Chapter ELEVEN Communication 2007 Prentice Hall Inc All

Chapter ELEVEN Communication © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Functions of Communication The transference and the understanding of meaning. Communication Functions 1. Control member behavior. 2. Foster motivation for what is to be done. 3. Provide a release for emotional expression. 4. Provide information needed to make decisions. © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

The Communication Process Ø Channel – The medium selected by the sender through which the message travels to the receiver. Ø Types of Channels – Formal Channels • Are established by the organization and transmit messages that are related to the professional activities of members. – Informal Channels • Used to transmit personal or social messages in the organization. These informal channels are spontaneous and emerge as a response to individual choices. © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

The Communication Process Model E X H I B I T 11– 1 © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Direction of Communication Upward Downward Lateral

Interpersonal Communication Ø Oral Communication – Advantages: Speed and feedback. – Disadvantage: Distortion of the message. Ø Written Communication – Advantages: Tangible and verifiable. – Disadvantages: Time consuming and lacks feedback. Ø Nonverbal Communication – Advantages: Supports other communications and provides observable expression of emotions and feelings. – Disadvantage: Misperception of body language or gestures can influence receiver’s interpretation of message. © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Nonverbal Communication Body Movement Intonations Facial Expressions Physical Distance © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Three Common Formal Small-Group Networks E X H I B I T 11– 3 © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Small-Group Networks and Effectiveness Criteria TYPES OF NETWORKS Criteria Chain Wheel All Channel Speed Moderate Fast Accuracy High Moderate Emergence of a leader Moderate High None Member satisfaction Moderate Low High E X H I B I T 11– 4 © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Grapevine Ø Grapevine Characteristics – Informal, not controlled by management. – Perceived by most employees as being more believable and reliable than formal communications. – Largely used to serve the self-interests of those who use it. – Results from: • Desire for information about important situations • Ambiguous conditions • Conditions that cause anxiety © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Computer-Aided Communication Ø E-mail – Advantages: quickly written, sent, and stored; low cost for distribution. – Disadvantages: information overload, lack of emotional content, cold and impersonal. Ø Instant messaging – Advantage: “real time” e-mail transmitted straight to the receiver’s desktop. – Disadvantage: can be intrusive and distracting. © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Computer-Aided Communication (cont’d) Ø Intranet – A private organization-wide information network. Ø Extranet – An information network connecting employees with external suppliers, customers, and strategic partners. Ø Videoconferencing – An extension of an intranet or extranet that permits face-to-face virtual meetings via video links. © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Knowledge Management (KM) Knowledge Management A process of organizing and distributing an organization’s collective wisdom so the right information gets to the right people at the right time. Why KM is important: Intellectual assets are as important as physical assets. When individuals leave, their knowledge and experience goes with them. A KM system reduces redundancy and makes the organization more efficient. © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Choice of Communication Channel Richness The amount of information that can be transmitted during a communication episode. Characteristics of Rich Channels 1. Handle multiple cues simultaneously. 2. Facilitate rapid feedback. 3. Are very personal in context. © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Information Richness of Communication Channels Low channel richness High channel richness Routine Source: Based on R. H. Lengel and D. L. Daft, “The Selection of Communication Media as an Executive Skill, ” Academy of Management Executive, August 1988, pp. 225– 32; and R. L. Daft and R. H. Lengel, “Organizational Information Requirements, Media Richness, and Structural Design, ” Managerial Science, May 1996, pp. 554– 72. Reproduced from R. L. Daft and R. A. Noe, Organizational Behavior (Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt, 2001), p. 311. © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved. Nonroutine E X H I B I T 11– 7

Barriers to Effective Communication Filtering Selective Perception Information Overload Emotions Language Communication Apprehension © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Communication Barriers Between Men and Women Ø Men talk to: – Emphasize status, power, and independence. – Complain that women talk on and on. – Offer solutions. – To boast about their accomplishments. © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved. Ø Women talk to: – Establish connection and intimacy. – Criticize men for not listening. – Speak of problems to promote closeness. – Express regret and restore balance to a conversation.

Silence as Communication Ø Absence of speech or noise – Powerful form of communication – Can indicate • Thinking • Anger • Fear – Watch for gaps, pauses, & hesitations in conversations © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

“Politically Correct” Communication Ø Certain words stereotype, intimidate, and insult individuals. Ø In an increasingly diverse workforce, we must be sensitive to how words might offend others. – Removed: handicapped, blind, and elderly – Replaced with: physically challenged, visually impaired, and senior. Ø Removing certain words from the vocabulary makes it harder to communicate accurately. – Removed: garbage, quotas, and women. – Replaced with terms: postconsumer waste materials, educational equity, and people of gender. © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Semantics Word Connotations Barriers to Effective Cross-Cultural Communication Tone Differences ©� 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved. Perception Differences

Hand Gestures Mean Different Things in Different Countries E X H I B I T 11– 9 © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Hand Gestures Mean Different Things in Different Countries (cont’d) E X H I B I T 11– 9 (cont’d) © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Communication Barriers and Cultural Context High-Context Cultures that rely heavily on nonverbal and subtle situational cues to communication. Low-Context Cultures that rely heavily on words to convey meaning in communication. © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

Highvs. Low. Context Cultures E X H I B I T 11– 10 © 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights reserved.

A Cultural Guide Assume Differences Emphasize Description Develop a Hypothesis Cultivate Empathy