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  1. business-and-its-environment

    enterprise
    6 主题
  2. business-structure
    6 主题
  3. size-of-business
    3 主题
  4. business-objectives
    3 主题
  5. stakeholders-in-a-business
    2 主题
  6. external-influences-on-business
    12 主题
  7. business-strategy
    10 主题
  8. human-resource-management
    human-resource-management-hrm
    8 主题
  9. motivation
    4 主题
  10. management
    2 主题
  11. organisational-structure
    5 主题
  12. business-communication
    5 主题
  13. leadership
    2 主题
  14. human-resource-strategy
    3 主题
  15. marketing
    the-nature-of-marketing
    7 主题
  16. market-research
    3 主题
  17. the-marketing-mix
    6 主题
  18. marketing-analysis
    5 主题
  19. marketing-strategy
    3 主题
  20. operations-management
    the-nature-of-operations
    3 主题
  21. inventory-management
    2 主题
  22. capacity-utilisation-and-outsourcing
    1 主题
  23. location-and-scale
    2 主题
  24. quality-management
    1 主题
  25. operations-strategy
    4 主题
  26. finance-and-accounting
    business-finance
    2 主题
  27. sources-of-finance
    3 主题
  28. forecasting-and-managing-cash-flows
    1 主题
  29. costs
    4 主题
  30. budgets
    1 主题
  31. financial-statements
    4 主题
  32. analysing-published-accounts
    6 主题
  33. investment-appraisal
    2 主题
  1. Business_A-level_Cie
  2. business-communication
  3. the-role-of-management-in-facilitating-communication
课 12, 主题 5
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the-role-of-management-in-facilitating-communication

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The role of informal communications

  • Informal communication is the casual, unofficial way that people in a business share information

    • It is not planned or written down in official records

    • The style is friendly and conversational, often using everyday language

    • Messages travel outside the formal chain of command, so they can move quickly across levels and departments

  • Informal communication can occur in a range of situations, including

    • Water-cooler chats

      • Quick conversations in the corridor, kitchen or staff room

    • Instant-messaging or group apps

      • Short texts or emoji exchanges on WhatsApp, WeChat, Slack, etc

    • Social gatherings

      • Talking during lunch breaks, team socials or company sports events

Benefits and risks of informal communication

Benefits

Risks

  • Fast information flow

    • Staff can warn each other of a problem immediately, without waiting for formal meetings

  • Rumours and gossip

    • Wrong facts can spread quickly, damaging morale or reputation

  • Builds team spirit

    • Friendly chat helps people feel connected, boosting motivation and cooperation

  • No written record

    • Decisions made informally may be forgotten or disputed later

  • Encourages ideas

    • Casual talk makes employees more willing to share creative suggestions

  • Can bypass managers

    • Important issues might skip the chain of command, leaving leaders unaware

  • Reduces stress

    • A quick joke or personal story can ease tension during busy periods

  • Exclusion risk

    • Staff who are not part of the social circle may feel left out or unfairly treated

Communication and business efficiency

  • Clear, timely and two-way communication is vital for an efficient business

    • It can can save time, cut costs or raise output when managed well

How communication affects business efficiency

Aspect

Impact on efficiency

Example

Clarity and accuracy

  • Clear, jargon-free messages reduce mistakes and the amount of rework

  • A warehouse worker picks the right items first time when orders are precise

Speed of information flow

  • Fast, real-time updates shorten decision times and reduce bottlenecks

  • A WhatsApp alert warns drivers of a traffic jam, rerouting deliveries instantly

Feedback channels

  • Two-way communication surfaces problems early, so fixes are quicker and cheaper

  • Factory operators report a loose bolt before it causes a costly machine stop

Cross-department coordination

  • Shared platforms (e.g. Slack, Teams) align schedules and resources, avoiding duplication

  • Marketing and production compare launch dates, preventing excess inventory building up

Employee engagement

  • Open, respectful dialogue boosts morale and effort, raising output per worker

  • A suggestion box in a Kenyan tea plant cuts water waste by 10%.

Customer and supplier links

  • Timely, transparent updates build trust and streamline the supply chain

  • A Chinese electronics firm shares live stock data with suppliers, reducing lead times

Ways of improving communication

  • As communication is crucial to improving efficiency, managers should take steps to improve the way information moves around and outside of a business

Steps managers can take to improve communication

Tips for effective communication: set a clear purpose, match channels, use inclusive language, encourage feedback, invest in tools, promote open culture.

  • Sending a clear message through the most suitable channel, whether email, chat, video or face-to-face, reduces errors and speeds up decisions

    • This saves a business time and money

  • Encouraging two-way, inclusive dialogue by using plain language and inviting feedback brings problems to light early

    • It can also encourage new ideas and keep employees motivated.

  • Equipping teams with modern digital tools for chat, video calls and shared files keeps everyone coordinated, wherever they work

    • This improves customer service and helps achieve faster growth