Communication constitutes a very important function of management. Nothing happens in the management until communication takes place. It enables to understand others and make ourselves understand. It is an established fact that managers spend 75 to 90 percent of their working time in communicating with others.
Meaning and Definition
The word communication has been derived form the Latin word “Communis”, which means common. Thus communication means sharing of ideas in common.
1. Newman and summer: “Communication is an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions or emotions by two or more persons”.
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2. Koontz and O’Donnell: “Communication is an intercourse by words, letters, symbols or messages; and is a way that one organisation member shares meaning and understanding with another.”
3. Louis Allen: ” Communication is a sum of all things one person does when he wants to create understanding in the minds of another. It involves a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening and understanding.”
Thus communication involves interchange of thought or information among persons in an organisation and is a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening and understanding. The proper understanding of a message is an important aspect of communication. In the words of Theo Haiman ” communication is the process of passing of information and understanding from one person to another”.
Elements of Communication
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The basic elements of communication are:
a. Communication: The sender, speaker, issuer or writer who intends to convey or transit a message.
b. Message: The subject matter of communication.
c. Transmission: The act of conveying the message.
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d. Channel: The medium used to transmit the message.
e. Receiver: The person to whom the message is meant.
f. Response: Replying or reaction of the receiver
Importance of Communication
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Communication is one of the most important functions of management. Every manager must communicate in order to get things done through others. Communication is indispensable for all managerial controlling. In the opinion of Chester Barnard ” The first executive function is to develop and maintain a system of communication”. In the words of George R. Terry, ” It serves as the lubricant, fostering for the smooth operations of the management process”.
Whether we are considering a church, a family, a scout troop or a business enterprise, the transfer of information from one individual to the other is absolutely essential. It is the means by which behaviour is modified and goals are achieved”.