Human Resources Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Human Resources Management - Assignment Example As a result of which the position and status of women in the workplaces are changing at a rapid pace as compared to previous days. Apart from this, due to the introduction of the law of schooling of girls and women in the year 1767, the craze for education and schooling enhanced thereby amplifying the talent of women segment. As a result of which, the typical house-wives of recent age are not expected to spin, cook or sew rather to perform their assigned duties effectively in a workplace. By doing so, the inner knowledge and morale of the female segment is amplifying thereby strengthening their bases more efficiently as compared to previous age. So, the intensity of various crimes is also reducing at a significant extent as compared to previous days. This proved extremely effective for the female segment of the society thereby amplifying their position and fame in the entire globe among others. Moreover, as the female segment of the society is attaining high level of education, so bo th the segments (males or females) might easily apply for a particular job in a workplace. And as a result, the degree of professional integration between male and female segments enhanced thereby declining the inequality of wages and positions as well. Along with this, the unemployment gap within male and female segments of the society reduced significantly resulting in amplification of their living standard and life style. Thus, it might be predicted that due to the enhancement of the earning members of the families, the status and living style also improved Therefore, due to the presence of educational skills and knowledge, females or women continue to hold the leadership position both in public and private sector as compared to males. As a result of which, the supremacy of women is quite similar as compared to males in both public and private workplaces. So, it helped almost 70% of the female segment of the society to become educated and employed thereby offering approximately 3 /4th of the total amount expense of a family. Just like award-winning corporate lawyer named Franci Blassberg is also one of the best examples of a female, who became successful in positioning itself in this male dominated world. As a result, the dominance and status of female segments enhanced resulting in amplification of its popularity and control. It became possible only due to the inner morale and confidence of the Franci Blassberg to flight against the complications and obstacles of males in the world. Other than this, due to the presence of effective communication skills and problem solving nature, Franci Blassberg is now recognized as one of the most efficient and talented lawyer among many others. Not only this, decision making attitude as well as action taking nature acted as the backbone for Franci Blassberg that enhanced her position and expertise among many others. Therefore, it might be clearly depicted that the self awareness, confidence, experience and responsible ch aracter are some of the most essential weapons of the women’s of today’s era. And without the help of these characteristic features, a woman may not sustain or retain her position in this corporate world among the males. Along with this, exact vision and task completion nature is also extremely essential for a woman like Franci Blassberg to retain her portfolio in her workplace thereby amplifying her image and craze among

Ethnography The Quarry and the Lot by Mark Wallace Research Paper

Ethnography The Quarry and the Lot by Mark Wallace - Research Paper Example Discussed in the novel are the aspects of memory as well as the history of the suburban culture in American life. The novel thematically focuses on love imminent in the community in spite of the conflicts had. This is evaluated in reference to the human limits exposed in the character’s conducts, interactions, and dialect. The author focuses on love as a theme in an insightful way which presents the reader with an interesting literary piece which is both captivating and interesting to read. In as much as there is evidence of instances of conflict in the narration, what comes out strongly is the love that holds most members of the community together. The book starts with the information about Joseph Klein’s death. Wallace states, â€Å"The evening after I heard that Joseph Klein had died in a fire†¦ †1. The events that follow the death of Klein bring the community together. In some way, the death overshadows the conflicts that were in the community. For insta nce, the narrator calls many people who had been silent from the community for a significant time. Martha insists they call, Joseph’s father, Walter. ... The silence between them portrays the conflict that characterizes the other members of the community. On the other hand, the love that holds them reflects the greater love that brings the community together even in times of grief. The love comes out even in the case of conflicts. For instance, Joseph Klein was not such a loveable character in the narration. His violent ways could have made many to shun him. However, his death revels that in spite of his traits, the members of the community still appreciated him. The conflict in this case comes in the fear they had over him. Wallace states, â€Å"We had all been powerless where Joseph was concerned.†2 This highlights the fear the Joseph evoked amongst his community members. However, the love is later revealed when it is stated, â€Å"So Martha and I sent the proper flowers and condolences to the family and called a few other people we thought should know.†3 This reflects the twists that characterized the communityâ€℠¢s culture. When Joseph was alive, he could have passed for a bad character in terms of behavioral traits, however, the community members assume this on his death. The love in the community makes them overlook what could have been viewed as secrets. Joseph was not a character whose behavior was unacceptable. Therefore, it appears rather ironical that his death causes a stir in the community. The anticipation would have been his death could have been celebrated. The culture reveals that secrets are overlooked. The plausible reason could have been that the overall feeling of love could have been the cause. Love is brought through relationships as well. For instance, the relationship between the

