Business Communication Trends

Business Communication Trends

Lorrie King

Com/285

March 21, 2011

G. Solli

Business Communication

Business needs effective communication. Effective communication is a must for businesses to achieve their goals. Communication may be verbal or nonverbal. Verbal communication is defined by Locker & Kienzler (2008) as communication with words and nonverbal communication is pictures, graphics, or logos. Communication conveys a message with three basic purposes to inform, to request or persuade, and to build goodwill. “Ten trends that affect business and administration communication are technology changes, a focus on quality and customers’ needs, entrepreneurship, teamwork, diversity, globalization and outsourcing, legal and ethical concerns, balancing work and family, job flexibility, and the rapid rate of change” (Locker & Kienzler, 2008).

Business communication is a key responsibility in my day-to-day work activities with my current employer, Momentive Performances Materials (MPM). Communication with company purchasing managers is the focal role of my position as a customer service representative. Assisting clients with placing orders for our products and advising on availability with an estimated arrival time are the two most frequent requests. This communication is done both verbally and in writing. Customers can phone, fax, and e-mail purchase orders and requests to our office. Each customer service representative has assigned accounts and faxes are distributed accordingly. MPM places extreme importance on advising accurately and effectively because others’ jobs depend on supply of product to manufacturer other goods such as insulated glass windows, curtainwalls, and various weather sealing applications. If communication between the customer and me is not accurate it could cause the company’s manufacturing line to shut down and could send workers home because of a lack of work.

Technology and Globalization

Both technology...