{"id":10186,"date":"2017-02-21T17:15:53","date_gmt":"2017-02-21T17:15:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/masterybusiness2xngcxmasterspring2016\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=10186"},"modified":"2019-01-05T01:41:45","modified_gmt":"2019-01-05T01:41:45","slug":"reading-communication-channels-2","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wmintrobusiness\/chapter\/reading-communication-channels-2\/","title":{"raw":"Reading: Communication Channels","rendered":"Reading: Communication Channels"},"content":{"raw":"<a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2017\/02\/21215023\/25900843762_10681cb9f9_k.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-10206\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2017\/02\/21215023\/25900843762_10681cb9f9_k-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"A group of people hold a meeting in a conference room.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #333333;\">In communications, a channel is the means of passing information from a sender to a recipient. Determining the most appropriate channel, or medium, is critical to the effectiveness of communication. Channels include oral means such as telephone calls and presentations, and written modes such as reports, memos, and email.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #333333;\">Communication\u00a0channels differ along a scale from rich to lean. Think about how you would select a steak\u2014some have more fat than others; they are <strong>rich<\/strong> and full of flavor and body. If, however, you are on a diet and just want the meat, you will select a <strong>lean<\/strong> steak. Communication channels are the similar: rich channels are more interactive, provide opportunities for two-way communication, and allow both the sender and receiver to read the nonverbal messages. The leanest channels, on the other hand, trim the \"fat\" and present information without allowing for immediate interaction, and they often convey \"just the facts.\"\u00a0The main channels of communication are grouped below from richest to leanest:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Richest channels: face-to-face meeting; in-person oral presentation<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Rich channels: online meeting; video conference<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Lean channels: teleconference; phone call; voice message; video (e.g., Facetime)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Leanest channels: blog; report; brochure; newsletter; flier; email; phone text; social media posts (e.g., Twitter, Facebook)<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"atom__components__figure\">\r\n<div class=\"atom__components__figure__cont\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"250\"]<img class=\"atom__components__figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/oerfiles\/WMBusiness\/images\/61938661_72a69403fe_m.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Bill Gates speaking at a school.\" width=\"250\" height=\"164\" \/> Bill Gates speaking at a school. A speaker giving a large presentation is an example of oral communication.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<span style=\"color: #333333;\">Oral communications tend to be richer channels because information can be conveyed through speech as well as nonverbally through tone of voice and body language. Oral forms of communication can range from a casual conversation with a colleague to a formal presentation in front of many employees. Richer channels are well suited to complex (or potentially unsettling) information, since they can provide opportunities to clarify meaning, reiterate information, and display emotions.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #333333;\">While written communication does not have the advantage of immediacy and interaction, it can be the most effective means of conveying large amounts of information. Written communication is an effective channel when context, supporting data, and detailed explanations are necessary to inform or persuade others. One drawback to written communications is that they can be misunderstood or misinterpreted by an audience that doesn't have subsequent opportunities to ask clarifying questions or otherwise respond.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #333333;\">The following\u00a0are some examples of different types of communication channels and their advantages:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Web-based communication<\/strong>, such as video conferencing, allows people in different locations to hold interactive meetings. Other Web-based communication, such as information presented on a company Web site, is suited for sharing transaction details (such as order confirmation) or soliciting\u00a0contact information (such as customer phone number and address)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Emails<\/strong> provide instantaneous written communication; effective for formal notices and updates, as well as informal exchanges.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Letters<\/strong> are a more formal method of written communication usually reserved for important messages such as proposals, inquiries, agreements, and recommendations.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Presentations<\/strong>\u00a0are usually oral and usually include an audiovisual component, like copies of reports, or material prepared in Microsoft PowerPoint or Adobe Flash.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Telephone meetings\/conference calls<\/strong> allow for long-distance interaction.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Message boards<\/strong> and <strong>Forums<\/strong> allow people to instantly post information to a centralized location.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Face-to-face meetings<\/strong> are personal, interactive exchanges that provide the richest communication and are still the preferred method of communication in business.