Modern Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Modern Terrorism - Essay Example Tactics of terrorism, on the other hand, are said to predate even the historical genesis of the name, and have been in use for ages. That said, there is also some consensus that when one talks about modern terrorism, one talks about something that seems to have no precedent in history, and is therefore something that is totally new. True, the ends from the past and as they are now pursued by modern terrorists are the same, and that is to achieve destabilization and to be able to make gains in the political sphere at the expense of innocent lives lost. On the other hand, what makes modern terrorism different from older forms of terrorism is a set of characteristics peculiar to the modern age. This set of characteristics include the ability of terrorists to access technologies that are advanced in their capabilities to destroy while evading detection; the means available to instantly relay messages to the general public, such as the use of Internet technologies, social media, and tradi tional TV media; and the mobile aspects of terrorism that allows for the rapid execution of terroristic acts started somewhere else and ignited finally at destinations of world significance, such as the major world cities. The communication aspect is aided by the technological developments in communication and in the use of the Internet to propagate the terroristic message very quickly, thus aiding in the quick achievement of terroristic goals. Communication is said to have ever been a vital aspect of the terrorists work, and modern communication technologies mark a new phase in terrorism that is thoroughly identified with its modern form. Then too, advances in modern transportation and modern weapons technologies further add to the new and immense powers of modern terrorists to sow terror and achieve their aims via means that will keep eluding the authorities. One can say moreover that a fourth aspect of modern terrorism is this quality of

Ethnography The Quarry and the Lot by Mark Wallace Research Paper

Ethnography The Quarry and the Lot by Mark Wallace - Research Paper Example Discussed in the novel are the aspects of memory as well as the history of the suburban culture in American life. The novel thematically focuses on love imminent in the community in spite of the conflicts had. This is evaluated in reference to the human limits exposed in the character’s conducts, interactions, and dialect. The author focuses on love as a theme in an insightful way which presents the reader with an interesting literary piece which is both captivating and interesting to read. In as much as there is evidence of instances of conflict in the narration, what comes out strongly is the love that holds most members of the community together. The book starts with the information about Joseph Klein’s death. Wallace states, â€Å"The evening after I heard that Joseph Klein had died in a fire†¦ †1. The events that follow the death of Klein bring the community together. In some way, the death overshadows the conflicts that were in the community. For insta nce, the narrator calls many people who had been silent from the community for a significant time. Martha insists they call, Joseph’s father, Walter. ... The silence between them portrays the conflict that characterizes the other members of the community. On the other hand, the love that holds them reflects the greater love that brings the community together even in times of grief. The love comes out even in the case of conflicts. For instance, Joseph Klein was not such a loveable character in the narration. His violent ways could have made many to shun him. However, his death revels that in spite of his traits, the members of the community still appreciated him. The conflict in this case comes in the fear they had over him. Wallace states, â€Å"We had all been powerless where Joseph was concerned.†2 This highlights the fear the Joseph evoked amongst his community members. However, the love is later revealed when it is stated, â€Å"So Martha and I sent the proper flowers and condolences to the family and called a few other people we thought should know.†3 This reflects the twists that characterized the communityâ€℠¢s culture. When Joseph was alive, he could have passed for a bad character in terms of behavioral traits, however, the community members assume this on his death. The love in the community makes them overlook what could have been viewed as secrets. Joseph was not a character whose behavior was unacceptable. Therefore, it appears rather ironical that his death causes a stir in the community. The anticipation would have been his death could have been celebrated. The culture reveals that secrets are overlooked. The plausible reason could have been that the overall feeling of love could have been the cause. Love is brought through relationships as well. For instance, the relationship between the

Fine Arts Lesson 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Fine Arts Lesson 2 - Essay Example This is because meaning to symbols has to be given otherwise the other person would not be able to understand the context of the message. In the above pictogram, the reader would have the context of the English language in mind so he would not have to depend on any key. Pictograms in today’s world are used as symbols and icons. They are employed in sign language, as icons in our computers and also as road signs. The use of pictogram in such areas goes away with the need for words that would occupy more space and would require more time to read. In case of road signs such as U-turn and Danger signs, the viewer reads these signs quickly and thus response is fast. Part 2: Art as a Window into Culture The Seated Gudea is a sculpture of Mesopotamian King Gudea of Lagash, belonging to the Neo-Sumerian period. The sculpture was commissioned by the King himself but the sculptor is unknown. In this sculpture, the king is depicted as a pious person who remains seated with hands clasped in a prayer-like position. Inscriptions are seen on the robe of the King, telling the story of the King who built the temple. The Akkadian relief sculpture of King Naram-Sin of Akkad depicts the victory of King Naram-Sin over the Lullubi. This relief sculpture was probably intended to become a monument. Both the sculptures are praise to their Kings. In the ancient times, the Kings used art to express their greatness. However, the subject of both the paintings is different in a manner of their emotions. King Gudea is shown as a humble person whose contribution to his people is the building of the temple. Gudea is depicted in this sculpture as a humble and peaceful person. In the case of King Naram-Sin of Akkad, the King is the opposite of humble as he basks in the light of his victory over the Lullubi. The King here is proud of his accomplishments and believes in his own might. This shows how the cultures differed as Gudea had strong religious beliefs while King Naram-Sin was sure of his own capabilities. 