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

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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

CP2022 - Multimedia Internet Communication 5

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,CP2022
‘money’,
- Multimediaetc
Internet 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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 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 CP2022
web- Multimedia Internet 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

CP2022 - Multimedia Internet 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.

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 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
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 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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 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
ethos
CP2022 - Multimedia Internet Communication
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
(Sloane 2005) p.170
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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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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