Communication Knowledge - Assignment Example

MANAGING COMMUNICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION Contents Task 3 How to assess information and knowledge needs 3 AC 1.1 3 The major rules and steps necessary for setting up a business are: 3 Bibliography 5 AC 1.2 7 AC 1.3 9 Coman, E. 2004. Sources of business information, (Rev. ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press. 10 AC 1.4 11 Coman, E. 2004. Sources of business information, (Rev. ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press. 12 Task 2 13 According to Langtry (2014, p.431), the strategies should be applied to increase personal networking geared towards widening involvement in the decision-making process. Macdonald and Arnold (2014, p.622) notes that managers should make plans for involving the various stakeholders of their businesses in the decision making process. 13 Bibliography 14 Langtry, B. 2014. Stakeholders and the Moral Responsibilities of Business. Business Ethics Quarterly, 431-435. 14 Macdonald, C., & Arnold, D. 2014. Managing for Stakeholders. Business Ethics Quarterly, 621-629. 14 AC 2.1 15 Langtry, B. 2014. Stakeholders and the Moral Responsibilities of Business. Business Ethics Quarterly, 431-431. 15 Macdonald, C., & Arnold, D. 2014. Managing for Stakeholders. Business Ethics Quarterly, 621-629. 16 AC 2.2 17 Bibliography 18 Perrigot, R., Kacker, M., Basset, G., & Cliquet, G. 2012. Antecedents of Early Adoption and Use of Social Media Networks for Stakeholder Communications: Evidence from Franchising*. Journal of Small Business Management, 539-565. 18 Workplace communication for the 21st century: Tools and strategies that impact the bottom line: V.1: Internal workplace communication; v.2: External workplace communication. 2010. Choice Reviews Online, 50-6291. 18 Green, W. 2007. Communicating in the Workplace. Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 10-11. 18 AC 2.3 19 AC 2.4 20 Developing the Communication Process 22 AC3.1 22 The existing processes of communication in Hamilton Inquiry Company 22 The company maintains an efficient and continuous communication with the city inhabitants and its clients. It issues news releases to the local media with significant information on the city issues and services. The news releases are posted here at the exact time when they are passed to reports (Hamilton City Improvement Society, organized 2004, p.88). Persons interested in knowing more about Hamilton can contact the company’s communication officers. 22 Currently, the company’s communication system has both formal and informal communication processes. 22 Under formal methods, the company uses the following communication means 22 Meetings and conferences 22 These include; 22 Council and Committee Meetings 22 Here requisitions to meet the council are made by the top management in line with the committee calendar. In such meetings, agendas and minutes are considered important 23 Public Meeting or Consultation sessions 23 Employees and clients are often invited to attend the Public meetings and consultation sessions. These are usually hosted in the city of Hamilton and comprise a many public consultations on a varied series of local and city-wide subjects (Hamilton City Improvement Society, organized 2004, p.88). The company values the publics view and hopes to get informative debates with inhabitants, companies, and other major stakeholders from allover of the City. 23 There are many forms of print communication, involve all forms of printed literature with relevant business information (Curtis 2009, p.11). They range from newsletters, microfiche, books, microfilm to periodicals.  24 AC 3.3 25 AC 3.4 27 Task 4 29 Improving systems relating to information and knowledge 29 AC4.1 29 AC 4.2 31 AC 4.3 33 Bibliography 35 Coman, E. 2004. Sources of business information, (Rev. ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press. 35 Green, W. 2007. Communicating in the Workplace. Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 10-11. 35 Langtry, B. 2014. Stakeholders and the Moral Responsibilities of Business. Business Ethics Quarterly, 431-431. 35 Macdonald, C., & Arnold, D. 2014. Managing for Stakeholders. Business Ethics Quarterly, 621-629. 35 Massman, V., & Daniells, L. 2014. Business Information Sources. The Business History Review, 413-413. 35 Perrigot, R., Kacker, M., Basset, G., & Cliquet, G. (2012) Antecedents of Early Adoption and Use of Social Media Networks for Stakeholder Communications: Evidence from Franchising*. Journal of Small Business Management, 539-565. 36 Workplace communication for the 21st century: Tools and strategies that impact the bottom line: V.1: Internal workplace communication; v.2: External workplace communication. 2010. Choice Reviews Online, 50-6291. 36 Introduction When starting any business organization, it is crucial to assess the most relevant methods of managing information and knowledge requirements. It is also important to define the strategies for increasing personal networking to widen involvement in the decision-making process. It can be well implemented by establishing an efficient communication process. Investors and business stakeholders must also ensure the improvement of systems relating to information and knowledge. Task 1 How to assess information and knowledge needs It is very important to ascertain the most appropriate means of handling information and knowledge requirements while starting a business. AC 1.1 The major rules and steps necessary for setting up a business are: Formulate a business idea Involves composing what nature of business one wants to start and how they want it operated (Steingold 2011, p.132). Charles and the founders of Classic Badges Company should if the company will be private or public plus finding a logo or brand for the business. Get funding Charles and the founders of the Classic Badges must research and evaluate the available sources of funds like loans and others. They must consider also the security of the funding alternatives. Market research The owners of Classic Badges must study the market environment and trends to know the most suitable location for the business as well as the competitors. Planning It involves preparing an overall organizational plan for the business (Steingold 