• Business Communication Trends Paper

Ann Coward
University of Phoenix
COM/285 – Business Communications
Professor: Daniel Cleary
September 1, 2010

• Business Communication Trends Paper

Business practices, communication and technology is changing at a rapid pace. Successful businesses rely on effective communication to sustain itself. Gone are the days of writing business letter, sending memos, and mailing correspondences. With offices going green and paperless new technological trends include e-mail, interactive video and teleconferencing, and social electronic networking. It becomes essential to know how to communicate using these trends and still maintain basic corporate etiquette and decorum such as tone, wording, organizing information, spelling, and grammar. In this paper I will outline the role business communication play in my day-to-day activities at work, how it helps to manage daily activities, visible trends in the workplace, and the message types that are a results of these trends. Business communication play the most important role in day-to-day activities at work by cohensively linking coworkers, managers, and executives. The moment one enters the office, the tone of greeting sets the temperature for the day’s activity. A vibrant and positive greeting is more inviting than a faint mumbling acknowledgement. Working in a multicultural organization, requires employee to be mindful and respectful in communicating across cultures. Business communication guides, direct, and maintains a focus on the goals and objectives of the organization. Communication in an organization is inevitable and unavoidable. By communicating internally and externally the functions of management can be achieved. The main artery of a business is communication and must be effectively handled to avoid chaos and conflict. Every employee in an organization passes information from one to another, at my workplace interaction, feedback, respect, and politeness are encourgaged in day-to-day communication. Business communication helps to manage daily work activites by effectively passing on written or oral information from one department to another to keep the entire organization organized and aware. The leisure maket within the hospitality industry changes rapidly requiring frequent release of deeply discounted rates to consumers. This information is quickly communicated to advertising and marketing channels to feature these promotions and attract consumers. In addition to communicating to the external customers, the same efficiency and effectiveness is necessary internally among departments and individuals. Email, instant messaging, enotes, and telephone conversation helps to manage business communication by providing a record of the information transmitted, feedback, and maintain accuracy. For example sending an email to personnel to action and copying others who may be affected, suggests that the persons the email is sent to is responsible for actioning the item and those copied to will know ever stage and the progress of the tasks. Technology undeniably has influenced the business communication trends over the decades. One visible trend in my workplace is video and teleconferencing. Go to meetings is frequently used in my workplace for meetings, training, and webinars because it provides the ability to communicate remotely and globally, involving audio and visual presentations. Wireless connectivity, Internet, portable laptops, and PDA cellphones allows employees to work remotely and actively participate in the day-to-day activies in the office. Another noticeable business trend in my workplace is the use of software applications and technology in the hiring and recruiting process as well as providing virtual labor. Virtual labor with activate and run processes with the click of a button. Technology has dramatically re-invented and influenced business communication in today’s workplaces. The message types that are results of these trends are telephone, voicemail, text messaging, or instant messenger. These are electronically transmitted communication that are results of trends as business communication evolves. Similar to face-to-face communication, telephone, text messaging, or instant messenger, provides feedback, and resolve misinterpretation and ambiguity. Whereas, voicemail is appropriate for leaving messages and is an important out-of-office tool. The disadvantge to these message types is the lack of expressions and body language that also communicates in business. Written communication must be clearly articulated so that the recipient understands. Message types differ and vary based on the workplace, culture, and a desire to flourish in today’s technologically knowledgeable environment. In concluding, business communication trends is rapidly changing with technology. In the business environment devices, applications, and portable media players enhances communication and aid in decision-making and problem-solving processes. Communication is the key component in whether a company enjoys success or is poised for failure. “Technology plays a large role in the changing face of business communication. Tools such as intranets, extranets, faxes, and e-mail have contributed to the efficiency of workplace communication” (Locker & Kienzler, 2008, p. 58).
Communication is important in day-to-day activities at work and helps to manage daily activities to keep employees organized and on task. Managers have a responsibility to improve communication according to (Adkins, 2005, p. 1)“Ineffective communication can result in poor cooperation, lower productivity, negative undercurrents, gossip rumors, and increased turnover and absenteeism”.

References
Adkins, B. (2005). It pays for management to improve communication. Fort Worth Business Press, 18(52), 28. Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier database.
Locker, K. O., & Kienzler, D. S. (2008). Business and Administrative Communication. Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/ DownloadList.aspx?assetMetaId=13433a49-981c-4bd5-8d24- 633b26452977&assetDataId=383fc5e5-1002-4cbf-babb-56ed30997d3e.