Discussing Business and Communications

When some whiz mentions the word discourse, ones thoughts turn to a newspaper, the radio, television, or another more common g all overnment agency of mass-type confabulation. wiz does not commonly occupy the connection between conversation and other institutions such as fear. Good line of reasoning, however, goes fade in hand with full communication. Good managers and professionals realize that the office to communicate is not a silly frill its a necessity that serves all go through their snuff it (Murphy 2). Therefore the question is often posed Are these problems of short communications that face managers and professionals becoming more and more critical?The present suggests the answer to be yes- these problems are serious and are growing more and more serious everyday. John O. Morris, a charge Communications consultant consolidates this problem into a single statement called the Morris Maxim. It states that Communications problems grow much faster in any(pre nominal) organization than the organization itself grows (Morris 3). This maxim emphasizes the make for better communication in organizations such as big strain through the implication of what would happen if that organization did not fix its structure to better handle increasing communication ask.However, before relations with a solution to the problem of communication in stemma sector, (frequently dubbed bloodline speak) it is principal(prenominal) to under brave forth how big business operates. Big business was created in the mid-1800s to organize batchs such as the railroad, oil and steel industries. At that time, the besides other organizations that had a similar size and structure were the Roman Catholic Church and the United States Army. These organizations are extremely authoritative in nature, and wont a system of stratified communication.This translates into a business organization/communication style which is basically condescending in nature and is base in general on status . Business speak is often straight, to the full point, and beneficial to the various(prenominal) speaking first, and to others second. This shows its graded origins in that very often, the speaker is one who leave behind use one or more power strategies, most(prenominal)ly the cognition that someone can inflict negative consequences.Other issues in business communications accept miss of function in the upper ranks of the hierarchy, lack of training in not bad(predicate) communications for the major(ip)ity of employees, and lack of honest, site conversation between business and its clients. These problems need to be doctor for a business to truly succeed, and can be fixed if managers and high-altitude officials take the initiative and implement a few simple and candid techniques into their business styles. Current problems facing business communications deal generally with the apparent lack of functional inter- direct communication.That is, communic ation employees as well as customers can understand. One of the main reasons behind this lack of understandable communication is that there are some many ways to avoid dependable communication and maintain the status quo for the short term. These mostly pertain to issues brought to a company from outside sources. These include letters of complaint, inquiries from government bodies such as the Federal Trade Commission, and published evaluations (i. e. editorials, intersection reviews).Instead of addressing these issues head-on and dealings with them, companies are more likely to dodge obligation. There are 2 main ways to dodge accountability denial and evasion of accountability (Benoit, 90). In using denial, a corporation or employee refuses any wrong-doing, and usually transfers blame to another company or employee, often one that is dishonor on the corporate ladder. This is similar to evasion of responsibility, which often call scapegoats. In accompaniment to that, evasion t actics often claim that any wrong-doing was an accident, or that the intentions behind their actions were good.These tactics allow for excuses to be made and for responsibility to be forgotten. Lastly, some companies bequeath refuse to accept any wrongdoing, and manifestly fix the problem. This was the effect when Tylenol was accused of allowing their merchandise to be tampered by not putting a safety seal on their products bottle. This prompted Tylenols executives to start sealing their bottles, but they never accepted responsibility for not sealing them in the first mystify (Benoit 92). This is fair(a) one example of a company distancing itself from blame.In effect for there to be good communication, corporations must begin accepting responsibility for their actions, and begin making sound business decisions based on what the customer wants and needs. This would be most advantageously served with clear communication between a company and its customers. On the whole, communic ations between companies and customers are based on a need to know basis. There are exceptions to this rule, however. One company has done an increasingly good job in maintaining good communications lines with its customers.Intel, Inc. s a computer micro-processor firm that controls over 90% of the computer chip-set industry (Yahoo Tech Headlines). In their annual report, Intels top executives announced the creation of a sort of R&D lab and strategic think tank to the industry in which we (will) manoeuvre with PC makers, software developers and PC users to understand their future needs and wishes, and work intensely with industry leaders to develop products or specifications that meet those needs. In doing so, Intel has opened a groom link to its customers, allowing for direct customer impact on some of Intels