What Is Effective Communication Channel?

Good communication is very important for the success of any business. Presenting specific information in a business can be even more important, as the message needs to be conveyed Clearly and accurately. To successfully deliver a clear and accurate presentation, certain Communication channels can be used. These channels will depend on presentation content and the audience, as well as other details. Effective communication plays an important role in business to inform and influence behavior. Communication channels refer to the medium you use to send a message, such as the telephone or email.

Effective communication requires selecting an appropriate communication channel to send your message.

In an organization, information flows forward, backwards and sideways. This information flow is referred to as communication. Communication channels refer to the way this information flows within the organization and with other organizations. In this web known as communication, a manager becomes a link. Decisions and directions flow upwards or downwards or sideways depending on the position of the manager in the communication web.

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For example, reports from lower level manager will flow upwards. A good manager has to inspire, steer and organize his employees efficiently, and for all this, the tools in his possession are spoken and written words.

History

According to the Encyclopedia of Business (ed. 2), up until the 1960s, the belief was the effectiveness of communication relied directly on the word choice used in the message. However, in the 1960s, scholar Marshall McLuhan suggested the medium of communication influences effectiveness as well. McLuhan's communication theories, like the channel expansion theory, worked to support his revolutionary suggestion.

Importance of a Communication Channel Managers need to be effective communicators to achieve positive results in today’s organizations. Some of the purposes are –? Seeking or receiving information, encouragement, control, selling proposals, confrontation. Talking to different levels within the hierarchy – to individuals, to groups, to departments – and externally to customers, suppliers, vendors, and other professionals. ? Using both formal communication - Meetings, reports, proposals, notices; and Informal communication - counseling, advising, talking to other employees.? Working in different roles: as Chairman, project leader, analyst, subordinate colleague. ? Evaluating communications : are they facts, opinions, gossip ? ? Building up networks to obtain real information which may be given freely or concealed – which means you need to ask the right questions, or else you will find yourself drowned in data but starved of information. ? Trying to influence those over whom you have no power.

A breakdown in the communication channel leads to an inefficient flow in information. Employees are unaware of what the company expects of them. They are uninformed of what is going on in the company. This will cause them to become suspicious of motives and any changes in the company. Also without effective communication, employees become department minded rather than company minded, and this affects their decision making and productivity in the workplace. Eventually, this harms the overall organizational objectives as well. Hence in order for an Industry to be run effectively, a good manager should be able to communicate to his/her Employee’s what is expected of them, make sure they are fully aware of company policies and any upcoming changes. Therefore, an effective communication channel should be implemented by managers to optimize worker productivity to ensure the smooth running in the Industrial sector in Bangladesh.

Types of Communication Channel

Communication channels used for business communication vary, but may include Websites, Letters, Email, Phone conversations, Videoconferences and face-to-face meetings. Effective communication relies on selecting an appropriate communication channel for your message. Factors to consider when selecting a communication medium include the need for feedback and the purpose of your message. For example, you need to determine whether the communication is a part of a regular routine or a special need.

Different Industrial sector business communication channels for delivering presentations have their advantages and disadvantages. As mentioned above, the face-to-face channel allows more personal communication. Still, video conferencing allows more communication contact than teleconferencing where participants cannot see each other, and may not get a real feel of each other's reactions. Regardless of the communication channel chosen to give a presentation, the information needs to be delivered as clearly as possible to ensure that desired results are received.

Any of the three types of communication channels use a number of means or tools of communication to spread information. Verbal forms of communication include face-to-face interaction in groups or individually, phone conversations, conference calls and Webinars. Written forms of communication include email, organization newsletters, bulletin board posts in a break room or other common area, paycheck stubs, union newsletters, instant messages, handwritten notes and suggestion boxes.

Certain means of communication may not be sanctioned by the organization, making them favored methods of unofficial communication. The number of communication channels available to a manager has increased over the last 20old years. Video conferencing, mobile technology, electronic bulletin boards and fax machines are some of the new possibilities. As organizations grow in size, managers cannot rely on face to face communication alone to get their message across. A challenge the manager’s face today is to determine what type of communication channel should they opt for in order to carryout effective communication. In order to make a manager' stack easier, the types of communication channels are grouped into three main groups: formal, informal and unofficial.

Formal Communication Channels

A formal communication channel transmits information such as the goals, policies, and procedures of an organization. Messages in this type of communication channel follow a chain of command. This means information flows from a manager to his subordinates and they in turn pass on the information to the next level of staff. An example of a formal communication channel is a company's newsletter which gives employees as well as the clients a clear idea of a company's goals and vision. It also includes the transfer of information with regard to memoranda, reports, directions, and scheduled meetings in the chain of command. A business plan, customer satisfaction survey, annual reports, employer's manual, review meetings are all formal communication channels.

