© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 1

Achieving Success Achieving Success Through Effective Through Effective

Business Business CommunicationCommunication

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 2

Achieving Success TodayAchieving Success Today

• Sending

• Receiving

• Understanding

• Acting

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 3

Effective CommunicationEffective Communication

• Quicker problem solving

• Stronger decision making

• Increased productivity

• Steadier work flow

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 4

Effective CommunicationEffective Communication

• Stronger business relationships

• Clearer promotional materials

• Enhanced professional image

• Improved stakeholder response

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 5

What Employers ExpectWhat Employers Expect

• Organizing and presenting ideas

• Listening effectively

• Communicating across cultures

• Using communication technologies

• Practicing business etiquette

• Communicating ethically

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 6

Characteristics Characteristics of Effective Messagesof Effective Messages

• Practicality

• Factual basis

• Clarity and conciseness

• Precision

• Persuasion

• Recommendations

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 7

Internal CommunicationInternal Communication

• Official structure

– Chain of command

– Formal lines of power

• The grapevine

– Informal networking

– Unofficial lines of power

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 8

External CommunicationExternal Communication

• Formal contacts

–Marketing

– Public relations

• Informal contacts

– Employees

–Managers

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 9

The Communication The Communication ProcessProcess

• Sender has an idea

• Sender encodes the idea

• Sender transmits the message

• Receiver gets the message

• Receiver decodes the message

• Receiver sends feedback

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 10

Why Is Business Why Is Business

Communication Unique?Communication Unique?• Globalization and diversity

• Information value

• Pervasiveness of technology

• Reliance on teamwork

• New corporate structures

• Communication barriers

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 11

Globalization Globalization

and Workforce Diversityand Workforce Diversity• Products and markets

• Business partnerships

• Employees and executives

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 12

Increasing Value of Increasing Value of

Business InformationBusiness Information• Knowledge workers

– Competitive insights

– Customer needs

– Regulations and guidelines

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 13

Pervasive TechnologyPervasive Technology

• Voice systems

• Virtual agents

• Mobile communication

• Networking advances

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 14

Evolving OrganizationsEvolving Organizations

• Tall structures

• Flatter structures

• Flexible structures

• Corporate cultures

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 15

Reliance on TeamworkReliance on Teamwork

• Employee satisfaction

• Overall flexibility

• Responsiveness to competition

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 16

Communication BarriersCommunication Barriers

• Perception and language

• Restrictive environments

• Distractions

• Deceptive tactics

• Information overload

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 17

Effective CommunicationEffective Communication

• Minimize distractions

• Consider the audience

• Improve your skills

• Give and get feedback

• Apply business etiquette

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 18

Using Business Using Business

Communication Communication

TechnologyTechnology• Maintaining perspective

• Improving productivity

• Investing wisely

• Reconnecting with people

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 19

Observing Business Observing Business Communication EthicsCommunication Ethics

• Unethical practices

– Plagiarism

– Selective misquoting

–Misinterpreting numbers

– Distorting visuals

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 20

Making Business ChoicesMaking Business Choices

• Ethical dilemma

– Stakeholders• Conflicting loyalties

• Difficult tradeoffs

• Ethical lapse

– Business pressures• Illegal choices

• Unethical choices

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 1 - 21

Ensuring Ethical Ensuring Ethical CommunicationCommunication

• Individual employees

• Corporate management

• Policies and procedures