*Chapter 8

Efficiency

Transmitting your message accurately in the least amount of time.

Effectiveness

Your intended message is accurately understood by the recipient.

Encoding

Translating a message into understandable symbols or language.

Decoding

Interpreting and trying to make sense of the message.

Feedback

The receiver's reaction to the sender's message.

Noise

The psychological, social, and structural barriers that distort/obscure a sender's intended message.

Examples of communication technology

Email, instant messaging, presentation technology (e.g., PowerPoint), videoconferencing technology (e.g., Zoom).

Pros of communication technology

Faster and easier communication; supervisors are more accessible to subordinates; distance is not a barrier to communicating.

Cons of communication technology

Lack of 'human touch'; more difficult to personally connect with or motivate employees; productivity/multi-tasking issues. pressure to always be accessible

Formal communication

Follows the chain of command; regarded as official.

Informal communication

Develops outside the formal structure and does not follow the chain of command (e.g., the grapevine).

Vertical communication

Flows up or down the chain of command.

Upward vertical communication

Flows from subordinates to managers.

Downward vertical communication

Flows from managers to subordinates.

Horizontal communication

Flows within or between work units; its main purpose is coordination.

Diagonal communication

Communication between a subordinate and a manager in a different department.

External communication

Flows between people inside and outside the organization.

Barriers to communication

• filtering of negative info

• lack of credbility of the sender

  • information overload

Filtering of negative info

The practice of withholding or altering negative information in communication.

Information overload

A state in which the amount of information exceeds one's ability to process it.

Dissimilar 'codebooks'

Differences in interpretation and understanding between communicators.

Frames of reference

Individual perspectives that influence how messages are interpreted.

Nonverbal communication that misleads

Misinterpretation of messages conveyed through nonverbal cues like eye contact and gestures.

Semantics

The study of meaning that can lead to misunderstandings in communication.

Gender differences in communication

Variations in communication styles and preferences between genders.

Cultural differences in communication

Variations in communication practices and interpretations based on cultural backgrounds.

some nonverbal communication factors to consider

• environment

• body placement

• posture

• facial expressions

  • phsycial appearance

nonverbal communication that misleads

eye contact, facial expressions, body movements, touch

barriers to communication

semantics and gender differences

semantics

the varying meanings people attach to wordsg

media richness

the volume and variety of information that can be transmitted during a specific time

rich media

better when info being communicated is non-routine and ambiguous

lean media

better when info being communicated is routine and ambiguous