Running Head: COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESS 1

Communication Systems in Business Organizations

Name:

Institutional Affiliation:
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESS 2

Organizational information systems

In todays world, organizational change seems to be inevitable if an organization is to

cope with its competitors. Organizations face rapid transformations as globalization continues to

heighten the markets paving way for more revenue and growth. Various information systems can

be used to ensure that an organization follows a given channel of transformation. Such

information systems include intelligence, communication, decision support system, and so forth.

These systems are critical as far as the survival of an organization is concerned. With a particular

focus on communication system, it is worth mentioning that this is one of the fundamental aspect

required to implement the process of transformation within an organization fully. Effective

communication system gives an organization the ability to empower its consumers, enhances

information exchange among employees and other organizations, and provides support for other

management mechanisms (National Research Council & Computer Science and

Telecommunications Board, 2000). This paper transcends into discussing the requirements of a

business that would influence the initial development of a communication system as well as uses

of the communication system and other developmental plans affiliated with it.

Business requirements that would influence initial development of a communication system

Communication is a vital tool for transformation process in an organization. However,

there are various business operations that would necessitate an organization to adopt effective

communication channel for transformation success. In the past communication was noted to

strictly follow one channel that is from the manager to the employees and what the manager said

appeared to be the final. Nevertheless, in todays business environment and particularly the

organizations that feel the need for effective transformation success, it has been noted that

employees too should have a voice in an organization (Elg, Hadjikhani, & Ghauri, 2012). This is
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESS 3

from the articulation that some employees may be having proper ways that can be used to

improve the organization and therefore they should pass the information to the managers.

Employees can have meaningful input in solving business problems. Presenting them with an

opportunity to contribute would highly assist in meeting the business success requirements.

Besides achieving a balance between employees and managers, an organization may want

to keep track of the level of demand for their products. A communication system, in this case,

becomes crucial in attracting more customers and even responding to the queries of these

customers. For instance, business entities have been using computers to access emails, mobile

phones and even of late there is the E-commerce. Additionally, and according to Mohapatra

(2010) the managers, suppliers, consumers, business partners together with employees use these

forms of communication systems to ensure connection which facilitates more discharging of

services and products.

Types and uses of a communication system including how it has helped organizations.

Communication in a business can be exhibited through various ways. From a broader

perspective, communication can be categorized into internal and external communication.

Beginning with internal communication, it is worth noting that this form of communication

includes every aspect of communication within the organization which may be formal or

informal and is passed from one department to the other. Internal communication provides an

appropriate means for tackling the concerns of a business which may increase satisfaction in the

jobs, productivity, safety, and profits (Picot, Reichwald, & Wigand, 2008).

There are different types of internal communication that an organization pursues to

ensure effective transformation success and impartiality in its proceedings. Firstly, upward

communication is a type of internal communication that enables the superiors in the managerial
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESS 4

team to know what is happening at the grassroots and receive ideas from other employees at

lower niches. Communication is two-way, and without an effective channel of communication,

the managers would mostly work in a vacuum not knowing whether there is a problem within the

organization. Secondly, there is the downward communication which involves the flow of

information from top management to the lower employees. Downward communication is

important in giving instructions regarding how to implement a transformational process. Both

upward and downward forms of internal communication can be collectively referred to as

vertical communication. This means that there is horizontal communication which involves

coordinating information within individuals of the same rank in an effort to achieving such

things as task accomplishment or solving problems (Picot, Reichwald, & Wigand, 2008).

The other category is the external communication where managers communicate with

sources outside the organization such as suppliers and clients. As far as transformation is

concerned, this leads to better efficiency in operations and enhances the overall performance of

the company. Moreover, it enhances customer satisfaction.

Communication system is an important aspect of any organization that is willingly

looking anticipating success through adopting transformation. One use of communication is that

it helps manage the change required to steer an organization towards success. For instance, the

employees get to know when the change is to occur and the techniques that would be used to

implement the change. This helps them avoid being caught pants down. For managers, effective

communication assists them to plan, organize, lead, and control the change process required

during the transformation (Guffey & Almonte, 2009).

Communication systems is an important aspect of the business, and lack of it can have a

significant impact on the business operations. Despite the current progress in communication
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESS 5

system there is still need to conduct more research to achieve more capstones that would enhance

more communication strategies. Hayzelden & Bigham (2012) predict that in the next decade to

come desk phones may not exist anymore and probably the PSTN-based dialing may be gone too

implying that voice will be embedded in every form of connectivity and serve as a way of

sustenance to the internet of everything.

COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESS 6

References

Elg, U., Hadjikhani, A., & Ghauri, P. (2012). Business, society, and politics (1st ed.). Bingley,

U.K.: Emerald.

Guffey, M. & Almonte, R. (2009). Essentials of business communication (1st ed.). Cengage

Learning.

Hayzelden, A. & Bigham, J. (2012). Software Agents for Future Communication Systems (3rd

ed.). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Mohapatra, S. (2010). Management information systems in the knowledge economy (1st ed.).

[Place of publication not identified]: Phi Learning.

National Research Council, & Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, (2000).

Networking health (1st ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

Picot, A., Reichwald, R., & Wigand, R. (2008). Information, organization and management (1st

ed.). Berlin: Springer.