The Complexities of Communication
GM 591 Leadership and Organizational Behavior

* Introduction

DeVry Inc. / DeVry University are a publicly traded company, whose main headquarters is located in Downer Grove, Illinois. However, DeVry’s history goes back well over eighty years. The very first school was named DeForest Training School found in 1931 by Dr. Herman DeVry. The name the name of the school remained DeForest Training School until 1953 when the name changed again to DeVry Technical Institute. In 1955 and 1966 DeVry offer their first associate degree program and gained the Bell and Howell Education Group, by 1968 through 1974 DeVry Technical Institute had become DeVry Institute of Technology and had offered first baccalaureate degree program as well as founded CBA Institute which would later become Keller Graduate School of Management in 1974. In addition, by 1977 to 1981 Keller Graduate School of Management and DeVry would earn their accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. ("History," 2012) DeVry Inc. / DeVry University are first and foremost in the business of providing higher education to the masses but like any other corporations DeVry too has had its obscurities with effective communication.

* Problem Statement Communication is an instrument that allows enhancement of staff and team performance within your entire organization to obtain its mission and vision. How can communication in DeVry Inc. / DeVry University be improved? This problem statement is targeted toward the administration specifically between Student Central and the student body. The initial problem is the lack of communicating done with students about finance or registration issues for example. Many times students leave with their concerns not clearly addressed. In the paper are what could be some solutions to the communication dilemma. As stated by Daniel Hamburger DeVry Incorporated CEO “do not just present a problem that is too easy also offer a good solution that fixes the problem” when did he say this It needs a citation of the year and context. Although communicating can be a bit of a challenge if the right techniques are used on a regular basis quality communications can be achieved.

Literature Review
In an article titled Effective Communication Keys to Reducing Stress (year)there are ideas offered on ways to reduce stress and maintain effective communication in the process. The author gives managers eight ideas on how to limit stress in the workplace cite the page number. The following example clearly fits what is discussed above about limited communication between administrative staffers and the student body. By making sure each member of his or her staff be given clear and consistent instructions, comments, and feedback as well as promote two communications. (Professional Pointers, 2012, p. 5)
Ensuring Effective Two-way Communications discusses about how listening and trust are very important and work well together. Also provides some helpful tips on how to become a more active listener. In addition, Pearce speaks about when two individuals communicate to each other effectively how the two are able to come to a better understanding in the long run than two individuals that have difficulties communicating. This point to the apparent difficulties faced by students also. (Pearce, (2011, p. 27-29)
Influential Factors on Effectiveness of Corporate Communication and Consumer Retention is a journal article that takes a look at a study by a corporation to see the impact corporations have on consumer retention been it positive or negative. It takes the information from questionnaires of about four hundred eighty five people that be considered important for managerial and academic implications to improve or increase consumer relational satisfaction. This piece was introduced because of the level of dissatisfaction attained by students on any given day. Clearly stated yes DeVry is a large corporation however broken down on a smaller scale like for say at the campus level every person should it be staff or student be able to agree on a course of action after and encounter provided the communication is effective. (Akin & Demirel(2011, p. 128-153)
The information contained in the article “Confidence vs. Arrogance” explains the difference between confidence and arrogance and how it can affect the waves of communication. For example, the author says: “Humility is knowing we're going to get kicked (and when we least expect it) and striving to get kicked differently each time. Arrogance is thinking that no one would ever dare take aim.” This article was helpful it clearly separated confidence and arrogance, included because a staff member can perform at a high level without exhibiting arrogance toward a student. (Napoletano,2011, p. 20)
In Fundamentals of Effective Communication the author talks about the questions that should be asked and when to ask the questions and also how to listen with empathy until it is your turn to talk. Also the writing suggests that you deliver your ideas or advice in a way that it is about helping the client/student reach his or her target goal. The author also states that a great communicator is someone that tells the truth and that does not require you have be to mean or tactless. In addition, another suggestion made was to record your meeting then being able to go back and listen to the effectiveness of communication and make improvements where they were needed. (Bachrach(2011, p. 61) You need to work on your understanding of APA or work with the ASC to help
Clear Communication is an interview with the CEO of Nor Tech and she explains how she gets her employees motivated for meetings and focus groups when she first took over the company and how you have to be prepared to put yourself in your employee’s shoes to get a better understanding of how to approach them in any given situation. This piece took on the persona of manager to employee; however it could also be used in the staff to student scenario as well. Humans will have bad days it is part of being human. This should never get in the way of the level of professionalism need to show on a regular basis. (O’Jara, (2011, p. 10). These need to be better integrated to support the problem statement rather than listing them out
Analysis
Communication is a method that uses the process of sending and receiving messages through channels from the sender to the receiver to gain feedback be it positive or negative. Often times there are issues within the channels as to how the message is received by the receiver because of noise. Noise is anything that interferes with the effectiveness of communication process (Schermerhorn, Hunt, Osborn & Uhl-Bien, 2010).
The problem as stated previously is the lack of communication being done between Student Central staffers and the Student Body. To solve this issue the staffers must be willing to walk in the student’s shoes and remember the student perspective. (O’Jara, 2011, p. 10). Also to limit communication issues staffers should learn effective listening skills as all persons in a customer based organization should have. The above mentioned skill will give them favor with all customers and even their peers. (Bachrach, (2011, p. 61)
Another example brought up in the research is when the staffer that is helping you immediately initiates the contact to a student with an air of arrogance. This particular situation just does not fit in an environment that is supposed to be cultivating professionals. (Napoletano, (2011), p. 20)
The Pearce article was a real eye opener it brought together a relationship between trust and listening. After having thought a little this is very true. People that you trust tend to actively listen more than those you just make casual conversation with. The point is a person in a finance role at the university a student should be able to trust after this person and in return that finance personnel should actively listen to the students concern. . (Pearce, 2011, p. 27-29)
There is a certain level of anxiety that goes along with being a student. Especially when the student has to worry about outside influences affecting what should be the main priority and that is maintaining a stellar GPA and getting recognition for such actions.
Solutions
In the following the word solution will be substituted with the word recommendation for reasons that a solution tends to fix a problem whereas if you make a recommendation it appears less autocratic and absolute. These are three recommendations that when used correctly have been known to exhibit favorable results in rectifying communication shortcomings.
First is training which by itself is not enough however when coupled with these other two suggestions effective listening and focus groups the results are much more noticeable.
Training pros: * Increase teamwork engage support of your cause * Enhance and strengthen your leadership abilities * Find your own voice in real life situations
Training cons: * Training costs * Personnel availability * Time Effective listening pros: * Form a bond of respect between talker and listener * Confidence * Increase in work productivity
Effective listening cons: * Developing effective listening skills is a mental process that requires training and practice
Focus Group pros: * Relatively easy to assemble * Help people build new connections * Ability to build on one another’s responses
Focus Group cons: * Focus groups require the investment of a lot of human effort if they are to be done correctly, even the best focus group results do not produce change in any magical way. They yield only very good information. Real change still requires applying that information to strategies and actions. * There can be disagreements and irrelevant discussion which distract from the main focus * They can be hard to control and manage * They can to tricky to analyze * They can be difficult to encourage a range of people to participate * Some participants may find a focus group situation intimidating or off-putting; participants may feel under pressure to agree with the dominant view * As they are self-selecting, they may not be representative of non-users.
The above listing of advantages and disadvantages of the recommendations made. From personal prior experience the one solve or control the problem with communication is the building of effective listening skills. Although that recommendation would still not wholly repair the lack of communication efficiency it would however been to build trust and from the trust being built and nurtured and not severed then the lines of communication could be explored on a grander scale. The research illustrated how to use effective communication techniques on a daily basis. This research highlighted how people really deceive themselves by claiming to be first rate communicators and great listeners. When truth is told those individuals are not even scratching the surface according to the research. This graph needs to be cited.

