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1-2 communicating in the workplace © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part. chapter one Communicating in the Workplace

1-3 Learning Objectives Explain and/or describe the following:  importance of business communication  current challenges  three main categories  formal vs. informal networks  business communication contexts  communication as problem-solving

1-4 Importance Communication was rated the most valuable soft skill in business. National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook Survey, 2011

1-5 Need Employers list communication and efficiency as the top skills to be improved in the workplace. -NFI Research

1-6 Challenges Media literacy Increased globalism Analytical skills Ethics Social responsibility

1-7 Diversity

1-8 Categories  Operational -Internal -External  Personal

1-9  Formal network -Well-established along operational lines -Depends on certain established forms or “genres” in the company -Planned and managed  Informal network -Complex -Dynamic Networks

1-10 Formal vs. Informal Networks

1-11 Communication Factors Nature of the business Size and complexity Industry environment— stable or volatile? Geographic dispersion Organizational culture

1-12 Problem Solving Most business communication problems are ill- defined and need:  Research  Analysis  Creativity  Judgment

1-13 Communication Model

1-14  The larger context business-economic sociocultural historical  The communicators’ relationship  The communicators’ contexts organizational professional personal Communication Contexts

1-15 The sender... – senses a need to communicate – defines the situation – considers possible solutions – selects the best one – composes the message (medium, content, structure, style, form) – sends the message Communication Process The receiver... – receives the message – interprets in – decides on a response considers – replies (becoming a new sender)