Informal Communication Channels

Within a formal working environment, there always exists an informal communication network. The strict hierarchical web of communication cannot function efficiently on its own and hence there exists a communication channel outside of this web. While this type of communication channel may disrupt the chain of command, a good manager needs to find the fine balance between the formal and informal communication channel. An example of an informal communication channel is lunchtime at the organization's cafeteria/canteen. Here, in a relaxed atmosphere, discussions among employees are encouraged. Also managers walking around, adopting a hands-on approach to handling employee queries is an example of an informal communication channel. Quality circles, team work, different training programs are outside of the chain of command and so, fall under the category of informal communication channels.

Unofficial Communication Channels

Good managers will recognize the fact that sometimes, communication that takes place within an organization is interpersonal. While minutes of a meeting may be a topic of discussion among employees, sports, politics and TV shows also share the floor. The unofficial communication channel in an organization is the organization's 'grapevine'. It is through the grapevine that rumors circulate. Also those engaging in 'grapevine' discussions, often form groups which translate into friendships outside of the organization. While the grapevine may have positive implications, more often than not information circulating in the grapevine is exaggerated and may cause unnecessary alarm to employees. A good manager should be privy to information circulating in this unofficial communication channel and should take positive measures to prevent the flow of false information. An example of an unofficial communication channel is social gatherings among employees.

Face-to-Face Communication Channel

The face-to-face channel of delivering a business presentation is personal, as it allows the presenter and the participants to be facing each other. For example, body language can be interpreted along with the verbal presentation. This direct channel of communication can be further enhanced by charts and diagrams, which can more clearly drive home the information being presented.

Video Conferencing

Video conferencing is a suitable option in business presentation when all the viewers of the presentation are not in the same location. This channel of communication requires specific electronic equipment to necessitate a smooth presentation. Some equipment that may be used to deliver a successful video conference presentation are a computer, a projector, microphones and a camera. Each location tuning in to the presentation needs their own equipment to participate.

Email Email is now the dominate method of communication business. It is quick, inexpensive, flexible and convenient. At present Bangladeshi Industrial sector use email system in there communication. Email is convenient for communicating with people in different places & different time zones. Email is very quick system to communicate different countries business organization.

Teleconferencing

Teleconferencing is similar to video conferencing. Video conferencing delivers information via video, allowing participants to see each other, while teleconferencing allows for only vocal communication. The teleconferencing channel of business communication also requires certain electronic equipment like telephones with speakers and microphones. Other tools, like email files, brochures, and PowerPoint presentations, can be used to enhance this method of communication, and if used should be sent ahead of the presentation time.

Bangladeshi Industrial Sector

The need to industrialize Bangladesh at a rapid pace is undeniable. The urgency is greater in Bangladesh than elsewhere for at least two reasons. First is the compulsion to achieve GDP growth at an accelerated pace, in the range of 7.0-8.0 per cent per annum, during the Sixth Five-year Plan (SFYP) period and beyond on a sustained basis to be able to achieve the much proclaimed Middle Income Status (MIC) by 2021. Second, to reach middle income threshold by 2021 industrial expansion at a high rate (at a projected average annual growth rate of 10 per cent during “SFYP” and reaching 11 per cent in 2021) must be ensured for a sufficiently long time to achieve structural transformation of the economy from an agrarian to a manufacturing base.

While a broad industrial sector has to account for a larger share (30-35 per cent) of GDP compensating for the gradual decline in the share of the agricultural sector, this dynamism of the industrial sector has to be driven by a burgeoning manufacturing sector. The modern manufacturing sector must grow at double digits on a sustained basis over a long time as experienced by the countries of East and Southeast Asia during 1970s and 1980s. In the Bangladesh context, the strategy for achieving the high GDP growth target, based on continued industrial deepening, has to be supported simultaneously by a highly productive agricultural sector as well as a dynamic non-crop sector to diversify the economy rapidly. Against this backdrop, let us now look at the ground reality relating to industrialization efforts in Bangladesh and the results obtained so far.

Current state of the industrial sector: Policies and impacts Accelerated rate of industrial growth premised on a dynamic and globally competitive manufacturing sector has been an avowed objective of the development strategies pursued by successive governments ever since post-liberation periods. Indeed, an avalanche of industrialization policies (i.e. as many as eight) is seen to have been designed and implemented in quick interludes in between 1972 and 2012. However, the impact of such policies on industrial growth has been only modest.