3. Reflection Assignment: The Evolution of Pyramid Design Pyramids were built in Ancient Egypt primarily for the purpose of serving as tombs for the Pharaohs, their queens and their entire ruling family. However, these Pyramids represent the architectural geniuses of the people who built these structures. Pyramids are great collectors of energy. Another seemingly interesting fact about the shape of the pyramids is the method of decomposition that occurs to the bodies inside the tomb. Rather than stinking or smelling, these pyramid structures lead to the mummification of the body. The Pyramids of Giza are the most functional and elaborate of the Pyramid Design. The Pyramids of Khufu and Cheops in Giza are built based on the Earth’s basic geophysical data linked with the Pyramid’s dimensions. Also being the largest pyramid, The Pyramid of Khufu also acts as radar. Thus these Pyramids not just serve the purpose of being tombs but in the greater cont ext are architectural relics. 4. Writing Assignment: Lasting Monuments One monument that I believe would be a lasting monument in this age would be the Sydney Opera House located in Sydney, Australia. There are two reasons behind this choice. The first is apparently the architectural beauty of the building. The building has become an icon for Sydney in the same way that people remember India by its Taj Mahal,

The Process of Making a Simple Metallic Water Bucket Essay Example for Free

The Process of Making a Simple Metallic Water Bucket Essay While there are many designs of water buckets in the market made of either plastic or metal, there is the universal design that manufactures tend to use with modifications put in order to create a distinction between this manufacturer and the others. This universal design is the V-shaped bucket, which has got the bottom circumference slightly smaller than the top circumference. Those made of plastic may have or may not have a lid, but the metallic ones do not have lids unless in extreme cases. In a metal-work workshop there are dangerous tools and materials which can cause fatal injuries if the proper safety precautions are not adhered to; therefore one should carefully follow the instructions -that govern the use of any tool. The procedure of making a simple metallic bucket may vary from one manufacturer to another but generally it involves four stages namely; (1) Measurement and Marking stage; (2) Cutting stage; (3) Folding stage, and; (4) Joining Stage. In the MEASUREMENT stage, the correct sizes of the parts that make up the bucket i. e. the bottom part, the curved part that forms the body of a bucket, and the handle are measured and marked on metallic sheets. A metallic measuring tape, inside and outside calipers, and marking knife will be most appropriate tools used in this stage. The measured and marked parts are then carefully CUT using either a cold chisel or metal-work scissors depending on the density of the metal sheet. The next stage involves FOLDING of the cut pieces in order to prepare them for the final stage. Pliers, anvil, measuring tape, and metal-work hammer are the most appropriate tools in this stage. The folded metal pieces are then JOINED together using the most appropriate joint i. e. that is simple and can hold on for along time, double seamed joint may be preferred than riveted joint. The handle is also fixed at this stage; a curved handle may be used because it tends to resist breaking rather than that with edges. Assignment #2 Definition of abstract nouns Nouns to be defined: Loyalty, Bravery, Shyness, Faith. Loyalty: Human beings were created in the image of God, they were given the authority to subdue the earth and they were given rules that governed their relationship with God, among these rules were that they should not eat the fruits of the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden. God expected them to be faithful (loyal) to him, however, they were deceived by the devil into eating the forbidden fruits and as a result they were heavily punished. In almost every activity we undertake are governed by rules and regulations which we are bound to follow, the Loyalty, devotion, dependent, honest or faithfulness to a cause, thing, person, or to the set rules ensures that we do not rub shoulders with the setting authority or even we do not get punished (suffer). The concept of loyalty is a crucial element of moral ethics that govern the lives of human beings, all the other virtues that makes up a morally upright human being has got their origin to loyalty. For instance, if one is loyal to his/her creator then definitely s/he will love others, help those with problems, respect others etc, in short s/he will be an all round person in regards i. e. being loyal to both earthly and heavenly rules. Jesus Christ asserted that no one should serve two masters at the same time, because s/he will end up loving the one more while hating the other, s/he will devote much time to the one and despise the other. [Mathew 6:24] He explained that serving two masters at the same time will lead to a state of double mindedness and therefore undermine loyalty to a cause. [James 4:8] This therefore forms the basis of loyalty; the very act of showing a hundred percent devotion, faithfulness†¦ to a cause. Disloyalty is the opposite of loyalty; its meaning is therefore the complete opposite of the meaning of loyalty! Assignment #3 Comparing and Contrasting Soccer vs. Hockey Soccer or football is one of the oldest sports believed to have originated from the ancient Greece when