14-2 Explain how technology affects managerial communication.
Information technology (IT) has radically changed the way organizational members work and communicate. How?
—Improves a manager’s ability to monitor individual and team performance
—Allows employees to have more complete information to make faster decisions
—Provides employees more opportunities to collaborate and share information
—Allows employees to be fully accessible 24/7
2 IT developments have had a significant effect on organizational and interpersonal communication …
In a networked communication system:
Organizational computers are linked through compatible hardware and software, creating an integrated organizational network.
Employees communicate with each other via networked computers
Employees can be connected without being physically “plugged in” at work!
Mobile technology is extremely popular!
Improving the way employees work is the payoff!
People don’t have to be physically “at the office” in order to communicate, collaborate, and share information with managers and colleagues.30
Managers and employees “keep in touch” using smartphones, tablet computers, notebook computers, and mobile pocket communication devices.
And mobile communication works—anywhere. People can send and receive information from the summit of Mt. Everest to the remotest locations on the planet.
E-mail—instantaneous transmission of messages on computers or mobile devices.
Messages read at receiver’s convenience
Fast, cheap, efficient, and convenient
Print documents, if needed
Slow and cumbersome
Workplace instant messaging (IM)—interactive, real-time communication among coworkers who are logged on at the same time.
Instantaneous communication without waiting for colleagues to read e-mail
Users must be logged on at the same time
Potential network and data security breaches
Voice mail—a system that digitizes a spoken message, transmits it, and stores it for a receiver to retrieve later.31
Information transmitted without receiver being physically present
Message can be saved, deleted, or re-routed
No immediate feedback
Teleconference and videoconference meetings—confer simultaneously by phone, e-mail, or video screens.
Participants don’t need to be in same physical location to share information and collaborate
Saves travel money
Organizational intranet—an organizational communication network that’s accessible only to organizational employees.
Share information and collaborate on documents and projects
Access company policy manuals and employee-specific materials32
Possible network and data security breaches
Organizational extranet—an organizational communication network that allows authorized organizational users to communicate with certain outsiders such as customers or vendors.
Faster and more convenient communication
Concerns about network and data security breaches
Internet-based voice/video communication—Internet based communication services (such as Skype, Viber, FaceTime, Vonage, Yahoo!).
Fast and convenient communication
Concerns about network and data security breaches