Business Communication

CP2022 - Lecture 10
Overview
 How computers and communication
systems (ICT) integrate
 information processing,
 storage and
 transmission
 using
 different media types in a business context

CP2022 - Multimedia Internet

Communication 2
Need for Communications
 Worldwide business communications forms an
interlinked network of companies and organisations
 The global supply chain
 Survival and growth is made possible by complex
interaction
 between people and
 between people and computers
 both
 inside companies and
 between different companies

CP2022 - Multimedia Internet

Communication 3
 Infrastructures
 All forms of communication require some kind of
infrastructure
 Virtually every type of business (whatever size) needs
access to the telephone
 Growth of mobile phones has created new ways of working
 Most companies/organisations use a range of
communications types

CP2022 - Multimedia Internet

Communication 4
Communication types in business
Types of communication in business
face to face discussion
phone
letter, memo, reports, etc
telex (decreasing)
video, CD-ROM/DVD and now
electronic mail, video conferencing, internet
advertising and multimedia networking

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Business Sizes and types
 Self employed -> multinational corporations
 Specialised / wider scope
 Sectors:
Manufacturing, Retail, Banking and
finance, Distribution etc.
 All transact business between themselves and
customers/suppliers (the supply chain)
 ICT used to communicate orders, messages,
‘money’, etc
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Communication 6
Impact of Technology
 Telephone - significant, almost impossible to
run business without one!
 ‘Newer technology’ – has had less time to
make impact
 Fax was important for transfer of
text/diagrams and signed documents
 Email now more prominent
 Computerised information systems are vital to
most organisations
 (and many individuals!)
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Communication 7
 Impact of Technology
 Short step: from computers to store/process
information …..to … computers as
communications interface to transact business
 Email use has increased
 EDI (Electronic Data interchange) use is
widespread (e.g. automotive/retail industry)
 Internet shopping/trading has become common
place
 Marketing and information searching - explosion
on web
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Communication 8
 Types of information transmitted
 Computer based communications cater for
most types of information transfer
 text, structured (e.g. database), images,
audio (sounds +voice), video, video
conferencing
 multimedia - combines advantages of various
types
 presentations, advertising etc

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Communication 9
Example types of information
 Text
 Email letters, advertising, reports
 Structured info
 Orders (EDI), database of products
 Audio
 Training material, downloaded and streamed music
 Image
 Pictures in advertising literature, catalogues
 Video
 Training material, downloaded films and streamed events
(product launch)

CP2022 - Multimedia Internet

Communication 10
Example – Web information
 3 LIGHT FITTING.
Brass effect 3 light
fitting with white glass
dish shades. Height 25.5
cm, spread 46 cm. Max
60 watt. 3 x golf ball
bulb BC. Cat. No
123/2345.

CP2022 - Multimedia Internet

Communication 11
 The Information Society – The Future?
 Progress (?) towards a society that is centred
around use + trade of information
 Embedding the use of information in everyday life
 the ‘virtual enterprise’ is made possible with
multimedia communications technology
 No need for physical presence in order to operate
 Faster access to the Internet will help
effectiveness/demand or create more problems
 Important social/regulatory problems need
resolving (read Sloane 2005, Chapter 7 and 11)
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Communication 12
 Teleworking
 “The ability to work from remote location (e.g.
home) using telecommunications links”
 based around ‘information processing workers’
 modems, broadband, MM equipment
 careful planning to ensure appropriate
equipment, environment, security/access, and
support
 positive/negative effects

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Communication 13
 Teleworking effects
Positive
Higher efficiency
Less commuting
Reduced work stress
Less expenditure on transport
More time freedom
Able to work anywhere
Able to tune work environment
Negative
Less f2f contact
Social isolation
Increased home stress
More expenditure on heating etc
No clear home/work divide
Need to provide space to work
Difficult to tune into corporate ethos

(Sloane 2005) p.170

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Communication 14
 Some examples of websites
 Range of online shopping
 www.amazon.co.uk web only
 www.argos.co.uk web and catalogue shops
 www.hmv.co.uk web and traditional shops
 Information providers
 www.ieee.org - publication of standards and research
articles (purchase and download)
 Manufacturers
 www.philips.co.uk - Details of new products and
support updates including old products
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Communication 15
More example sites
 www.bizwiz.com
 The Access Business Online system has 300,000
registered participating companies
 186 industry types
 services to provide information, communication, and
transaction capabilities.
 Sales, Marketing, Finance, Purchasing, PR, IT
 Human Resources, Distribution, Research,
 Credit & Collections, Accounting, Legal,
 Business Development, Manufacturing & Engineering,
 Travel, Security, Web Management, Investor Relations
 Customer Relations,General & Administrative
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Summary
 Businesses increasing reliance on the
Web and internet
 Communication, promotion, advertising
 New opportunities (e-business)
 Supplement to f2f or replacement
 Likely to increase further with greater
use of multimedia information
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Communication 17