young boys used to kick the bladders of slaughtered animals. [historyofsoccer. net/] On the other hand, Hockey, basically referred to as â€Å"the ball and stick game† was played since ancient times in diverse places like Egypt, Scotland, South America and Rome. [historyofhockey. net/] The two sport disciplines vary greatly in many aspects. Using the sequencing method of comparing and contrasting, these variances can be best depicted. Soccer is a sport that is played by eleven players using feet, head, chest and hands for a normal play duration of 90 minutes (divided in two halves of 45 minutes each), while hockey is played by eleven players using sticks, for normal match duration of 70 minutes ( divided in two halves of 35 minutes each). Soccer pitch is larger in size as compared to hockey pitch with measurements ranging from, 100-110m as length and 64-75m as width while hockey pitch measures 75m as length and 35m as width. Soccer ball is made of leather or synthetic material and it is filled with pressure while hockey has a cork that is small in size and it is made of hard material. Soccer players wear jerseys, shorts, shin guards, socks and boots with long studs with the goalkeeper wearing gloves in addition to those other attire, while in hockey a players jerseys, shorts, shin guards, socks and boots with short studs with goalkeeper wearing an helmet, chest guard, loin guard, shin guards, gloves, and large plastic footwear as the extra protective attire. Whereas kicking of the ball is one of the major skills in a game of soccer, in hockey kicking of the cork is a gross violation except when done by a goalkeeper. In soccer aerial balls (passes) are allowed while in a game of hockey balls which are above the waist are considered as dangerous play and are usually penalized. Soccer is run by the FIFA (federation international de football association), while hockey is run by the FIH (federation of international hockey). Assignment #4 Summarizing References: New International Bible, accessed on January 26, 2009 Hokey history, available; http://www. historyofhockey. net/, accessed on January 26, 2009 Soccer history, available at; http://www. historyofsoccer. net/, accessed on January 26, 2009

Nature and process of communication

Nature and process of communication Explain the Nature and Process of Communication 1.1 COMMUNICATION IS INTEGRAL TO HUMAN LIFE. Communication is deeply intertwined with the human existence. It is an integral part of it. One cannot think of human life without communication. Can you imagine what would happen if you are not allowed to talk for a long time? You would feel suffocated. In personal life, we need to communicate to deal with various concerns and problems of daily life. In professional life also, it is communication that helps us to build healthy relations and credibility with co-workers. Only speaking/talking is not communication. Communication can take place in many forms. Sometimes, we communicate by talking about our ideas, thoughts or emotions; at other times, we may wish to communicate through the written word or even non-verbally. Whatever form we choose, getting the message across is what communication is all about. Communication is a process that is dynamic, continuous, and irreversible but at the same time, it is reciprocal in nature. It is an ongoing process. Roughly, we can define communication as a shared meaning between two or more individuals. The shared meaning arises out of the individuals experiences, background, education and training. Similarity in experiences, background, training, etc. makes communication successful between individuals. Communication helps us to understand others. The inability to communicate can lead to a lot of problems both personally and professionally. Imagine a day without communicating! We can instantly feel the void it would create. Can we ever forget that it is our ability to communicate verbally that distinguishes us from animals? Communication helps form a powerful bond among people and makes us social beings. Besides, knowledge is not the sole requirement for the achievement of success. A person may possess good knowledge, but his/her performance will be evaluated largely on the basis of his/her ability to communicate. Therefore, if you are a good communicator, you have better chances of success in life and in business. 1.2 COMMUNICATION FOR BUSINESS Communication has become indispensable today. Human activity will come to a standstill if there is no communication. All human transactions become possible only through communication. It is the life-blood of every business organization. Especially in todays globalized market economy, effective communication is vital to the success and survival of any organization. Businesses need people with good communication skills because communication is an essential part of the kind of work that is done in business organizations. It extends across all areas of business, including managerial, technical, clerical and social positions. In present times, several factors have contributed to the significance of communication. They are- faster means of communication because of scientific and technological advancements shrinking geographical boundaries because of the availability of faster means of transport growth of the multinational companies that has resulted in the creation of a globalized market economy generation of highly advanced management techniques as a result of the growing importance of professionalism in the management of business the information revolution that has brought with it highly sophisticated networking technologies multiplication of systems of communication at all levels of organization because of specialized knowledge that has lead to departmentalization advancements in the field of social sciences such as in psychology and in sociology that have created an awareness about the human mind and behaviour and how they influence communication Communication undertaken by a business organization with the purpose of achieving certain specific goals is known as business communication. In fact, business communication is a special type of communication undertaken to meet the needs of the organization. Powerful concepts in modern management like participation, motivation, involvement revolve around communication. According to R. Ludlow, Business