Effective Communication Strategies

Introduction

1.1. Background Of The Study

Communication is an every moment and every day virtual. It is the basis of developing a state systems. Indeed, it is generally agreed that the world has become a small village as a result of the improvement in communication system. Thus, the need for an effective communication system in human society cannot be compromised.

Focusing on organization set up, we find that effective communication is the basis for effective management of resources which includes human, raw materials, financial and technical resources. Managers and other employees in the organization ought to be trained in the process of effective communication to overcome the ruin and improve the well-being of any organization depending on how it is handled.

The word ‘communication’ comes from the Latin word “communi-care”.

“Communi” means community (a group) while care, which in modern terms means to give a dam. Communication, per se, is a multi-meaning word having different meaning for whoever uses it. To a Geographer, for instance, it means one thing and to the electronics engineer, it means on another. To the business student however, communication still has its meaning. It refers to the process by which information is passed between individuals and/or organization by means of agreed symbols. Communication is the binding force in every personal culture and the dominant influence in the personal life of every one of us.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Management analyst and scholars have seem to agree that organizations do not exist in a vacuum but essentially in an environment which consist of many publics and that for effectiveness, smooth, business and success, it is pertinent to establish, maintain and promote a cooperation and productive relationship with customers, employees, government, present, past and potential ones and indeed the whole society. It is in realization of this that one tries to erase the factors that hinder communication which constantly exist between top management supervisors and lower level of management in the communicating process. Moreover, many people in organization know they communicate but what is communication they do not know. The purpose of communication persistently remains unknown to most lower level workers in organization. This also extends to those in the light level especially those who went through promotional grades to a higher position. The problem of the factors that hinder effective communication account for break- down constitute one of the major problems encountered by managers. It should be noted that communication problems are oen symptoms which must be deeply rooted. For instance, poor decision making is one of the causes of the uncertainty about the direction of any organization. Put slightly different, a poor designed organization structure may not clearly communicate organizational relationships. In order to allow for effective communication to take place, in any organization, the vague standards which usually leaves workers in that organization uncertain about what is expected of them should be proved. Information distortion is another problem experienced in the process of communication. In some cases information is deliberately distorted by the person who handles it. In fact, some distortions evolve from a deliberate attempt of persons or groups to promote purely personal interest and to pursue organizational goals that differ from those proscribed by top management. Given that effective communication is intended to change the management pattern of the management of Nigeria Bottling Company Plc. (NBC).

1.3 Aims and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to obtain some basic information from the members of staff of Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC), Benin City, on how effective they communicate in the organization.

The specific objectives are;

To determine if the effective communication plays an important role on the employee attitude and behaviour in Nigerian Bottling Company PLC.

To determine if organizational structure enhances effective communication.

1.4 Research Hypothesis

Hypothesis One

Hi: Effective communication does not play an important role in the employee attitude and behaviour in Nigerian Bottling Company PLC.

Hi: Effective communication plays an important role in the employees attitude and behaviour in Nigerian Bottling Company PLC.

Hypothesis Two

Hi: Organizational structure does not enhance effective communication.

Hi: Organizational structure enhances effective communication.

1.5 Significance of the Study

Without the means, capacity and the will to communicate, what we know as business, government and community activities could not be. But it is not enough for people to talk to others without they need to know how to talk with others. Communication in its effectiveness represent an important part of the entire management adaptation scheme that is used in the dissemination of information in an organization. It will also be a tool on how to design information system to a system analyst and those individuals in supervisory positions will also gain from knowing how communication flow in an organization. This will help solve the problem of bureaucracy in organizations. Most top management and thee supervisory level will find far reaching solutions to their problems involving communication and the break-down of it. The study will be useful for both students and workers undergoing carriers in business and other related disciplines.

1.6 Scope and Limitations of the Study

In an attempt to obtain reliable and useful result, the research will cover all the levels of staff in Nigeria Bottling Company PLC (NBC), Benin City. The effectiveness of workers communication in the company, particularly in the face of opportunities and threats that emerge from the business environment will be critically studied, in order to know if effective communication of a worker will influence his attitude behaviour.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Communication:

The imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium. Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place, person or group to another. Every communication involves (at least) one sender, a message and a recipient

Strategic Communication:

Is “the purposeful use of communication by an organization to fulfill its mission. ” Identifies key concepts, including audience analysis, goal setting, and message strategy.

1.8 Organization of the Study

Five chapters are used in organizing the study.

Chapter one which is the introduction, comprises of the introduction, origin of communication, statement of problem, the aims and objectives of the study, relevance of study, the scope of the study as well as the limitations.

Chapter two, entail a review of relevant and existing literature on communication, the process of communication, factors that hinder relevance, types, methods, steps to effectives communication, barriers of communication and the communication networks.

In Chapter three, the method of data collected and the techniques for analysis will be discussed.

In Chapter four, the data collected for the study will be analyzed and in due course of the analysis the hypothesis stated in Chapter three, will be tested.

Chapter five will contain the conclusions from the study as well as the recommendation.