management and directive decisions.However, even the most open and direct company is not without its business speak. The following was taken from the same annual report, u nder the impulsion Taking responsibility for our own product We know we cant wait for growth to come to us. We are responsible for our own future and work to make it as successful as possible by removing roadblocks to PC plan growth, developing preference for the Intel Inside(R) brand among PC users and supporting emerging PC markets around the world. Together, these strategies build value for our stockholders, which is, after all, our most important goal. magical spell this may look like a positive, non-aggressive statement, one finds a assorted meaning when looking at it from a business speak point of view. The most obvious example of business speak is the phrase removing roadblocks to PC platform growth. Basically stated, Intel wants to buyout or take-over any companies that might stand in the way of allowing Intel to control the industry. If Intel were to come right out and verify this, there would be massive investigations from government and consumer groups that would pla gue Intel for years.Therefore, by tailor what they tell their customers and stockholders, they are dodging a bullet and enforcing a hierarchical position over its customers and stockholders. However, customers are not the only ones often unexpended in the dark on business decisions. Sometimes, even high ranking officials are not consulted and are left to adapt to a change they had no say in. Such was the case with James Bennett, chief executive officer of Picadilly Cafeterias, Inc. In 1986, then chief financial ships officer Bennett sat in a meeting and listened as Picadillys CEO announced plans to change the recipes of some of their most popular items.These changes were to be unpredicted and were never tested or approved internally. There was no communication between the CEO and the company. James Bennett quit later that week and Picadillys sales plummeted from $11 a share to $6 (Forbes, 63). In 1992, Bennett was plump for in action, this time as CEO. He began a comprehensive fleet that brought back the good home cooking that was the Picadilly tradition. Im just going back to ways that have always worked (Forbes, 63). Those ways include clear communication between customer and company, as well as between employer and employee.That difference has translated into profit shares in Picadilly are now charge $14 a piece (Forbes 64). He proved that a business can not be run on a spreadsheet alone. cognition in the area of communication, even if at the most elementary direct is one of the key factors in a successful employment history. In a survey of 13,586 of its college graduates, General Electric Company found that the owing(p) majority of its employees cited written and verbal communication as the college training that had contributed most to their success in business (Zelko 7).It for this reason that many colleges have inform an increase in enrollment in communications classes. In addition to college courses, companies are now beginning to take the ini tiative and teach their incumbent employees communications skills. This in-service of sorts can be accomplished very efficiently if a few guidelines are met. These include the creation of an informal and permissive climate, the establishment of the value and importance of the training, and general across-the-board participation- that is, contributions to the group from all of its members (Zelko, 8).These guidelines ensure that the environment will be right to help tame the employee that is not versed in communication. This training can be a catalyst in the growth of a business, as well as helping to create a work-friendly environment that encourages productivity (Murphy 9). The American Management Association calls the ability to communicate a vital skill of management, and declare that progressive companies now recognize (this ability). It is important to improve not only downward communication , but upward communication as well.Values of good downward communication include the ability to help a managers authority to be accepted, an evocation of cooperation that helps to enlighten problems, and a general expression of a more friendly atmospheric state that builds morale everywhere (Murphy 281). Values of enhanced upward communication include the ability to forewarn top management of employees reaction to policies, clarification of directives, and ability to offer valuable ideas to supervisors (Murphy 281). These values can help improve business exponentially, mostly due to the combined efforts of employees and their supervisors.When upward and downward communication has been established, the major problems dealing with communications in business will be eliminated. The hierarchy that is big business will become less prominent, and the business will function much better. A basic analogy that sums up hierarchical structure in business is this- when times are rough, a machine that uses both the front and rear tires to move will make out better than a car t hat uses just the front wheels. Business should be considered a vehicle that has four-wheel drive, not a vehicle with front-wheel drive.In conclusion, communicating in business is one of the leading restraints that a corporation has to deal with in its advancement up the ladder of success. However, if a business chooses to hone its ability to communicate and increase the level of productivity due to the sharing of ideas all across the corporate ladder, employee and consumer alike(predicate) will share the increase in quality of a business products, be it computer microprocessors, or cafeteria food. In short, good communication makes good business.