The Use of Group Communication in Business - Essay Example

The paper "The Use of Group Communication in Business" is a good example of an essay on business. Group communication is the interaction between the members of a group. Groups utilize both verbal and written communication. Verbal communication can be very effective in order to interchange information in a faster manner. The use of written communication can help a group document its communication. The use of group communication can allow groups the ability to interchange ideas and develop solutions. Group communication refers to communication that occurs between three or more people, while individual communication is communication that occurs on one between two people. Group communication can be enhanced by the members being active listeners. “Active listening is a way of listening and responding to another person that improves mutual understanding” (Colorado).

            Dispute resolution is an important topic that should have been covered more thoroughly in the charter. It is important for members of teams to manage conflicts adequately. Conflicts can cause problems for teams because it leads to inefficiencies among the team members. The person responsible for resolving conflicts in a team setting is the team leader. The team leader must implement effective conflict resolution techniques to resolve conflicts when they arise. “Conflict occurs when parties disagree over substantive issues or when emotional antagonisms create friction between them” (Schermerhorn & Hunt & Osborn, 2003, pg. 378). Conflict often occurs due to interpersonal issues among members of the team. It is important for team members to communicate with each other. Five strategies that the team can implement to resolve conflicts are accommodation, collaboration, compromise, authoritative command, and avoidance. 

            The team will utilize effective strategies to achieve good team communication. The first strategy to improve communication within the team is to assign a team leader. The team leader communicates work instructions to the rest of the team members. A second effective communication strategy to enhance the communication between team members is scheduling mandatory team meetings. During the meetings, the team members will openly discuss any issues associated with the project deliverables. A third communication technique that can be used to enhance communication among team members is to implement a feedback mechanism. 

            There are several technologies that the team can utilize to enhance communication. One of those technologies is the use of emails. Emails are a very effective communication tool because it allows team members to transfer data and information instantly via the internet. Another good attribute of emails is that it allows users to document communication between team members. A disadvantage of emails is that sometimes it takes the receiver a long time to open the email message. A second communication technology that can be used between team members is MSN chat. Chatting allows team members to have real-time conversations. A disadvantage of chatting is that the communication method lacks human touch because there is no face to face communication dialogue. A third technological communication tool that the team can use is Skype. Skype can be used by team members to have video conferences. A fourth communication tool is smartphones. Smartphones are advanced mobile phone devices that have multimedia capabilities and online connectivity. A con of smartphones is its high retail prices and monthly plans.