Business Communication Trends
Business Communication COM/385
University of Phoenix

Abstract

Communication in business is vital to the success of any and every form of business. In today’s business environment the form in which messages are communicated changes constantly. It was not that long ago that typewriters were used to assemble memos, letters, reports and any form of messages that needed to be communicated. Today modern technology continues to change the way in which businesses communicate with their audience. Electronic tools have become a key component to every business. Every day there is a new application, device or program to help companies increase their production.

The Role of Business Communication

Business communication is a critical part of every business. Communication is at the core of every function within an organization. Communication in business allows people to obtain a clear definition of the functions that need to be performed as well as overcome any obstacles, misunderstandings, and barriers that may exist. Communication also plays a role in business from the planning phase all the way through the implementation phase and beyond. In essence no job function or anything else would ever be able to get accomplished without communication.
Business communication trends also play one of the most important roles in every business. In order for a company to continue to grow and be successful, they will need to keep up with the latest tools and devices available. Companies do however, need to take into consideration that acquiring new technology and training employees to use these can entail a huge capital investment. Learning to use these tools takes time and can trigger resistance from the employees, especially those are not keen on change. Some of the most popular communication tools used in business today in order to enhance productivity include wikis, portable media devices, personal digital assistants, and one of the newest high-end tools used today, telepresence. Locker & Kienzler (2008). New technology allows businesses to save time, improve efficiency, and help employees stay connected even if they are outside of the office. All these tools and access to information can lead to employees feeling overwhelmed due to information overload.
At my former place of employment (a nonprofit organization specializing in foreclosure prevention) we did not have access to an array of tools. Our main forms of communications were e-mail, telephone, and snail mail, which seem to have been the essence of what we needed to perform and manage our day-to-day activities. Much of our time was spent on face-to-face interviews with our clients and the rest of the time we were on the phone negotiating on their behalf with their lenders, packaging documents necessary for the lenders to evaluate the file in order to stop the foreclosure and allow the clients to save their home.
Trends in the Workplace
The most recent communication trends that I have experienced would have to be utilizing net meeting for attending meetings in which the attendees are in different places. Another popular tool is utilizing Skype for conferences, much like net meeting, this tool allows employees from different locations to attend the same meeting and still be able to see each other and interact with each other although they may be hundreds or thousands of miles away. I have also been able to utilize another former company’s intranet to attain research and access information to perform job functions and complete tasks as well as for personal/career development. Throughout the years I have seen different trends in the business world. During my first office job we used typewriters and carbon paper to create any form of written communication. The first business I ever owned was a telecommunications retail store. At that time beepers were just coming into the market and were used by a large majority of the population not just those who worked in emergency services. Within a few years people were soon disconnecting their beepers and signing up for cell phone service. People did not seem to mind carrying around these huge devices. The convenience of being able to stay communicated outweighed the inconvenience of carrying these bulky devices. Today we have smartphones that not only allow individuals to stay connected via phone lines but also allows them to walk around with portable offices. These devices allow companies to have constant communication with their employees and carry out job functions remotely. Companies ability to deliver results more promptly, more efficiently and more effectively has led to higher customer satisfaction. The downside is that with the ability and access of these tools customer expectations have also been raised. The impact on employee’s personal time has also been compromised, and this can create other issues for the companies’ employees who also need to be taken into account.

Conclusion
It is clear that technology has become an integral part of the way businesses communicate today. Without technology businesses would not be able to compete in a world constantly changing at a more rapid pace every day. These communication trends allow for companies to communicate and exchange information with business partners, associates, employees, and customers regardless of where they are in the globe. In the future we can expect to see the production of more devices and software to help manage business communications more effectively and efficiently than they are today.

Reference
Locker-Keinzler (2007) Business and Administrative Communication (Eighth Edition).