Business Communication

• How is technology changing our work

today?

• Why?

• What is in it for you?

 Technological innovation

Technological innovation is essential for human

development.
From the printing press to the computer, people have
devised tools for facilitating learning and communication.
Technology is not inherently good or bad, the outcome
depends on how it is used.
 The role of ICT
• It is accepted that telecommunication is a basic
infrastructure necessary for economic and social
development of a country.
• This is even becoming more strong than ever as
information related economic activities are growing.
• Information and communications technology may be
described as the support of the central nervous
system of complex societies, transmitting and
processing information and commands among the
various parts of such societies.
• Internet plays a fundamental function in ICT role
 Benefits from ICT

Information and communications technology carries on

high promise both in human and economic terms.
Benefits could be obtained in:
Education Government efficiency
Health care Food security

Environment management Job training

And specifically in Science and Technology:

• Speed up dissemination of scientific results world-wide
through scientific knowledge sharing and exchange
• Allows to set up of Virtual Labs for communications and
remote instrument control
 Rapid evolution of ICT

• Predictions indicate the doubling of computing power

every 18 –24 months and the doubling of
communications power every 6 months.
months Both are
accompanied by huge reductions in costs and
massive increases in speed and quantity.
• In 2001 more information can be sent over
a single cable in a second than in 1997 was sent
over the entire Internet in a month.
Impacts of Technology on
Communication
So what changed?

•Sender-driven
•One-to-many
•Controlled

•Receiver-driven
•Many-to-many
•Uncontrolled
 What has NOT changed ?

• Face-to-face communication
What has technology changed

Immediacy Integration

Acces Collaboration
 Immediacy
Speed & Reach

“I want it and I want it

now”
Queen 1990
 Integration
Networks, Content Management, Technology

“A phone is not a phone…..”

 Access
Search, Choice
 Access
Search, Choice

“Don’t send it, I can find it …”

 Collaboration
Blogs, Wikis & Podcasts
Implications for communication strategy
Implications for communication
strategy
Access Collaboration
 Employee involvement  Leadership communication
 Interactive  Plans, priorities & performance
 Searchable  Searchable knowledge directories
 Self help  E-learning and knowledge sharing
 Remote access  Issues and change management

The
Vision

Integration Immediacy
 Common content management  Customer & employee satisfaction
 Common taxonomy  Facility maps and service directories
 Audience segmentation  Services locators
Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts
Opportunities?
 Some Food for Thought
• Good management not more computing
power is the key to higher productivity
• IT expenditures have little impact on
productivity unless accompanied by good
management

McKinsey with London School of Economics

( September 2004)