2011, p.136). The owners of Classic Badges should put down the steps of transforming the company’s marketing plan into the organizational plan Getting partners It entails having a written documentation indicating an investor’s need for partners (Steingold 2011, p.137). Charles and the owners of Classic Badges need to find suppliers and premises for the business. Managing and predicting the human resources The number of staff needed to operate the business successfully must be known (Torrington et al. 2007, p.218). Charles must have specific employment rules and procedures. His team must understand all the employees, their skills, their pay and other issues. Set up the business It is the final phase and involves implementing the business idea and plan (Steingold 2011, p.138). Charles and his team may consider advertising, geographical segmentation at this stage. In setting up Classic Badges Company, the owner/ management has the key task of making logical and systematic business decisions. Some of these decisions may include; • Participants and their roles The participants are the people to take part in the new businesses. They may include the business owners and managers (Baldoni 2010, p.12). The founders should decide on those will participate in the board, the CEO, and the other management positions of the company. • How to apportion ownership and control Charles needs to decide on how to allocate ownership of the business. Owners may have equal or varying ownership, basing on the number of shares. • Mode of Financing Charles must choose the method of funding the business. Available alternatives may be either through internal or external sources (Balsley & Clover 2008, p.104). • The location of the company The company’s physical geographical location will be very important (Balsley & Clover 2008, p.93). The owner must, therefore, make a decision on the most appropriate site for locating the company. • The number of workers to employ Charles being the owner of the Classic Badges Company will have to decide the number of workers to employ when setting up the business. Bibliography Balsley, H., & Clover, V. 2008. Research for business decisions: Business research methods (4th ed.). Columbus, Ohio: Publishing Horizons. Steingold, F. 2011. Legal guide for starting & running a small business (12th ed.). Berkeley, Calif.: Nolo. Torrington, D., Hall L., Taylor S. 2007. Human Resource Management, 7th edition, Pearson Education. AC 1.2 When setting up a business, various types of information and the transition stages of these forms of information should be known. Relevant data should be gathered from relevant sources through research and analysis (Debowski 2006, p.66). The data should then be summarized, organized and transformed into useful information. Knowledge on what is required for setting up a business is crucial when gathering such important information (Awad & Ghaziri 2004, p.645). Knowledge and information are required for a good decision making process during the initial stages of setting up a business. By having the knowledge about the market trends, competitors, consumers, buyers, suppliers and the various risks factors, the owners of Classic Badges Company are able to start and run the business effectively. The information and knowledge needed to ensure that effective decisions are taken are: Information on the number of participants and their roles The number of the potential participants in the running of the business with their roles and responsibilities should be known (Baldoni 2010, p.15). Information on the potential customers The relevant customers and the means of serving their needs best must be known. Information on competition According to Baldoni (2010), all the potential competitors must be well known by an investor. The nature of competition must also be known by the owner/ management. Information on all the job positions It is very important for the owner to know all the key leadership and subordinate positions and their respective job descriptions when setting up the business. Information on the available methods of financing Charles must know the various alternatives of funding available and the effectiveness and their efficiency. Information about the suitability of the Company location The company’s nearness to raw materials, good transport network and the market should be known. Information on the appropriate work force The appropriate number and qualifications of workers who will steer the business to success should be known. Bibliography Awad, E., & Ghaziri, H. 2004. Knowledge Management. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall. Baldoni, J. 2010, ‘What does the organization need me to do?’ The Journal for Quality and Participation, April, pp. 10-14. Debowski, S. (2006). Knowledge management. Milton, Qld.: Wiley. AC 1.3 There are many sources of information available for entrepreneurs who wish to establish and manage their businesses (Massman & Daniells 2014, p.44). Information sources are mostly classified in two ways; internal or external and/ or primary or secondary. Internal sources These are sources within the business; its persons and resources (Coman 2004, p.270). For Classic Badges Company, the internal sources of information required to justify the suitability of the project may include; The employees of the business. They can provide useful information for the running of the business, since they interact daily with the business activities and clients. The owners/ stakeholders of the business. They usually understand a lot about the business and market situations hence can provide important information for the running of the Company. External sources For Classic Badges Company, the external sources of information required to justify the suitability of the project may include; • The government The state government may provide reliable sources of information, which may be used by Classic Badges Company to make good business decisions (Coman 2004, p.277). • Print Information They involve all forms of printed literature with relevant business information. For Classic Badges Company, they may range from newsletters, microfiche, books, microfilm to periodicals. • Commercials Useful information is sometimes broadcasted commercially from other-successful