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span style=\"color: #333333;\">So, we have written and oral channels, channels that range from rich to lean, and then, within those, multiple channels from which the sender can choose. How do you decide the best channel for your message? When deciding which\u00a0communication channel to use, the following are some of the important factors to consider:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">the audience and their reaction to the message;<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">the length of time it will take to convey the information;<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">the complexity of the message;<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">the need for a permanent record of the communication;<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">the degree to which the information is confidential;\u00a0 and<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">the cost of the communication.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">If you choose the wrong channel\u2014that is, if the channel is not effective for the type of message and meaning you want to create\u2014you are likely to generate\u00a0misunderstanding and possibly end up\u00a0making matters worse. Using the wrong channels can impede communication and can even create\u00a0mistrust. For example, a manager wants to compliment an employee for his work on a recent\u00a0project. She can use different approaches and channels to do this. She could send the an employee a text: \"Hey, nice work on the project!\" Or she could send him an email containing the same message. She could also stop by his desk and personally compliment him. She could also praise him in front of the whole department during a meeting. In each case the message is the same, but the different channels alter\u00a0the way the message is perceived. If the employee spent months working on the project, getting a \"Hey, nice work on the project!\" text message or email might seem like thin praise\u2014insulting even. If the employee is shy, being singled out for praise during a departmental meeting might be embarrassing. A face-to-face compliment during a private meeting might be received better. As you can see, getting the channel right is just as important as sending the right message.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"left\"><\/p>","rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2017\/02\/21215023\/25900843762_10681cb9f9_k.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-10206\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2017\/02\/21215023\/25900843762_10681cb9f9_k-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"A group of people hold a meeting in a conference room.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">In communications, a channel is the means of passing information from a sender to a recipient. Determining the most appropriate channel, or medium, is critical to the effectiveness of communication. Channels include oral means such as telephone calls and presentations, and written modes such as reports, memos, and email.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Communication\u00a0channels differ along a scale from rich to lean. Think about how you would select a steak\u2014some have more fat than others; they are <strong>rich<\/strong> and full of flavor and body. If, however, you are on a diet and just want the meat, you will select a <strong>lean<\/strong> steak. Communication channels are the similar: rich channels are more interactive, provide opportunities for two-way communication, and allow both the sender and receiver to read the nonverbal messages. The leanest channels, on the other hand, trim the &#8220;fat&#8221; and present information without allowing for immediate interaction, and they often convey &#8220;just the facts.&#8221;\u00a0The main channels of communication are grouped below from richest to leanest:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Richest channels: face-to-face meeting; in-person oral presentation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Rich channels: online meeting; video conference<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Lean channels: teleconference; phone call; voice message; video (e.g., Facetime)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Leanest channels: blog; report; brochure; newsletter; flier; email; phone text; social media posts (e.g., Twitter, Facebook)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"atom__components__figure\">\n<div class=\"atom__components__figure__cont\">\n<div style=\"width: 260px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"atom__components__figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/oerfiles\/WMBusiness\/images\/61938661_72a69403fe_m.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Bill Gates speaking at a school.\" width=\"250\" height=\"164\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bill Gates speaking at a school. A speaker giving a large presentation is an example of oral communication.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Oral communications tend to be richer channels because information can be conveyed through speech as well as nonverbally through tone of voice and body language. Oral forms of communication can range from a casual conversation with a colleague to a formal presentation in front of many employees. Richer channels are well suited to complex (or potentially unsettling) information, since they can provide opportunities to clarify meaning, reiterate information, and display emotions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">While written communication does not have the advantage of immediacy and interaction, it can be the most effective means of conveying large amounts of information. Written communication is an effective channel when context, supporting data, and detailed explanations are necessary to inform or persuade others. One drawback to written communications is that they can be misunderstood or misinterpreted by an audience that doesn&#8217;t have subsequent opportunities to ask clarifying questions or otherwise respond.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">The following\u00a0are some examples of different types of communication channels and their advantages:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Web-based communication<\/strong>, such as video conferencing, allows people in different locations to hold interactive meetings. Other Web-based communication, such as information presented on a company Web site, is suited for sharing transaction details (such as order confirmation) or soliciting\u00a0contact information (such as customer phone number and address)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Emails<\/strong> provide instantaneous written communication; effective for formal notices and updates, as well as informal exchanges.