communication is a process of transfer of information and understanding between different parts and people of a business organization. It consists of various modes and media involved in communication interchanges. Effective communication is needed for growth and development of any organization. H.G. Hicks has rightly pointed out- Communication is basic to an organizations existence from birth of the organization; when communication stops, organized activity ceases to exist. Improving communication skills improves the chances for success of a business. Effective communication brings progress and prosperity to it. Moreover, in this age of specialization, planning, production, sales, advertising, finance, welfare, etc. are handled by different departments. In absence of effective communication, there would be a serious problem of co-ordination among these departments and there would only be chaos and confusion in the organization. Communication is also quite significant keeping in mind the growing importance of human relations and human resource management in todays world. Communication helps a manager in developing meaningful relationships with the subordinates, changing their attitudes, boosting their morale and soliciting their cooperation. Communication links people together to achieve common goals. It is also required to maintain good public relations. Thus, executives are often expected to give speeches and interviews to the media in order to project a favourable image of the organization. Effective communication is required to handle various crises and conflicts of interests in an organization. It is also needed in order to impart adequate training to the employees in handling latest technology. Subordinates often resent the introduction of changes in the methods of working. This poses a challenge to the management to educate the employees so that they can smoothly adapt to the dynamic character of the organization. They also have to work at alleviating the fear that these changes are likely to generate unemployment. Thus, effective communication can help in changing the negative attitude of the employees towards technological advancement. It facilitates meetings which play an important role in the functioning of an organization. Effective business communication depends not only on the skills of the sender of the message but also on the skills of the one who receives that message. Thus, one may say that communication is not an end in itself; rather, it is a means to achieve an end. (For more details, refer 1.6 Objectives of Communication) 1.3 PRE-REQUISITES OF COMMUNICATION Now the question is- What is communication and how it can be accomplished? What do we require to carry out communication? Hence, prior to looking at the meaning of communication, it would be helpful to know how we prepare for it. For instance, you want to write a letter. What all do you need for it? A piece of paper. A pen. A desk for support. Is there anything else that you require besides these things? Certainly you do. You need to dwell on three important things- 1. Purpose 2. Content 3. Skills These three precede all speaking or writing. WHAT TO COMMUNICATE- CONTENT Information Observation/ Receive by Select/Reject Think and Understanding Attention listening or as per your evaluate results into by reading interest, need the information knowledge or expectation This is how information is processed in to being knowledge. Knowledge generates in you the confidence to communicate. If you are well prepared with the content, then half the work is done. It is the urge to express something that begins communication. It can be an idea, an emotion, an opinion or some information. Without this basic idea/need, there can be no communication. However, we do not communicate whatever comes to our mind immediately. There is a need to plan- what to communicate, how to communicate and whom to communicate it to. We do not communicate without a purpose; therefore, it is essential to answer these questions before actually communicating. This helps us to communicate effectively and to get a desirable response from the person with whom we are exchanging our ideas. WHY TO COMMUNICATE- PURPOSE Speakers/ will hear/see Purpose of Writers Listener/ Communication Expectation Reader will listen/read will understand will act/respond THE PURPOSE IS FULFILLED Purpose is the primary pre-requisite of all meaningful communication. The sender initiates communication with some purpose i.e. expectation. S/he expects the receiver to hear/see his message, to listen/read it attentively, to understand it and to act/respond to it. When the receiver gives feedback or performs the expected action, then communication is said to be successful. However, the response would depend on various factors like concentration, physical surroundings and psychological makeup of the receiver. The next question is- how do we communicate? Communication does not just mean speaking or writing. We are communicating even when we smile or shrug our shoulders. However, when we decide to communicate, we need some medium through which to transfer that idea to the other person. HOW TO COMMUNICATE- SKILLS You may possess good knowledge and may be ready to convey it but if you do not know how to do it, it would not be effective. Poor speaking or writing skills is a real hurdle in communication. Speaking Skills Read aloud: Take a small piece of writing from a newspaper, magazine or a book and read it out loud. This will help you to know how you speak- your voice tone, pitch, etc. Observe: Observe how people speak- their pronunciation, accent, intonation, stress, style, rhythm, etc. Try to emulate the speaking style of good speakers. This will help you to improve your own style of speaking. (For a detailed note on speaking skills, writing skills and non-verbal communication, refer Chapter 2 Types of Communication.) Just the idea/information that the communicator has, the media of transmission available and the presence of the receiver are not enough for communication to take place. We need a proper context and an atmosphere where there are no hindrances in the communication process. Does communication end after the idea is communicated? As stated earlier, we communicate with a purpose. Expression of the idea/information is half the work done. But communication is considered