Effective Communication, Research Paper Example

Communication and decision making are key pillars of business stability and development and they serve a key purpose in determine the success of a business as well as the efficiency with which the business keeps up with the dynamic changes and the pressures of the market. Philosophical discontinuity serves to hinder these very important facets of business management. Philosophical distance is viewed as the difference of opinion as well as varying view point and approaches to a problem (Blair 2008). This implies that these differences offer fertile ground for ideas it also provide an ideal platform to subject the ideas to constructive criticism. On the other hand these ideas might be viewed as dissent and displeasure with the management. To overcome the difficulties of philosophical discontinuity, there needs to effective communication as well as decision making in an organization.

Communication can serve as a very effective tool for dealing philosophical discontinuity. Most important is the process of 360 degrees feedback as a tool of communication in passing forth information in an organization. This method ensures that information flows up and down the hierarchical ladder of the organization. Holding regular meetings with personnel of all cadres helps in ensuring that all information is passed ford between the different levels of management as well as the implementing arm (McNamara 2008). This ensures that there is no feeling of exclusion among any members of the organization and therefore forestalling the possibility that a wide philosophical gap will develop between the employees.

The second way through which communication can help forestall philosophical differences is by using documented communication. Philosophical differences ought to be documented to make sure that the differences do not degenerate to verbal battles (Fowler 2002).This ensures that the facts are clearly stipulated and therefore it is easy to understand the pertinent issues behind the differences hence making it easy to access them and deliberate about them.

Blair M (2008), on the other end points out that another important way that effective communication helps avoids philosophical discontinuity is through disambiguation. The information being communicated is supposed to be clear for all and set out such that it can be easily understood. Similarly the person setting the communication should set out to pass on information in the clearest manner possible. Similarly the communicator should take time to clarify any grey areas. In this way they will forestall any misunderstanding that could have arisen from the communication.

Decision making on the other hand is other vital strategy that can utilised in combating philosophical discontinuity. First is the use of strategic development sessions. This ensures that every participant is given an opportunity to voice their ideas as well as their criticism on the plans of others. The resultant culture of consultation heightens respect and openness between the different members of the business management. In this way, the differences of opinion are clearly understood and effectively addressed with ease. This ensures that these differences serve as strengths to the organization as opposed to them being the impediment to the development of the organization.

According to Chapman (2008), brainstorming is an effective way of increasing decision making. This ensures that all aspects are looked at and examined with the due attention to detail. This gives one an opportunity to understand the weaknesses in their plan. Equally important is the use of strengths weakness opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis to determine the efficacy of the decision so taken in meeting the challenges. By carrying out such analysis one is able to make an all inclusive decision that ensures that the problem of philosophical discontinuity is completely eliminated. Such other business analysis models like potters five forces model and the value chain analysis should be used in arriving at an appropriate decision that can be easily acceptable to the other members of an organization. The other way of ensuring that decisions are made with satisfaction of all parties involved is by using delegation as a good method of achieving consensus. Some of these decisions are delegated to the people with dissenting views hence helping them get close to and thereby eliminate the distance.

In conclusion, it is important to for all people in a business to understand the strategy clearly being employed. This can only be achieved through proper communication. Use of the wheel model of communication ensures that information flows freely between the different members of a business therefore reducing the instances of philosophical discontinuity. Similarly the use of time tested models of business planning such as the PESTLE and SWOT analysis should help one to arrive at an important decision. Finally good leadership is characterised by good decision listening skills hence it is vital that all the people involved listen to each others suggestions. This use of effective communication as well as appropriate team work and consultation is therefore cultivated in an organization and it becomes a vital part of the organizational culture. In this way philosophical discontinuity will be effectively countered.

References

Blair, G. M. Conversation as communication. Retrieved November 7, 2008 at: http://www.see.ed.ac.uk/~gerard/Management/art7.html.

Chapman, A. (nd). Problem-solving & decision-making. BusinessBalls.com. Retrieved November 7, 2008 at: http://www.businessballs.com/problemsolving.htm.

Fowler, M. H. (2002). On the Same Page – Business Management – Business     Enterprise Partnerships. Retrieved 09 september 2009. Available  http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ICC/is_6_71/ai_96057500.

McNamara, C. (nd). Basics in internal organizational communications. Retrieved November 7, 2008 at: http://www.managementhelp.org/mrktng/org_cmm.htm