Weekly Reflection
MGT/521
August 17, 2012
Learning Team A
Learning Team A. Ellen Thomas

Team A: Weekly Reflection
In this paper, Learning Team A will collaborate on Week One objectives while expressing our level of comfort and discomfort to the following topics: • Identify channels for business communications • Evaluate credibility and validity of sources of information. • Develop effective arguments The information addressed within our Weekly Reflection will provide direction for effectively distinguishing between formal and informal business communication channels. In addition, Learning Team A agrees that identifying the proper business communication channel will ensure the appropriate channels are used and messages are transmitted efficiently through the communication process. Lastly, Learning Team A will also address how the weekly topics relate to our field of business.

Team A: Identify channels for business communications In efforts of identifying the various channels for business communication Learning Team A was able to relate to and understand collectively the various forms of communication used within business. We all share the common fact of possessing secure employment; however, the areas of business vary from entrepreneurship, management, and the medical field. Considering our areas of employment differ with regards to the area of business in which we all specialize in, they all come down to the some of the same channels for business communication.

Two primary channels of business included face to face and email communication. Within entrepreneurship, management and the medical field utilizing the benefits of face to face and email communication is most effective. In the area of patient care, customer service and management, conducting one’s self within direct proximity of another individual is extremely common. In the nursing field, effectively educating patients about their medication dosages requires face to face communication. With the use of face-to-face interaction, the nurse is able to determine if the patient understands the education provided based upon facial expression and body language. The same goes for being a member of management or a business owner and having to relay information to staff members or the consumer. Email communication is important because quick responses are often necessary. Emails sent are often flagged by level of importance. “Time to react is a legitimate determinant of when to red flag an email (Sikula, Sikula Dodds, & Sikula, 2012)”. Often times, there are emails that have been sent that require an immediate response. When receiving many emails throughout the day it is necessary to know which communication is of high priority; having an email flagged promotes effective communication because the receiver knows what information requires a quick response.

Team A: Evaluate credibility and validity of sources of information Evaluating the credibility and validity of sources of information is of extreme importance. On a Graduate level Learning Team A found this to be a slight challenge within the past week. Determining what source of information is credible and valid requires research, and much of the research has pros and cons. There are many articles of the same subject that may contradict information on the same topic. Some say that when researching various sources of information, one out of eight articles possess invalid information. One may be left wondering where the research was derived from and if the one out of eight sources are credible. Having to locate articles that relate to our weekly discussion topics were discouraging and time consuming. However, there was a benefit to the many challenges that we faced. Learning Team A, further understands that when researching various channels, be it internet, scholarly/news articles, local news or books to find information, the ability to carefully decipher between what is accurate or credible becomes a choice. This is especially true with Internet research conducted by the public. Considering the public logs on to a particular website such as Google and chooses from billions of Web pages that are produced by respected media outlets and activists that have the desire to express a view, being able to determine what is credible becomes challenging. Research experts advise Internet users to carefully examine a variety of cues when evaluating the credibility of online information, (Taylor & Francis, 2003).

Team A: Develop effective arguments Learning Team A found that developing effective arguments was another comfortable topic to discuss due to our ability to understand the importance of how behavior plays an important role in the way one is perceived to their audience. The way in which an argument is presented varies based upon it being within a classroom, daily life or professional environment. Being careful not to offend and having the desire to listen is extremely important and creates an atmosphere for presenting an effective argument. Constructing and supporting an argument allows the business communication channels to flow in a direction that benefits the structure of an organization. During the discussions, it was emphasized that an argument in the classroom is formal and is supported by evidence that should be credible and citable in both source and content. Language is exact and the argument must result from rigorous academic inquiry. Arguments that take place “on the job” are more formal but evidence is usually related to the workplace and would use evidences such as data on productivity, product information, graphs and charts that relate to production, products or services. In our “daily life”, an argument is considered to be more informal and could be spontaneous, subjective and dependent more on immediate feedback than in any of the other two cases. The source of evidence is broader and subject to less rigorous requirement than in the classroom and on the job setting. Sources of evidence would include news media, personal history and even personal affinity. Each objective applies to every area of our business considering we work with the public on a daily basis. Therefore, being able to select the correct communication channel and developing effective arguments is key.

References:
Francis, W., Taylor, R. (2003). Evaluating The Validity of Online Information. Volume Six, Issue 1. Retrieved August 17, 2012, from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/S15327825MCS0601_3

Sikula, Sikula Dodds, & Sikula, 2012. Retrieved on August 18, 2012