INTRODUCTION
Communication could be described as a process of passing information and understanding to one or more persons. It is a means by which behaviour is modified, change is affected, and information is made productive in order to achieve objectives and goals of organizations.
In an business, there are different units performing various functions. Thus, communication serves as a linking process by which parts of a system are tied together. Communication provides the links, which bind an organization together in order to evolve common understanding. Communication in an organization relates to the deliberate, intentional application of physical symbol complexes, with a view to elicit specific meanings in the mind of another individual (Stewart, 2002). In his view, Chester, (1938) says that communication is the means by which people are linked together in an organization to achieve a common purpose.
Communication is also defined as the transfer of information, ideas, emotional feelings or views by one person to another in an understandable way, through the use of meaningful words, signs, letters or symbols for the purpose of entertainment or influencing the behaviour of the other.
Communication is the transfer of information from a sender to a receiver, with the information being understood by the receiver, which stoner and Freeman, (2005) define communication as the process by which people attempt to share meaning via the transmission of symbolic messages.
Communication applied to all phases of management process. It is the process of transferring information from sender to receiver, who interprets the information in order to achieve organizational objectives. Information, according to Miller, (2002, Roll, 2004) “is simply the vehicle by which we attempt to provoke- or evoke- a human response. Information on it own is quite static and lifeless. It simply exists… waiting to be interpreted and have meaning attached by people.” In the view of Nabeth et al (2002) information needs interpretation by people - knowledge workers in an organization. Knowledge he said, could be assimilated to objects that can be identified, separated from their initial context and handled in information system. Information system management is largely under a new label “Information Technology” (IT) (Wilson, 2002)
WHAT IS BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
Communication in business is anything that transmits information from one place to another. That Information could be transmitted by voice or by written and graphical communication to a person or it can also mean the transmission of business information between IT systems and processes.
Examples of external communication : A newspaper, radio, tv or internet advert. A telephone call with a supplier could also be classed as an external business communication.
Effective communication is an essential part of a smoothly running business organization. Communication involves the transmission of information from a source (or a number of sources) to receivers. The information is communicated in the form of a message. In the modern organization there will be multi-channel flows of communication. For example a customer may request a new part from a supplier, with information on how to use that part in a piece of equipment. The supplier will then communicate with the customer setting out instructions for using the part, as well as sending a delivery note, invoice, and further sales literature. Increasingly these interactions will be carried out by electronic media such as through a sales website, e-mail communications and other means.