Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lecture 3
COMMUNICATION THEORY AND MODELS
February 17 , 2020
Primarily Ch 2 of Daniels et al. , 2014
CHAPTER 2
Communication theory
Outcomes
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
• understand what is meant by the term communication
• understand what is mean by the term communication
theory
• work in pairs to complete an assessment to determine
their own communication skills
• identify the elements common to all forms of
communication
• understand the role of cognition and cognitive faculties in
communication
• identify the key elements that facilitate effective cross-
cultural communication
• understand the role of context in communication
Outcomes continued…
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
• understand the importance of models of communication
and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of selected
models
• understand how context affects communication
• differentiate between the different modes of
communication – formal and informal communication,
verbal and non-verbal communication (including written and
oral communication)
• understand the differences between general and business
communication
• understand the importance of the you-viewpoint in
communication
• understand the barriers to communication and how to
overcome them
Overview
• Definition of Communication
• The Process of Communication
• Theories and Models of Communication
o Linear Models
o Interactive Models
o Transactional Models
SENDER------------------------------------------------------------------
RECEIVER
Encodes >>>----------------------Message---------------------->>>
Decodes
Decodes <<<<----------------Feedback
---------------------<<<<Encodes
Principles of Communication
• Communication is irreversible
• Communication is LEARNED
– Therefore we can improve it
• Communication is Cross Cultural
• Communication is a PROCESS
The Process of Communication
[Ogden Richards Triangle]
Interpreter
Eg a German person vs a
Jewish/Muslim person
Symbol Referent
Eg Pork Its not Kosher/it is Haram
The Concept of NOISE in Communication
3 Types of Noise
• Physical Noise
• Physiological Noise
• Psychological Noise
DISTRACTIONS
Can you ( as the communicator ) control them ?
Not always but you can PLAN for them
More Complex Definition of
Communication
A continuous , transactional process involving
participants operating within specific contexts where
they create a relationship by simultaneously sending and
receiving messages via channels many of which
( messages ) are distorted by noise
MODELS OF COMMUNICATION
• Linear Models
• Interactive Models
• Transactional models
The theory of communication
The study of the principles behind effective
communication.
Do you have good communication skills?
• Are you are surprised when people don’t understand what
you say?
• Do you say exactly what you think?
• Do you ask for clarity when you don’t understand something,
or do you work it out for yourself?
• Do you dislike talking over the telephone?
• Do you check your letters or reports before sending?
• Do you agree with the use of text messaging for business
correspondence?
• Do you think communication is overrated?
• Do you consider cultural differences when communicating?
• What can you do to improve your communication skills?
Communication skills
Advantages Disadvantages
It is a simple model It does not take noise and
It suits most types of feedback into account
communication It is too linear
It deals effectively with the
concept of effect
The linear model (Shannon and Weaver)
Advantages Disadvantages
It is one of the simplest The sender plays the primary role and
models of communication has the decision-making power
and led communication The receiver plays a secondary role
theorists to carry out further (receives the information in a passive
research way and is essentially powerless in the
It is best suited to electronic process
media, such as radio and Communication is not a one-way
television, because of its process
one-way nature This model is suited to electronic
media but is problematic with other
channels
Berlo’s Source-Message-Channel-Receiver Model
Advantages Disadvantages
It takes into account It is a complex linear model
a range of issues It does not take feedback, effect and barriers to
affected the source, communication into account
message, channel For communication to take place successfully,
and receiver not the participants need to be on the same level in
previously terms of communication skills, attitudes,
considered knowledge, social systems and culture
This model was later It does not take conceptual skills such as
expanded by other thinking, understanding and analytical skills
theorists into account
The transactional model
Disadvantages Advantages
The model It gives equal weight to the senders and receivers and
becomes refers to these to these essential elements in the
problematic communication process as communicators, not as
when the senders and receivers
sender and It takes into account the communicators’
receiver have environments, which includes factors such as physical
nothing in location, personal experiences and cultural
common backgrounds
Unlike the linear models, it does not only regard noise
The interactive model
Advantages Disadvantages
The sender sends the message to the It involves feedback but
receiver through a channel it is not always
The receiver then becomes the sender and simultaneous. For
sends the message to the original sender instance, if you send a
(now the receiver) text message, there
It takes into account the sender and may be a lag in the
receivers’ ‘field of experience’ (cultural feedback process if the
backgrounds, ethnicity, geographic location, receiver does not
extent of travel, and experiences) respond immediately
Osgood and Schramm’s circular model
Advantages Disadvantages
It is a dynamic model that shows that The people interacting
situations can change have to share a
Participants (senders and receivers) comment set of signs
continually swap roles throughout the and rules
communication process and reciprocate in the It ignores auto
encoding, decoding and interpreting communication
processes (communication from
It assumes communication is circular in and to oneself) and
nature interpersonal
communication
Business communication
Communication channels
Proxemics is
the study of
space in
interpersonal
relationships.
In business,
space is often
taken as an
indication of
power and
authority.
The ‘YOU’-viewpoint
The you-viewpoint / you-attitude:
• a simple, effective strategy used to optimum effect in
all forms of communication, especially in business
communication
• entails adopting the second position (you) not the first
position (I or we) when writing or speaking
• attention is given to the receiver’s perspective by
considering the receiver’s knowledge, interests,
attitudes and emotional response
• this style of communication places the writer in the
reader’s position, allowing the writer to see things
from the reader’s perspective
Communication barriers
Noise Intrapersonal barriers
• Physical noise • Faulty assumptions
• Psychological noise • Differences in perception
• Physiological noise • Stereotypes
• Semantic noise • Mind-set
• Conflicting backgrounds
• Incorrect inferences
Interpersonal barriers
• Limited vocabulary
• A mismatch between verbal and non-verbal
communication
• Excessive emotion
• Communication selectivity
• Cultural variations
Seven C’s of communication
Used to eliminate communication barriers and to
make communication effective and efficient.
1. Clarity
2. Conciseness
3. Concreteness
4. Correctness
5. Coherence
6. Completeness
7. Courteousness
Conclusion
In this chapter, you established that effective communication
is essential, especially in the business environment where
many of our daily dealings and actions involve some form of
communication.
You established that if you are to succeed in business, it is
important to master all aspects of business communication
and to overcome barriers that prevent effective
communication, leading to miscommunication and
communication breakdowns.
You learnt about communication which can be defined as the
act of transmitting information, ideas, thoughts and feelings
from one person to another. You also learnt about the theory
of communication, which is the study of the principles behind
effective communication.