Paul J. Meyer once said that communication is the human connection that is critical to personal and career success. The same quote is also applicable to organizational management. Communication acts as a link between the employer and employees. Through communication, senior managers issue directives and control the operations of a business. In addition, communication plays a significant role in decision making. Nearly all decisions made in organizations depend on the information received. Organizations are rapidly shifting to the concept of Management Information System (MIS) which is an information system that helps in decision making, coordinating and controlling organizational activities. Although technological advancements have improved communication and consequently decision making, future executives should be prepared to address fundamental communication issues. The issues include less complexity, information overload, and information gaps between different groups.
Important Communication Issues
There are several communication issues that I expect to face as a future executive. Over the years, the number of internet users has increased exponentially. Consequently, a majority of the people have joined social media platforms which have become a source of information. Although the application of social media in communicating has helped improve business processes and enhanced sharing of knowledge, there is the danger of information overload. There are no strict regulations when it comes to controlling the information uploaded on the internet. With too much information on the internet and other platforms, it would become difficult to determine the credibility of information circulated. On the other hand, Ilišević & Curguz (2016) says that broadband accessibility that includes the Internet of Thing (IoT), Big Data, and Cloud Computing will influence future economies but will necessitate the reviewing of existing communication rules. Data protection is, therefore, another issue likely to arise in the future as an organization undergoes a paradigm shift in data handling and management.
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Complexity of Communication
Technological advancements have enhanced communication over the centuries, therefore breakthroughs in the sector could make the process less complicated and help improve knowledge. In the 1980s, personal computers never existed, and millions of people lived under oppressive regimes that controlled communication (Kane, 2015). However, communication was simplified with gradual developments that saw the introduction of smart systems that enhanced communication across distances. The digitization of operations in the mid-1980s and improved internet accessibility in most parts of the world, in the subsequent years, simplified communication between parties (Treem et al., 2015).
The realization of improved communication courtesy of enhanced technological development during the era underscores the vital role trends in the sector have simplified over the years. Kane (2015), evaluates the use of social media for business application in the workplace and the potential changes it will bring in the future. The author suggests that technology would help improve the ability to find and access digital content. The ability to store information and retrieve it when needed would help improve decision making in the future. Therefore, there is a possibility that managers would increasingly rely on social media to communicate. He provides a case study of BASF which improved the efficiency of project groups by 25% when using communication. He opines that when organizational communication takes places on the platforms, the knowledge enshrined in that communication is made available to every member of the organization.
Role of Technology
Technology will continue to shape organizational communication. According to Treem et al., (2015) extant studies concerning communication technology use in firms have revealed that employees develop diverse opinions of technologies at the workplace. They argue that there is a tendency among employees to compare their experiences while interacting with technologies with their employees. They get to examine the usability of technological tools to complete specific tasks. Such interactions are used to create expectations or assumptions concerning the outcomes of using technology (Kane, 2015). Consequently, individuals have different opinions about how technological developments influence communication.
Nevertheless, researchers argue that in future more organizations will push for the integration of social media which will facilitate greater knowledge sharing among employees. Besides, social media would promote transparent and open communication among employees because enterprise social media (ESM) create a platform where users can air their grievances freely without the fear of victimization (Treem et al., 2015). However, the authors argue that although it is expected there would be significant technological advancements, the communicative benefits of ESM may not be achievable because of resistance from employees. They give the example of the American Financial where employees were skeptical about embracing the use of social media as a communication tool. Despite the possibility of resistance, firms would be forced to adjust to changes in the technological environment.
Resolving Communication Gap
Despite the digital disruption currently being experienced, communication gaps still exist between generations, cultures, and among people with different levels of education and incomes. One of the ways of bridging the gap between the different ages is through adopting acknowledging what the previous generations have to offer and accepting what the upcoming generation can provide. Hence, the first step is to recognize the differences in the communication culture among the two groups then combine them to bridge the gap (Kane, 2015). Once everyone has been brought on the same page, the next step would be lead with the facts. A manager will need to explain to the employees where the gaps exist so that they can understand the meaning of bridging the gaps. The next step would be to avoid criticizing those who are adamant about accepting communication changes before giving the different stakeholders an opportunity to respond to the communication changes intended to be introduced.
Personal Philosophy
Integrated business communication (IBC) is the inter-link of the various approaches of communication applied to enhance the flow of information in an organization. Overwhelming evidence concerning information flow in organizations indicates technology has played a critical role in integrating business communication. With many organizations embracing the concept of Management Information Systems for decision-making purposes, firms will continue investing in technologies that would improve information flow. As a future executive manager, I would be required to make corporate decisions frequently. Decisions made at the senior management level are critical because they influence the chances of a business surviving. For instance, capital investments decisions directly impact the survival chances of an organization. They often involve significant amounts of funds and therefore if wrong choices are made organizations risk collapsing. Hence, decision making is an activity that plays a vital role in determining the fate of an organization. However, managers depend on the information they receive within and outside the organization to make workable decisions. Management Information Systems have improved the decision-making process. Organizations collect data from the main components that make up the systems which include people, organization and operations. Hence, as organizations rapidly embrace Management Information Systems, information flow would improve. Therefore, integrated business communication would improve in the future as more technologies emerge. The bottlenecks that exist in information sharing between the departments would be eliminated, and there is a possibility all departments would be sharing a single information database.
Conclusion
Communication is an essential business activity that influences decision making and other processes. Managers make critical decisions based on information available. The sources of information include people, processes and technology. With the level of competition in the business environment becoming stiff by the day, Management Information Systems has emerged as a strategic tool for decision making and communication. Technology allows organizations to store information from various sources and use it to make informed decisions. Consequently, in future business will embrace integrated business communication courtesy of improved technologies which will enhance decision making. Nevertheless, issues like information overload, the credibility of information, information gaps and other issues will have to be addressed for the goal to be achieved.
References
Ilišević, D., & Curguz, N. B. (2016, May). Future communication model: Challenges and opportunities for society as a whole. In 2016 39th International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO) (pp. 702-706). IEEE.
Kane, G. C. (2015). Enterprise social media: Current capabilities and future possibilities. MIS Quarterly Executive, 14(1).
Treem, J. W., Dailey, S. L., Pierce, C. S., & Leonardi, P. M. (2015). Bringing technological frames to work: How previous experience with social media shapes the technology's meaning in an organization. Journal of Communication, 65(2), 396-422.