complete only when there is some response from the receiver. Only then we can say that the purpose of communication is fulfilled. Communication involves three basic activities on the part of both the participants i.e. the sender and the receiver. On the senders part, they are- Thinking to develop the content to form a message Speaking/Writing to convey the message to the other person Feeling to make the message persuasive On the receivers part, the activities include- Listening/Reading to absorb the idea/information contained in the message Interpreting to understand the meaning of the message Responding to convey the acceptance or the disagreement with the message Communication has always been an important part of human life. Language and the ability to express ourselves using that language come to us spontaneously. And the need to communicate is so inherent in human nature that we hardly realize that effective communication skills can be acquired and honed. There are four basic communication skills- speaking, writing, listening and reading. They always work in the following adjacency pairs- Speaking/writing is handled by the sender of the message and listening/reading by the receiver of the message. Mastering these four skills is very essential if one wants to become an effective communicator. As children, we learn to speak by listening first. Thus, listening is the first skill that we acquire as we develop the language instinct. Then follows the reading skills once we start schooling and lastly we learn the writing skills as a part of our formal education. Thus, learning language/s and the related communication skills follow a systematic process. It does not happen accidentally and instantaneously. Despite of this, people often turn out to be poor communicators as most of us tend to take its importance for granted. Most of the time, we fail to achieve our objective while we communicate. This happens because of our failure to convey our ideas in a precise and clearly understandable manner. There may be a lack either in the content of the message or in the way in which it is conveyed to the intended audience, or both. The point is we do not normally focus much on what to communicate, when to communicate and how to communicate. Also, we need to consider another equally important aspect why to communicate i.e. the purpose. Thus, it is very important for us to recognize and study the essential elements involved in the process of communication in order to become effective communicators. Every aspect of life, whether personal, social or professional, involves communication. The basic meaning of the word communication is- an exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behaviour. The meaning of the word has not undergone much change. However, the ways and means of communication have changed greatly as a result of technological and other socio-cultural developments in recent times. Thus, these advancements have added numerous new dimensions to the communication process, which has become more complex over a period of time. It, thus, calls for a detailed study of the various components that are involved in it in order to be able to communicate effectively. 1.4 DEFINING COMMUNICATION In order to understand the term communication, it would be useful to have a look at some definitions given by the experts. The word communication is derived from the Latin word communis which means to transmit, to impart, to exchange, to share, or to convey. Communication means the imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium. (Oxford English Dictionary) Communication is a two-way process of reaching mutual understanding, in which participants not only exchange (encode-decode) information but also create and share meaning. (Business Dictionary) According to Newman and Summer, Communication is an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions or emotions by two or more persons. Keith Davis states Communication is a process of passing information and understanding from one person to another. F.G. Meyer defines communication as the intercourse by words, letters or messages, the intercourse of thoughts or opinions. It is the act of making ones ideas and opinions known to others. In the words of Theo Haimann, Communication is the process of passing information and understanding from one person to anotherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ it is the process of imparting ideas and making oneself understood by others. According to C.G. Brown, Communication has been defined as the transfer of information from one person to another, whether or not it elicits confidence or becomes an exchange or interchange. But the information transferred must be understandable to the receiver. William Scott defines communication as a process which involves the transmission and accurate replication of ideas ensured by feedback for the purpose of eliciting actions which will accomplish organizational goals. Louis A. Allen says, Communication is the sum of all the things which a person does when he wants to create understanding in the mind of another. It involves a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening, and understanding. According to McFarland, Communication may be broadly defined as the process of meaningful interaction among human beings. More specifically, it is a process by which meanings are perceived and understanding is reached among human beings. These definitions explain communication as a process of passing information and understanding (Keith Davis) a two-way process of reaching mutual understanding (Business Dictionary) the act of making ones ideas and opinions known to others (F.G. Meyer) the process of imparting ideas and making oneself understood by others (Theo Haimann) the transmission and accurate replication of ideas ensured by feedback for the purpose of eliciting actions (William Scott) a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening, and understanding (Louis A. Allen) a process by which meanings are perceived and understanding is reached among human beings (McFarland) Thus, these definitions adequately highlight and express in concise form the important features of the process of communication. In short, we can define communication as a process in which two or more elements of a system interact in order to achieve a desired outcome or goal. (Larry L. Barker and Deborah A. Gaut, Communication; 2001) 1.5 FEATURES OF COMMUNICATION On the basis of the above discussion, let us now discuss certain important features of the process of communication. 