Note: This Report assignment covers the remaining 10% of your

Coursework marks.

Topic: Communication

Group No: ?

Group Leader: xxx

Group Members:

Names

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.
QUESTIONS:

1. What are the functions of communication? (5 marks)

2. Describe the types of communication found in organizations. (5 marks)

3. Which do you think is more important for a manager: (10 marks)

- speaking accurately, or
- listening actively?

Provide your arguments.

4. Actions speak louder than words. Discuss this statement with reference to the importance of
non verbal communication in our day-to-day life. Support your arguments with 2 relevant
examples. (10 marks)

5. Case Study

SHOULD E MAIL BE BANNED?

It is estimated that the average corporate user send and receives some 112 e-mails daily. Thats
about 14 e-mails per hour and even if half of those dont require a lot of time and concentration,
that level of e-mail volume can be stressful and lead to unproductive time. Once imagined to be a
time-saver, has the inbox become a burden?

Back in 2007, U.S. Cellulars executive vice-president, Jay Ellison, implemented a ban on e-mail
every Friday. In his memo announcing the change to employees, he told them to get out and meet
the people they work with rather than sending an e-mail. That directive went with a thud (did not
go well). One employee confronted him saying that Ellison didnt understand how much work
had to get done and how much easier it was when using e-mail.

Eventually, however, employees were won over. Forced to use the phone, one employee learned
that a co-worker he thought was across the country, was instead, across the hall. Now, other
executives are discovering the benefits of banning e-mail. A department manager, David Spencer,
spent a year preparing his employees to change their e-mail habit. His goal: dramatically reduce
the number of e-mails employees send and receive. His approach started with installing the
companys inter-office communication system with elements of Facebook and an employee
bulletin board. Another head of department, Tom Harrison, announced a zero e-mail policy to
be replaced with a service more like Facebook and Twitter combined.

Questions: (20 marks)

5a. What do you think of this? Do you agree that e-mail can be unproductive in the workplace?

5b. Were you surprised at the volume of e-mail an average employee receives daily (112 e-mails
per day)? What is the biggest challenge of dealing with this volume of e-mail?

5c. What do you think of the e-mail replacement some heads of departments are using i.e.
more of a social media tool? In what ways might this tool be better? Worse?

Note:

Your group has to create powerpoint slides on the answers you have provided for this
assignment and present in the next class. The Group Leader shall nominate who will be
presenting.