Nature of Communication
Organisations are represented as communication subsystems. It is an exchange of information between individuals, groups, departments, etc. every organisation has its own subsystems and there is always interaction and interface between the sub systems to achieve goals. Management information system operates effectively through communication. It involves information gathering, storage, processing, monitoring. Communication is a tool and vital aspect of management process. The nature of communication is exchange of message and interaction. Communication may be through written or verbal, action, figures, pictures.
The purpose of communication is to make others understand and act upon it accordingly in the same sense. Communication is
effective when the message is shared and understood with one
another. There can be no communication if the information is not understood by the receiver in the same sense as it was intended to be by the communicator. It need not be necessary in effective communication that the receiver must agree or accept the information. It is sufficient if the information is understood even though information is rejected or disagreements exists.
The concept of communication is universal and is as old as human
beings. That is why different views have been expressed about the nature of communication.
The nature of communication becomes clearer if an attempt is made
to examine the following important issues. Is communication an inborn quality? Is communication a science or an art? Are the principles of communication of universal application? These questions are often raised. For answers to these questions, it is necessary to understand the exact meaning of the terms, science and art.
1.Communication, an inborn quality
Communication is an inborn quality. To communicate with one another is a compulsive urge of human beings. Communication is
like birth, death, breath, and wanting to be loved as an art or life
itself. Man is a communication animal because he alone has the power to express in words. Sight, sound, touch, smell and taste are
the modes of exchange of messages.
No doubt, communication is an inborn quality but not an inborn quality without scientific base. In the pre-scientific management of communication period, prior to 1880, there had been a leading concept that communication was an inborn quality.
Many people believed that it is not necessary to study any organised
body of knowledge of communication concepts, principles, as managers
were born not made. There may be some people who are so efficient and talented in making effective communication since their birth, they lead
and are successful in effective exchange of ideas, feelings, facts etc.
But, as we see today, this concept has become obsolete by the
development of the faculty of communication as a separate discipline.
Therefore, to communicate effectively, it is necessary that one should acquire skills of communication like speaking skills, listening skills,
writing skills, reading skills. This is the reason why successful and
effective communication are made not born. Therefore, this subject is the story of man and his efforts to achieve effective communication.
Prehistoric man produced sounds and use gestures to convey his feelings. Civilization and cultural progress was possible through
communication. It was within the family and very closely living
people helped the primitive communities to achieve this. The last century witnessed the rapid transmission of communication by electronic media which became possible due to the rapid advancement of sophisticated communication technologies. The
information technology revolution has transformed the
communication conscious human society into a Global Village.
2. Communication is an art and a science What is science:
Science may be defined as an organised and systematized body of knowledge based on proper findings and exact principles, pertaining to an area of study and contain some general truths explaining the past events or phenomena. The body of knowledge has been systematized through the application of scientific methods. Thus we may speak of the science of physical sciences, biological science, chemistry and social sciences like sociology, political science, economics etc. Science explains phenomena because it establishes relationship between cause and effect and its principles are universally applicable. For instance, according to the law of gravitation, if anything is thrown towards the sky, it will come down to the earth.
What is Art:
Art is the ability or skill which is due more to practice than learning. In other words, art refers to the best way of doing things. It guides how an objective is to be achieved. The art of management deals with the application of skill and knowledge for accomplishing desirable results. It is knowing how the application part of a body of knowledge is required. On the other hand, under science, one usually understands the knowing why. It is obvious that communication contains both the elements those of
a science and those of an art. Then, communication is both an art and science.
The science of communication provides a body of principles which can
guide the managers to find a solution to the specific problems and objective evolutions of results. Like any art, communication is also
creative. It develops new situations, new designs and new systems
needed for further improvements. Both- the theoretical knowledge and the practical knowledge are necessary. They are complementary to each other and are not mutually exclusive. It may be true to say that the art of communication is as old as human history, but the science of communication is an event of the recent past.
Communication is a social process:
Communication is also a social process because there is interpersonal
communication process in which two or more persons are involved. In case of a written communication, the sender is a writer and receiver is a reader. In case of oral communication, the speaker transmits the message and the receiver is the listener. In case of visual communication, the function of the receiver is observation. Communication as a social process effects the entire society. It is a tool which
enables everyone in society to satisfy his basic needs and desires and to get
along with other people. As a social process, it is a means of recording and preserving knowledge by way of writing, symbols or some other device to pass
it on to the next generation. Thus, communication is not only a means of
individual and group progress and social advancement; Society as a whole interacts in the communication process to influence the society.
Communication is a Human Process:
Communication is human process because two or more people are involved. In an oral communication, every word spoken requires a listener, every letter in a
written communication requires a reader, every visual communication requires
an observer. The recipient of the message in an organisation may try to tell it to someone else or respond by taking some action. Communication, as an organisation process affects all. It enables us to satisfy our basic needs and desires and to get along with other people. This human and Organisational process is also the means of recording
knowledge and passing it on to the succeeding generations. Without it, business
enterprise cannot operate.
3. Communication is a universal process:
The principles and techniques of communication are universal in application but not necessarily and exclusively applicable to only business. They are applicable to social, religious, charitable, formal, non formal, non profit organisations also. Communication is a universal process. The chairman, managing director, heads of various functional areas and subordinates have necessarily, to use the same communication skills and principles in their inter-personal group and Organisational situations.
The fundamental principles of scientific communication are applicable to all
human activities, from the simplest small groups to great corporations and the public.