The average annual compound rate of growth of the manufacturing sector has varied between slightly above 6 to 8 per cent over the last two decades reaching double digit figures of 10.77 per cent and 10.24 per cent for only two years during 2005/2006 and 2006/2007, but plummeted again to 8.40 per cent in 2008/2009. As expected, there has been a moderate shift in the structure of the economy from an agrarian base to a more organized manufacturing base. While this indicates a slow industrial deepening, the record appears to be dismal when compared with the performance of some of the East and Southeast Asian economies in this regard which came to be recognized as emulative models of successful industrialization and super exporters.

For example, compared to Bangladesh's share of manufacturing in GDP rising from 12 per cent in 1990 to 17.8 per cent in 2010 (and 18.2 per cent in 2011/2012), Vietnam increased its share of manufacturing in GDP from 12.3 per cent in 1990 to 21 per cent in 2008 and Malaysia from 24 per cent to 28 per cent during the same period. Over the same period, China's share of manufacturing in GDP has been steady at 32-38 per cent and Thailand's manufacturing sector also recorded notable growth in manufacturing since 1990s with its share in GDP rising from 27 per cent to 35 per cent. In all these countries, the basic tenet of industrialization has been private sector driven growth powered by trade liberalization policies and continued inflow of foreign direct investment.

The economies of all the above countries including South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong had dynamic manufacturing sectors displaying three common characteristics: (i) high-growth manufacturing sector growing at double digits, (ii) high share of the manufacturing sector in GDP, typically being in the range of 30% and above, and (iii) simultaneous rapid growth of manufactured exports and the manufacturing industries sector. Last but not the least, our divisive and confrontational politics, currently dampening investment climate, and rampant corruption at every nook and corner of the society etc. which badly damage the country's image are keeping the potential foreign investors at bay when huge FDI flows are urgently required to meet the estimated investment requirements of $25 to 30 billion by 2021 to achieve the much desired GDP growth of 8.0 per cent per annum over a long time.

But we must think and try hard to lift our face up realizing the danger that like in the 1990s we may again fail to attract FDI in large amount which moved to Vietnam bypassing Bangladesh. This apprehension should add to our worries with Bangladesh being ranked 182 among 185 countries by the IFC report titled "Doing Business", a standing that reflects the level of difficulties potential investors face in the country.

Effective Communication Channel is Essential for Bangladeshi Industrial Sector No matter where you go or what you do, effective communication is linked to your success, and poor communication can be linked to failure. It does not matter what industry you are in, you cannot provide a good service or build a good product if it is not effectively communicated what that service or product is to be and how it is to be performed or built. Effective communication is important at every level of an organization & every Sector and equally important when communicating outside of the organization or sector.

As a consumer I am sure you can easily recognize the importance of good communication skills. If you communicate that you want a burger and fries and you are given chicken and coleslaw it can be very frustrating. Did you communicate your order effectively? Were you provided feedback so you could verify that the order was understood? We see examples of poor communication nearly every day. From drivers failing to signal a turn, to the written instructions in the assembly manual that came with our latest purchase of an overseas product. Poor communication practices have an impact on our daily activities. How often do you find yourself speaking to a foreign customer service office when you are trying to figure out a product or billing issue with a company you thought was here in America and cannot get a resolution simply because of the communications barrier? Have you given much thought to your own communication skills and any barriers that may need to be overcome?

Some organizations will have established communication streams such as written instructions for completing a task, formal training classes, and daily informational meetings led by your supervisor. Most will also have an "open door" policy that encourages employee feedback. Meetings are held for the purpose of communicating information and business e-mail and instant messaging is used for the distribution of information. Higher level managers, route truck drivers, sales personnel and many more of you in a variety of occupations are provided with cell phones, and/or two way radios to provide a means of communication. Everything we do and are provided with seems to recognize the importance of communication, but how many are taught how to use the communication tools effectively?

Some of today's college students will spend an entire sixteen week course studying just the basics of how to communicate effectively. They will be provided with formal outlines that tell them what form of communication is best to use in what situations, how to target a specific audience, and what types of distractions can interfere with communicating effectively. Believe it or not, you will be taught that there are certain "rules" to go by when selecting what method of communication you will use to communicate your message, but you will find that your organization may have a different set of rules than what you may be taught in a classroom. The basic communications process is not difficult and if you follow the basics you will do well. One of the first steps is to decide on what it is you wish to communicate and focus on that message. Try not to add in a lot of filler. In communicating within the business world, getting to the point quickly is often appreciated.