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Letters<\/strong> are a more formal method of written communication usually reserved for important messages such as proposals, inquiries, agreements, and recommendations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Presentations<\/strong>\u00a0are usually oral and usually include an audiovisual component, like copies of reports, or material prepared in Microsoft PowerPoint or Adobe Flash.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Telephone meetings\/conference calls<\/strong> allow for long-distance interaction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Message boards<\/strong> and <strong>Forums<\/strong> allow people to instantly post information to a centralized location.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Face-to-face meetings<\/strong> are personal, interactive exchanges that provide the richest communication and are still the preferred method of communication in business.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">So, we have written and oral channels, channels that range from rich to lean, and then, within those, multiple channels from which the sender can choose. How do you decide the best channel for your message? When deciding which\u00a0communication channel to use, the following are some of the important factors to consider:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">the audience and their reaction to the message;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">the length of time it will take to convey the information;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">the complexity of the message;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">the need for a permanent record of the communication;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">the degree to which the information is confidential;\u00a0 and<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">the cost of the communication.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">If you choose the wrong channel\u2014that is, if the channel is not effective for the type of message and meaning you want to create\u2014you are likely to generate\u00a0misunderstanding and possibly end up\u00a0making matters worse. Using the wrong channels can impede communication and can even create\u00a0mistrust. For example, a manager wants to compliment an employee for his work on a recent\u00a0project. She can use different approaches and channels to do this. She could send the an employee a text: &#8220;Hey, nice work on the project!&#8221; Or she could send him an email containing the same message. She could also stop by his desk and personally compliment him. She could also praise him in front of the whole department during a meeting. In each case the message is the same, but the different channels alter\u00a0the way the message is perceived. If the employee spent months working on the project, getting a &#8220;Hey, nice work on the project!&#8221; text message or email might seem like thin praise\u2014insulting even. If the employee is shy, being singled out for praise during a departmental meeting might be embarrassing. A face-to-face compliment during a private meeting might be received better. As you can see, getting the channel right is just as important as sending the right message.\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-10186\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Revision and adaptation. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Linda Williams and Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Choosing the Type of Communication from Boundless Management. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Boundless. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boundless.com\/management\/textbooks\/boundless-management-textbook\/communication-11\/barriers-to-effective-communication-84\/choosing-the-type-of-communication-401-1845\/\">https:\/\/www.boundless.com\/management\/textbooks\/boundless-management-textbook\/communication-11\/barriers-to-effective-communication-84\/choosing-the-type-of-communication-401-1845\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Choosing the Right Method for the Message from Boundless Business. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Boundless. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boundless.com\/business\/textbooks\/boundless-business-textbook\/business-writing-5\/means-of-communication-43\/choosing-the-right-method-for-the-message-220-1217\/\">https:\/\/www.boundless.com\/business\/textbooks\/boundless-business-textbook\/business-writing-5\/means-of-communication-43\/choosing-the-right-method-for-the-message-220-1217\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>wocintech (microsoft) - 152. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: WOCinTech Chat. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/wocintechchat\/25900843762\/in\/dateposted\/\">https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/wocintechchat\/25900843762\/in\/dateposted\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":26,"menu_order":10,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Revision and adaptation\",\"author\":\"Linda Williams and Lumen Learning\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Choosing the Type of Communication from Boundless Management\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Boundless\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.com\/management\/textbooks\/boundless-management-textbook\/communication-11\/barriers-to-effective-communication-84\/choosing-the-type-of-communication-401-1845\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Choosing the Right Method for the Message from Boundless Business\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Boundless\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boundless.com\/business\/textbooks\/boundless-business-textbook\/business-writing-5\/means-of-communication-43\/choosing-the-right-method-for-the-message-220-1217\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"wocintech (microsoft) - 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