Technology. 12(1).
Sharp, M. R. and Brumberger, E. R., 2013. Business communication curricula today: Revisiting
the top 50 undergraduate business schools. Business Communication Quarterly. 76(1).
pp.5-27.
Online
Corporate Communications. 2014. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/vinayaka57-1556213-corporate-
communications/>. [Accessed on 20th July 2017].
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