Blue represents USA in effective listening
Red represents Asia in effective listening
Green represents Europe
It is quite clear from the above graphic that Americans listen well. Oral communication still needs to be retain and valued as a skill. As humans and even with the onslaught of texting and email verbal communication should not be ruled out do simply to its level of importance. Can a people exist without the use of effective communication?
Reflections
This assignment influenced three elements personal and academic and professional. From the personal perspective research and communication has made it easier to understand that listening is much more important than speaking. To add to the previous statementThere is no use of first person in a research paper –you could say the author find that my communicating with my spouse has risen greatly. Although we talk about almost everything of interest to us already find myself wanting to know more about other things that previously.
Now from the academic arena communication has to be first and foremost in dealing with professors as well as my student peers. This old adage is keep in mind it is almost never what you say that will get you in trouble but how you say what is on your mind that causes the concern. Prior to the research, the author found being more of a listener and trying to get a grasp for my fellow class mates by hearing what they have to say.
While the author is not so working professional at present, communication especially verbally would be a key factor because as an HR manager/director position is the door to the organization. All new prospect candidates for employee see me so my level of communication has to exceptional. Looking back on when first decided on communication as a topic did not assume that would learn as much as did simply how closely effective listening and communication are so intertwined. In retrospect clearly not enough attention is paid to the proper techniques involved in effective communication.

References
Akin, E., & Demirel, Y. (2011). An Empirical Study: Are corporate image relation satisfaction and identification with corporate influential factors on effectiveness of corporate communication and consumer retention. European Journal of Social Science, 23(1), 128-153.
Bachrach, B. (2011). The Fundamentals of Effective Communication.
Advisor Today, 106(3), 61.
History. (2012, January 11). Retrieved from http://www.devryinc.com/about-us/history.jsp
Napoletano, E. (2011). Confidence vs. arrogance. Entrepreneur, 39(6), 20.
O'Jara, K. J. (2011). Clear communication. Smart Business Cleveland, 22(10), 10.
Pearce, J. (2011). Ensuring Effective Two-Way Communications.
Franchising World, 43(9), 27-29.
Professional Pointers: Effective Communication Key to Reducing Stress.
(2012). Teller Vision, (1413), 5.
Schermerhorn, J., Hunt, J. G., Osborn, R. N., & Uhl-Bien, M. (2010). Organizational behavior. (11 ed.,. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.