1. IT161 – PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
Week 2
Tuesday 7th Feb, 2017

2. Introduction to Professional Communication
Why study communication?
b. Models of communication
c. Components of communication

3. Why Study Communication?
Studying Communication can improve self-knowledge and self perception because most self-knowledge comes to us through communication.
Studying Communication can improve how we see others as communication is the way we meet others, develop and manage relationships and work effectively with others.
Studying Communication can increase our understanding of relationships.
Studying Communication develops important life skills. critical thinking, problem solving, conflict resolution, team building, public speaking.
Studying Communication can help you succeed professionally.  Creating strong oral and written messages, working well with others, managing your image, researching, analyzing and solving problems are key abilities employers look for.
Studying Communication helps you exercise your rights and become an effective citizen.
(Wood, Julia T.  Communication in Our Lives. Belmont, CA: Thompson Wadsworth, 2006.)
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4. Banks, J. 2016 – Program Manager, UTS Foundation Studies
Communication is an important engine of the 21st century as daily life, including our work lives, is shaped by the fact that we live in a smaller, more connected, more globalised world. Communication is at the core of this, allowing us to explore and learn about other cultures, strengthen social ties, create business and personal relationships, and facilitate exchange of information.
Good communication is crucial at all levels of our lives, from the very personal, everyday interactions we have with family, friends and colleagues through to creating effective, supportive workplaces, the relationships corporations have with their clientele, how ideas are communicated via mass media, e-commerce and the promotion of political policies.
Communication is so fundamental on so many levels it is important to study its mechanisms so that we better understand its internal workings to give us a much broader understanding of the world around us, and of how we can influence it. Effective communication is also an important driving force for innovation and progress, and is at the core of every successful business. 
Banks, J – Program Manager, UTS Foundation Studies

5. Models of Communication
The purpose of a “model” is to offer a visual representation of a concept with the intent of facilitating the understanding of it. Traditionally speaking, there are three standard models of the communication process:  Linear, Interactive, and Transactional, and each offers a slightly different perspective on the communication process.
The Communication Process 2017

6. Linear Communication Model
There’s a bit of a debate about the Linear Communication model and how it recognizes (or doesn’t recognize) the concept of feedback.  The linear model’s behavior is belied by its name, where a sender encodes a message via a channel and the message is decoded by the receiver.  It is straight-line communication found typically in mass communication; think television, radio, newspapers, etc.  According to this model, there is no means for immediate feedback.
Shannon and Weaver were the first to present the Linear Model of Communication in 1949′s The Mathematical Theory of Communication.  We’re going to discuss more about these two in our imminent Theories of Communication article. Suffice to say that this theory has become less relevant in inverse proportion to the advances of communication technology, specifically non-linear forms of electronic communication where it’s not always clear who is the sender and who is the receiver.

7. Interactive Communication Model
Simply put, the Interactive Model takes the Linear Model and multiplies it times two with a quick flip of the return message. It now allows for a feedback element because after a message is encoded and sent to the decoding receiver, the roles then reverse and the receiver encodes and sends a response to the original sender who has now turned receiver.  It sounds more confusing than it is.  Envision an exchange of text messages whereby your friend sends you a message and you respond to it.  The same thing happens during a telephone call, or even an exchange.  A message is sent and received, then the roles reverse.  That is the Interactive Model.

8. Transactional Communication Model
The Transactional Model becomes more sophisticated yet. This model depicts face-to-face interaction, or “trans-action” as a dynamic and changeable process that is not limited to simple definition.  In the Transactional Model, receiver and sender can play the same roles simultaneously, as sometimes happens, as messages can be sent back and forth simultaneously.  It appears chaotic and ineffective, but sometimes communication is just that.  Throw in some noise, and it would be a wonder whether any message is conveyed successfully in this environment.

9. Components of Communication
Context
Sender/Encoder
Message
Medium
Receiver/Decoder
Feedback

10. Context
Every message (Oral or written), begins with context. Context is a very broad field that consists different aspects. One aspect is country, culture and organization. Every organization, culture and country communicate information in their own way.
Another aspect of context is external stimulus. The sources of external stimulus includes; meeting, letter, memo, telephone call, fax, note, and even a casual conversation. This external stimuli motivates you to respond and this response may be oral or written.
Internal stimuli is another aspect of communication. Internal Stimuli includes; You opinion, attitude, likes, dis-likes, emotions, experience, education and confidence. These all have multifaceted influence on the way you communicate you ideas.
A sender can communicate his ideas effectively by considering all aspects of context mentioned above.

11. Sender/Encoder Message
Encoder is the person who sends message. In oral communication the encoder is speaker, and in written communication writer is the encoder. An encoder uses combination of symbols, words, graphs and pictures understandable by the receiver, to best convey his message in order to achieve his desired response.
Message
Message is the information that is exchanged between sender and receiver. The first task is to decide what you want to communicate and what would be the content of your message; what are the main points of your message and what other information to include. The central idea of the message must be clear. While writing the message, encoder should keep in mind all aspects of context and the receiver (How he will interpret the message). Messages can be intentional and unintentional.

12. Medium
Medium is the channel through which encoder will communicate his message. How the message gets there. Your medium to send a message, may be print, electronic, or sound. Medium may be a person as postman. The choice of medium totally depends on the nature of you message and contextual factors discussed above. Choice of medium is also influence by the relationship between the sender and receiver.
The oral medium, to convey your message, is effective when your message is urgent, personal or when immediate feedback is desired. While, when your message is ling, technical and needs to be documented, then written medium should be preferred that is formal in nature. These guidelines may change while communicating internationally where complex situations are dealt orally and communicated in writing later on.
Receiver/DecoderThe person to whom the message is being sent is called ‘receiver’/’decoder’. Receiver may be a listener or a reader depending on the choice of medium by sender to transmit the message. Receiver is also influenced by the context, internal and external stimuli. .

13. Receiver is the person who interprets the message, so higher the chances are of mis-communication because of receivers perception, opinion, attitude and personality. There will be minor deviation in transmitting the exact idea only if your receiver is educated and have communication skills
Feedback
Response or reaction of the receiver, to a message, is called ‘feedback’. Feedback may be written or oral message, an action or simply, silence may also be a feedback to a message.
Feedback is the most important component of communication in business. Communication is said to be effective only when it receives some feedback. Feedback, actually, completes the loop of communication