1. Chapter 1 Foundations of Business Communication
There are videos embedded in the PowerPoint slides that are available at

2. Understanding Business Communication
Components of Communication
Communication Barriers
Communication Media Choices
Legal and Ethical Communication

3. Understanding Business Communication
Components of Communication
Communication Barriers
Communication Media Choices
Legal and Ethical Communication

4. Components of Communication p.5-7
Feedback
Message
Message
Stimulus
Destination
Filter
Filter
Medium
Medium
Feedback
Noise
Noise

5. Components of Communication
Feedback
An event that creates a need to communicate
Message
Message
Stimulus
Destination
Filter
Filter
Medium
Medium
Feedback
Noise
Noise

6. Components of Communication
Feedback
Perception based on one’s knowledge, experience, and viewpoints
Message
Message
Stimulus
Destination
Filter
Filter
Medium
Medium
Feedback
Noise
Noise

7. Components of Communication
Feedback
The information (either verbal or nonverbal) that is communicated
Message
Message
Stimulus
Destination
Filter
Filter
Medium
Medium
Feedback
Noise
Noise

8. Components of Communication
Feedback
The form of a message—for example, an or phone call
Message
Message
Stimulus
Destination
Filter
Filter
Medium
Medium
Feedback
Noise
Noise

9. Components of Communication
Feedback
The point when control passes from the sender to the receiver
Message
Message
Stimulus
Destination
Filter
Filter
Medium
Medium
Feedback
Noise
Noise

10. Components of Communication
Feedback
Message
Message
Stimulus
Destination
Filter
Filter
Medium
Medium
Reactions from receivers that may affect future communication
Feedback
Noise
Noise

11. Components of Communication
Feedback
Message
Message
Stimulus
Destination
Filter
Filter
Medium
Medium
Distractions from the communication
Feedback
Noise
Noise

12. Directions of Formal Communication p.7-9
Downward Communication
Flow of information from managers to their employees (people who report to them)
Upward Communication
Flow of information from lower-level employees to upper-level employees or managers
Lateral (or Horizontal) Communication
Flow of information among peers within an organization

13. The Informal Communication Network p.9

14. The Grapevine Why do you think this may be true?
“I’ve discovered that the less I say, the more rumors I start.”
- Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers hockey player
Why do you think this may be true?
As a manager, you can never stop the grapevine, but how can you manage it and learn from it?

15. Understanding Business Communication
Components of Communication
Communication Barriers
Communication Media Choices
Legal and Ethical Communication

16. Verbal Communication Barriers p.10 +11
Inadequate Knowledge or Vocabulary
Differences in Interpretation
Language Differences
Inappropriate Use of Expressions
Overabstraction and Ambiguity
Polarization

17. More Mistranslated Signs
You’ll find many more mistranslated signs here: and

18. Do You Know These Terms?
Term
Definition
Search Engine Optimization: improving the visibility of websites in search engines
SEO
Joint Photographic Experts Group: a compression technique for color images
JPEG
Sending tweets that others wrote on Twitter
Retweet
Voice over Internet Protocol: used for making Internet phone calls
VoIP
A quick fix for a programming defect
Patch

19. Nonverbal Communication Barriers p.12
Inappropriate or Conflicting Signals
Differences in Perception
Inappropriate Emotions
Distractions

20. Understanding Business Communication
Components of Communication
Communication Barriers
Communication Media Choices
Legal and Ethical Communication

21. Traditional Communication Channels p.14
Written Communication Examples
Colorful brochures
Financial statements
Solicitation letters
Complex reports
Periodicals (magazines, journals, newspapers)
Oral Communication Examples
One-on-one meetings
Team meetings
Conferences

22. Technology-Based Communication Channels
, Phone, Voice Mail
Instant and Text Messaging
Social Media

23. Social Media Examples p.15

24. Communication Media Choices p.18
Teleconferencing
Phone Call
Voice Message
Brochure
Newsletter
Flier
Face-to-Face Meeting
Blog
Microblog IM
Videoconferencing
RICH LEAN
Online Meeting
Video
Vlog
Report
Text Message
In-Person Oral Presentation

25. Choosing Communication Media p.19
Relationship Considerations
New or existing relationship?
Good news or bad?
Feedback needed?
Audience level and preference?
Likely audience reaction?
Confidential message?
Documentation needed?
Logistical Considerations
Length and complexity of the message?
Number and location of recipients?
Urgency of the message?
Probability of audience understanding?
Access to technology?
How do these factors affect the medium you choose for your message?

26. Understanding Business Communication
Components of Communication
Communication Barriers
Communication Media Choices
Legal and Ethical Communication

27. Avoid Legal Consequences
If you delete an , isn’t it gone forever?
Avoid writing or saying anything that you would not like to become public.
Read and sign your company’s social media policy carefully.

28. Defined by an organization
Types of Ethics
Professional Ethics
Defined by an organization
Social Ethics
Defined by society
Individual Ethics
Defined by a person

29. Lawyers’ Email Exchange
Did the lawyers behave professionally and ethically?
Who should have ended the conversation? When?
View the exchange online.
You’ll find the entire exchange as a PPT presentation on the blog under Company Samples for Chapter 1.

30. Ethical Decision Making
1. Is the action legal?
2. Does the action comply with your company’s policies and guidelines?
3. Who will be affected by your decision and how?
4. Does the action comply with company values?
5. How will you feel after the decision is known?

31. View the full story on the blog.
Gap in Ethics? Made in U.S.A. = Made in China
Gap, consistently rated one of Ethisphere’s Most Ethical Companies, is under fire. The company's "Feed USA" campaign promised to donate $5 to school lunches for each bag sold. Although the poster advertising the campaign is stamped "Made in the U.S.A.," the bags themselves have a label that reads "Made in China."
Click to go to the story on the blog or search for “gap in ethics.”
You may select more recent stories on the blog for Chapter 1.
Link to Gap’s Social Responsibility website.

32. Additional Video Suggestions

33. Stanford Multitasking Study
How good are you at multitasking?
Do the results of this study cause you to re-evaluate your abilities?
Stanford University multitasking study.
The clip is on under videos for Chapter 1 and can be found here:
Good discussion starter for students’ perceptions of multitasking, which the study says impairs cognitive control.

34. Flair in Office Space
What verbal and nonverbal communication barriers can you identify in this scene?
How could the manager communicate for better results?
How could the employee communicate differently?
Scene from the movie Office Space. Here’s the movie overview from IMDB:
The clip is on under videos for Chapter 1 and can be found at the beginning of Scene 13 (37:40 – 38:57) on the movie DVD.
In this scene, Joanna’s (Jennifer Aniston’s) boss, Stan (Mike Judge), encourages her to wear more “flair” on her uniform. Both characters could communicate better, and students can identify several communication barriers.

35. Communication Media in Up in the Air
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Natalie’s idea?
If a company must lay people off, what do you think is the best approach?
Scene from the movie Up in the Air. Here’s the movie overview from IMDB:
The clip is on under videos for Chapter 1 and can be found on the movie DVD at 20:07 – 25:48.
In this scene, the manager (Jason Bateman) introduces the new hire, Natalie (Anna Kendrick), who demonstrates firing an employee over videoconferencing. Ryan (George Clooney) complains about the idea and challenges Natalie to fire him. This can be used to discuss communication media choices. Clearly, videoconferencing isn’t the best way to tell people they are losing their job.