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| Source: http://www.masternewmedia.org/ |
Communication "is a process whereby information is enclosed in a package and is channeled and imparted by a sender to a receiver via some medium. The receiver then decodes the message and gives the sender a feedback. All forms of communication require a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, however the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication in order for the act of communication to occur." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication
In order to have a good process of understanding, it is important to listen. Listen carefully reduces perceptual distorsions, helps to clarify the message, and ensure the meaning of the message.
Communication within organizations can explain the behavior of managers. There are five different kind of managers.
Expressive Speakers: are related with those managers that openly express thoughs, ideas, opinions and feelings.
Emphatetic Listeners: are those patien, willing to listen and concerned about others without taking responsability for their actions or problems.
Persuasive Leaders: help others to achieve results instead of giving orders.
Sensitivity to Feelings: those managers who are capable of making constructive critics and are willing to reinforce employee`s steem.
Informative Managers: those managers who know how to give information properly.
Communication contains certain principles that lead to a perfect communication process. Those principles are: clarity, objective, understanding, consistency, completeness, feedback, time.
However, communication has always barriers. Language, physical and socio-psychological barriers affect communication all around the world. Different laguages, dialects, time, distance, age, perceptions of the world, emotions, among others, block the perfect process of communication.
In the other hand, non verbal communication plays an important role on every day life. "Nonverbal communication is the process of communicating through sending and receiving wordless messages. Such messages can be communicated through gesture, body language or posture; facial expression and eye contact, object communication such as clothing, hairstyles or even architecture, or symbols and infographics, as well as through an aggregate of the above, such as behavioral communication. Nonverbal communication plays a key role in every person's day to day life, from employment to romantic engagements."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication
Virtual Teams consider the concept of team affected by technology and diversity all around the world. "The emergence of effective and relatively cheap information and communications technology (ICT), particularly web-based techniques, has led to the increased use of so called virtual teams". (Kuruppuarachchi, Palitha R. 2009. Virtual team concepts in projects: A case study. Project Management Journal 40, no. 2: 19).
Virtual teams can be seen as a result of communication, global operations and integration of Human Resource practices. Virtual Teams "may exist across time, space and cultural boundaries; these teams, while sharing a common purpose, use technologies to communicate and collaborate effectively". (Johnson, Heiman, & O`Neill, 2001; Lipnack & Stamps, 2000. Kuruppuarachchi, Palitha R. 2009. Virtual team concepts in projects: A case study. Project Management Journal 40, no. 2: 20).
There are some different virtual teams that differs from each other in many factors.
Teleworkers: refer to a type of telecommunication, outside the workplace that allows workers to access information from remote locations. It provides some advantages in cost and time savings, and more flexibility.
Virtual Groups: are a combination of teleworkers, that have no common objectives or goals, consider different tasks that are finally report to the same boss.
Virtual Teams: have common goals and the possibility of interaction with each other. They are part of an organizational structure from a specific company.
Virtual Communities: Larger entities with common purposes, roles and norms, where their members participate via the internet.
Using virtual teams provides some advantages as well as disadvantages that the companies must take into account. The relocation, productivity, linking of different experts possibly from different cultures and the improvement of coordination and communication are some of the advantages. However, the lack of face to face relationships, the language or the impossibility of training, are potential drawbacks that make businesses more vulnerable.
In order to magage an effective virtual team, is important to have clarity, feedback and frecuency in the communication process. There must be understanding among members and empathy coming from the leaders. Responsibilities must be as clear as possible and a sense of control should be introduced. Leaders should be consistent with the given obligations and assertiveness must be taje into account in order to produce an harmonious environment when working and every day realtionships.
(Discussion above is based on the information of the slides provided by Cristina Robledo. Organizational Behavior & National and Organizational Culture. July 2010).
Discuss the implications (potential advantages, disadvantages, challenges, etc.) of using sounds to send strategic messages.
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| Source: http://www.soundcommunication.org.uk/ |
Sound communication is nowadays seen as an art tool to be considered when sharing a message. Traditional messages were always sent in paper, telegraphs, face to face, television, internet, but with the same structure and purpose. However, the concept of sound message are taking more importance since the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts create their own musical version of their brand`s profile in 2007.
Results were seen inmediately, producing more advantages that disadvantages. InterContinental realized that using sounds to send strategic messages, not only "positioned its brand. It is more of an account of the interplay between arts-nased disciplines and business processes in support of a company`s strategic objectives. In reality artistic procedures are higly disciplined and can be effective catalysts in building and reinforcing better business practices. They can also provoke valuable insights well beyond the territories of the initial brief." (Michael Spencer, "If InterContinental were a sound … what would it be?", Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. 31 Iss: 4, pp.39).
The main advantages of this sound strategy is that it provides a competitive advantage for the company since it is a new concept that attract people and it is not often used in the market. In their own words they found that "sound is a part of life and should not be seen as an add-on. Expirience tell us that once participants become involved in the musical process no more convincing is necessary". (Michael Spencer, "If InterContinental were a sound … what would it be?", Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. 31 Iss: 4, pp.40-41).
However some challenges and disadvantages can be found as teams involved in this concept should "learn that music-based learning methods could extend far beyond mere skills training. The arts have to fit within a clear business case, and business needs is where any trainng discussion must begin. In a two-pronged attack, first convince them of the business case, and then insinuate the Trojan horse to deliver more than is expected." (Michael Spencer, "If InterContinental were a sound … what would it be?", Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. 31 Iss: 4, pp.40).
Therefore, key concepts should be well implemented and managed: "Training structures, commissioning and design of staff engagement tools, advocacy procedures, identification and briefing of audio content suppliers, optimisation of guest environments for sound". (Michael Spencer, "If InterContinental were a sound … what would it be?", Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. 31 Iss: 4, pp.43).
In the other hands, some disadvantges are better to be prevented such as the lack of "effective internal communications and compelling advocacy, the misunderstanding of different cultures and busibess practices involved, that finally are urgent necessities for the Sound Strategy`s success". (Michael Spencer, "If InterContinental were a sound … what would it be?", Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. 31 Iss: 4, pp.43).
This experience give an exciting and new concept of the way marketing can be used and the way it can be pass to customers. "There are at least three primary learning points we took from this experience and which are at the core of our practice. First - it is fundamental to the success of any arts-based initiative that it responds to the business imperative of the client. Second - research into the organization`s context and cultures is vital in order to respond effectively to any surprises. Third - any outcomes have to be converted into a practical and easily digested format appropiate for your client. For the many clients of arts-based practitioners I feel that the overrideing message is to remain open-minded during training sessions. You never know when a Trojan horse will appear with unexpected gifts." (Michael Spencer, "If InterContinental were a sound … what would it be?", Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. 31 Iss: 4, pp.46).
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