TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment - Dorothy Nevill (1826-1913)

Introduction
Organisation-TeamworkRelationshipsCOMMUNICATION Need for effective communication

Benefits of Effective Communication

Professional Image Improved self confidence Improved relationships Less stress Greater acceptance of yourself by others

Technical Communication
Course Details
ORAL
Presentation, meeting, group communication Lettersemails, memos Reports Technical proposals Research papers User manuals

WRITTEN

Process of Communication

Sender Encode Medium Receiver Decode

What is Decoding
How people interpret/understand your message Scientific background and knowldege Biases Past experiences Perspectives Emotions

Ineffective Decoding
In 1983 Air Canada Boeing 767 ran out of fuel on a flight from Montreal to Edmonton Problem: Confusion over metric conversion Ground crew loaded 1.77pounds/litre, not 0.8 kg/litre

What is Encoding
How to explain or present the information you want to communicate

Ineffective Encoding
Coca-Cola wanted Chinese characters for a phonetic equivalent of Coca-Cola so they chose Ke Kou Ke La Ke Kou Ke La translates as bite the wax tadpole or female horse stuffed with wax

Ineffective Encoding
In Taiwan, the translation of the Pepsi slogan Come alive with the Pepsi generation Translation: Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead

More Ineffective Encoding

General Motors introduced a new model in Latin America called the Nova and sales were dismal Later discovered that in Spanish Nova means it doesnt go Changed the cars name to the Caribe and sales increased

Barriers to Communication
INTRA PERSONAL
Wrong assumptions Varied perceptions Differing background Wrong inferences Impervious category Categorical thinking

Barriers to Communication
Interpersonal
Limited vocabulary Emotional outbursts Cultural variations Poor listening skills

Organizational Barriers
Organization Structure Fear of Superiors Negative Tendencies

Guidelines for effective communication

You cannot not communicate Communicate like-defensive management Dont assume, always collect facts Create good impressions, rather than creating wrong impressions Communication at two levels Object communication

Object Communication
Clothes communication Space communication Timing and time communication

Thank You