Chapter 1

Fundamentals of
Communication
Definition

 Communication is the process of exchanging information, usually through a common

system of symbols. It takes wide verity of forms from two people having a face-to-face
conversion to hand signals to messages sent over the global tele-communication network.

Characteristics

 It is a 2-way process.

 Communication process happens between or among two or more parties. (Sender and Receiver)

 Communication involves exchange of ideas, feelings, information, thoughts, and knowledge.

 Communication involves mutuality of understanding between Sender and Receiver.

 There are two types of Communication i.e., Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication.

 Communication is a continuous process.

 Needs proper understanding

 A short leaved process.

Objectives

 Advising
 Counseling
 Giving Orders
 Preparing Instructions
 Marketing
 Persuading
 Giving Warnings
 Raising Morale
 Staffing
 Projecting Image
 Preparing Advertisements
 Making Decisions
  Giving Feedback

Components of communication

 Message

 Sender

 Encoding

 Channel

 Receiver

 Decoding

 Acting

 Feedback

Message

The message is the information, written or spoken, which is to be sent from one person to
another. Here, the word person represents the two ends of a system and may represent an
individual, a group of individual or even electronic machines.

Sender

The person who transmits, spreads, or communicates a message or operates an electronic device
is the one who conceives and initiates the message with the purpose of informing, persuading,
influencing or changing the attitude, opinion or behavior of the receiver.

Encoding

Encoding is the process of changing the message into symbols, that is, pattern of words, gestures,
or signs.

It means putting ideas, facts, feelings and opinions into symbols. This can be words, actions,
signs and pictures.
Channel

This is the medium that facilitates the sending of the message to the receiver.

The medium can be written, oral, audio-visual or another.

Receiver

A receiver is the targeted audience of the message.

The receiver understands, interprets and tries to perceive the total meaning of the total meaning
of the message as transmitted by the sender.

Decoding

This is the act of translating into their ordinary meanings.

However, the total meaning lies in the meaning of the words (symbols) together with the one and
attitude of the sender reflected by the structure of the message.

Acting

Communication manipulates the receiver to act in a desired manner.

A receiver’s response action shows that he has understood the message.

Finally, the receiver completes the chain of communication by responding to the message.

Feedback

This is the loop that connects the receiver with the sender, who, in turn, acts as a feedback
receiver and thus learns the communication has been accomplished.

Communication network
Grapevine

Grapevine is an informal channel of business communication. It is called so because it stretches

throughout the organization in all directions irrespective of the authority levels. Man as we know
is a social animal. Despite existence of formal channels in an organization, the informal channels
tend to develop when he interacts with other people in organization. It exists more at lower levels
of organization.

Barriers to effective Communication

 Verbal
 Non-Verbal
 Listening
 Miscellaneous