1. It is an exchange of ideas. Communication is the process through which an exchange of information takes place. It is the sharing of information, ideas, concepts and messages. 2. Two parties are involved in it. In communication, the exchange of information takes place between two or more persons. This implies that there are minimum two people involved in the communication process at any given time. The one who initiates the exchange is the sender of the message (speaker/writer) and the one who receives and interprets it is the receiver of the message (listener/reader). 3. It is a two-way process. Communication is a two-way process of exchanging ideas or information. One person alone cannot carry out communication. When you communicate, there has to be a receiver or an audience that would reciprocate. Then only your communication can be complete. Thus, communication is a process of transmitting and receiving verbal and non-verbal messages. It is considered effective only when it achieves the desired reaction or response from the receiver. The response may be positive or negative. In case of absence of any response, communication is incomplete. Thus, communication is effective only when a concise and clear message is delivered well, received successfully, understood fully, and responded to promptly. 1.6 OBJECTIVES OF COMMUNICATION There is no human action that is done without any purpose. Even the simplest and most natural action like breathing has a purpose- to stay alive. Communication is also always carried out with some purpose. (Refer 1.3 Pre-requisites of Communication) Communication begins with two-fold objectives or purposes that occupy the senders mind: Immediate or Primary to convey or to share Objectives information of Communication Ultimate or Secondary to convince or to persuade people To inform and to persuade are the two basic purposes (goals) that are ever present in the mind of a communicator. Sometimes, he seeks only to inform, as in scientific writings; sometimes, his goal is to persuade the reader, as in journalistic writings; and oftentimes, he wants both to inform and to persuade the reader, as in sales letters, advertisements, etc. Communication is vital to business. The communication activities of an organization fall into three broad categories: 1. Intra-organisational Communication FORMAL Business 2. Inter-organisational Communication Communication 3. Personal INFORMAL Communication 1. Intra-Organisational Communication It is communication within an organization. It is done to implement business plans. It takes many forms like orders, instructions, reports, emails, etc. 2. Inter-Organisational Communication It is communication that a business organization does with people outside the organization i.e. with other companies, customers, clients, general public, etc. It takes the form of planned publicity to improve its image and public relations with the help of business messages, advertising, displays, etc. The success of a business depends on its ability to fulfill the customers needs. Besides providing services, it must communicate effectively with outside people and groups for its success. 3. Personal Communication It is communication without a specific business objective i.e. without an ulterior motive or purpose. Man is a social animal, therefore we have a compulsive need to communicate even when we have nothing substantial to convey. Such communication also occurs in the workplace. For example, personal conversations, gossip, Grapevine phenomenon, etc. If one is not allowed to engage in such casual communication, it may lead to frustration and other such psychological problems. (For a more detailed discussion on corporate communication, refer Chapter 7 Formal and Informal Networks of Communication.) The primary objective of communication is to convey or share information. Business organizations have to deal with a large and varied amount of information on a daily basis in order to conduct various business activities. Thus, proper flow of information helps them to make right decisions. Another equally important objective of communication is to persuade people to accept a point of view or to change their attitude and accept a new or modified attitude. Persuasion is achieved through logical arguments or an emotional appeal to accept the change. Advertisements are an apt example of the persuasive nature of communication. Essentially, all communication is a deliberate and intentional act of persuasion. A communicator wants the reader not only to understand the message but also to be influenced as intended by him. (For a detailed discussion, refer 10.6 Persuasive Communication, Chapter 10 Nature of Attitude and its Influence on Communication) Communication helps to convey information from experts to trainees in an organization for the purpose of educating or training them to handle new technology or to adapt to the changes in the work environment. Communication is an effective tool in the hands of the managers to motivate and to boost the morale of the employees. This enables the organization to achieve higher productivity. Through advice and counseling, the management can help the employees in dealing with their emotional problems as well as problems pertaining to maladjustment and also to give career guidance. By means of letters of appreciation, special mention in reports, minutes of meetings, etc., the management can appreciate the work of the employees. In case of strikes, lockouts, and dismissal of individual employees or disciplinary action against them, the management uses communication channels to issue warnings. Communication also helps in co-ordination of intra-organisational activities, inter-organisational transactions, business transactions, and commercial transactions by means of conferences, meetings, advertisements, requests, suggestions, reviews, and discussions. Without communication, coordinating the activities of different persons engaged in running a business is a remote possibility. The management and the subordinates come closer through communication. Communication promotes cooperation and good industrial relations as it conveys feelings, ideas, opinions, and viewpoints of one party to the other party. The policies and programs formulated by the organization to guide the workforce have to be conveyed to those who are responsible for the execution of work to achieve the organizational objectives. Only effective communication can translate the plans into actions. It aids teamwork by enabling people to work together. It helps perform basic management functions like instructing, coordinating, staffing, planning, etc. Thus, these are the few important objectives of communication in the context of business organizations. So far, we have discussed what comprises communication and the significance of communication in our personal, social as well professional life. We have also highlighted some of the fundamentals of communication. Let us now analyse the process of communication and see how it is accomplished. 1.7 PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION Process is a series of things done to achieve something. Communication also follows a process. Communication begins when the sender/encoder identifies the need to communicate some idea/concept/information. He then encodes/formulates it into a message using a medium which can be understood by the receiver/decoder of the message who in turn processes it in his mind and responds to it. When the decoder understands the message completely, fidelity of communication is said to be 100% and the communication process is said to be complete. (Refer David Berlos Model of Communication) Thus, communication is a two-way process. Fidelity of Communication Idea Idea Concept Encoder Medium Decoder Concept Message Message Information Information Fidelity of Communication David Berlos Model of Communication If necessary, the receiver may send a reply or may respond or react to the message. This response or reaction is also known as feedback. But sometimes, there may be no response at all from the receiver even if it is required. Absence of feedback can be attributed to either of the following reasons- a) the message does not reach the receiver or b) the receiver fails to understand the message. Such situations may arise due to the presence of some factor/s that can- a) obstruct the message from being transmitted or b) distort the meaning of the message. The factors that hamper the flow of communication are known as barriers to communication. (Refer Chapter 4 Resolving Barriers to Communication) Communication occurs in five phases and it consists of the following eight components which are inter-related: Idea Sender/Encoder (Speaker/Writer) Encoding Message Channel and Medium Receiver/Decoder (Reader/Listener) Decoding Feedback Let us now discuss in detail the various stages and elements involved in the communication process. PHASE I- IDEATING: 1) Idea Every message whether oral or written has its origin in an idea that germinates in the mind of the sender of the message. Every idea refers to some context. Context is a common frame of reference within which the sender and the receiver communicate with each other. Thus, the idea or information that the sender wants to convey to the receiver is the source of the message in the communication process. 2) Sender/Encoder The person who initiates the communication process is referred to as the encoder. The process of communication begins with the sender who identifies the need to communicate. He may want to inform or to persuade or to influence or to make the receiver take a particular course of action. The sender must have a clear picture in his mind about what he wants to communicate and should accordingly select symbols, words, images, etc. that would best convey his ideas to the receiver. He must identify his audience and formulate the message in such a way that the receiver understands fully what he intends to convey and interprets it within the same context. PHASE II- ENCODING: 3) Encoding Encoding takes place when the sender formulates his idea into a message to be transmitted to the receiver, using a series of symbols- verbal and/or non-verbal, written or oral. The sender should encode his message keeping in mind the purpose of communication and he should select words or symbols so as to make the receiver understand the communication correctly and to achieve the expected feedback. The sender as well as the receiver should attach the same meaning to the symbols or words, otherwise communication would fail. Thus, proper encoding is essential for successful communication. 4) Message That which is encoded, i.e. the idea/concept/information, is the message. Message is an idea transformed into words. It can be expressed in different ways depending on the subject-matter, purpose, audience, personal style and cultural background of the sender. It can be transmitted effectively only when it is well-formulated, clear, and complete in itself. PHASE III- TRANSMITTING: 5) Channel and Medium An appropriate medium chosen to send the message is known as channel. It is the vehicle which facilitates the sender to convey the message to the receiver. Channel is the system used to transmit a message, whereas medium is one of the forms or types used under that system. For example, oral communication is a channel and telephone conversation (a form of oral communication) is a medium. There are three broad channels of communication and there are several media under each- Channel Medium 1. Oral face-to-face conversation, telephone conversation, audio-tapes, voice mail, etc. 2. Written letters, memos, reports, manuals, notices, circulars, questionnaires, minutes, email, fax, etc. 3. Audio-visual cinema, television, video-tapes, video conferences, video chat, etc. Thus, there is a difference between medium and channel. The sender should decide the best possible channel and medium to transmit the message. The selection of an appropriate channel/medium would be influenced by the following factors- a) the nature of the message, b) the urgency of the message, c) the number of receivers, d) the cost factor, and e) the relationship between the sender and the receiver. PHASE IV- RECEIVING: 6) Receiver/Decoder The person who receives the encoded message is referred to as the decoder. He is the intended audience of the message. The receiver may be an individual or a group of individuals. As communication is a two-w