companies. Classic Badges Company may utilize them to make the proper business decisions. • Information from trade groupings They comprise those firms that transact in one industry much as they may be located far from one another. Primary sources These are those original avenues from which useful business information is obtained directly (Massman & Daniells 2014, p.61). For Classic Badges Company, such sources may include the owners, employees and clients of the business. Secondary Sources These are secondary avenues from which useful business information may be obtained (Massman & Daniells 2014, p.60). For Classic Badges Company, such sources may include the media, publications and other print sources. The two categories of information sources discussed above are the most appropriate for Classic Badges Company. It is because they both involve the three major participants in the business operations, namely; the owners/ stakeholders, employees and clients (buyers and suppliers). Bibliography Coman, E. 2004. Sources of business information, (Rev. ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press. Massman, V., & Daniells, L. 2014. Business Information Sources. The Business History Review, 413-413. AC 1.4 The following are some recommendations on how to improve the use of different sources of information when setting up the Classic Badges Company project. When using any external or internal source of information to make key business decisions, it is vital to understand the reliability of the data sources. It is always important to confirm the authenticity of the information source before considering it. In this project, thorough research should be done on the best communication media, the potential suppliers, best location and customers (Massman & Daniells 2014, p.106). The company should also consider paying to obtain appropriate information concerning the setting up of the business. Through research, the useful information for making accurate and reliable decision can be obtained. On the other hand, the use of primary and secondary and or internal or external sources of information of information in the process of decision making is mostly associated with certain strengths. Information obtained from internal sources is usually associated with high levels of efficiency and effectiveness (Coman 2004, p.65). The main reason is that these sources comprise majorly people who have deal directly with the business and thus understand the dynamics of the business well. If decisions in Classic Badges Company are made basing on the information obtained from these sources, they will be highly effective. Sometimes, the use of primary and secondary and or internal or external sources of information in the process of decision making may have some weaknesses. The information from these sources may have some degree of inaccuracy or irrelevance to the business’ operations (Corrado 2004, p.73). Poor quality/ inaccurate information may lead to serious mistakes in operations, which may destroy the impression of Classic Badge Company. If at all the management/ owners of Classic Badges Company want to ensure efficient business operations, the information and knowledge of the organizational and management practices must be improved. It will grant the company more impressive velour. Bibliography Coman, E. 2004. Sources of business information, (Rev. ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press. Corrado, F. (2004). Communicating with employees improving organizational communication. Menlo Park, CA: Crisp. Massman, V., & Daniells, L. 2014. Business Information Sources. The Business History Review, 413-413. Task 2 According to Langtry (2014, p.431), the strategies should be applied to increase personal networking geared towards widening involvement in the decision-making process. Macdonald and Arnold (2014, p.622) notes that managers should make plans for involving the various stakeholders of their businesses in the decision making process. A plan on how to involve the stakeholders in the decision making for this project Participants Tasks/ Roles Key decision(s) made Expected Outputs Owners Meet with project team members. Review the project context and needs Plan project and consult with relevant authorities/ partners on project needs. . Preferred company’s location, mode of financing, participants and their roles, number of workers and the amount to invest A successful project (An efficiently running Classic Badges Company). Suppliers Meet with the owner to discuss their interests. Share their interests, tastes and preferences with the project team Preferred company’s location, goods and services, raw materials prices, brands, delivery means, production time and other interests A successful project (An efficiently running Classic Badges Company). Potential Customers (Local authorities, school and sports teams that may be interested in buying the badges) Share their interests, tastes and preferences with the project team . Preferred company’s location, goods and services, prices, brands, packaging, delivery means, production time and other interests A successful project (An efficiently running Classic Badges Company). Project Team members Cooperate in working on the project of setting up Classic Badges Company. Review the project context and needs Conduct Evaluation of the project Develop evaluation questions. Collect data (interviews with suppliers, customers and other stakeholders, program records). Analyse data. Write and disseminate report. A successful project (An efficiently running Classic Badges Company). Bibliography Langtry, B. 2014. Stakeholders and the Moral Responsibilities of Business. Business Ethics Quarterly, 431-435. Macdonald, C., & Arnold, D. 2014. Managing for Stakeholders. Business Ethics Quarterly, 621-629. AC 2.1 There are several stakeholders in involved in this project. They include, the owner, Charles Gillbeck, the suppliers and the potential customers such as the local authority, school and sports teams that may be interested in buying the badges All these stakeholders are expected to make useful contributions that will contribute towards the success of setting up the project (Langtry 2014, p.433). Their respective contributions in the decision making process may be as explained below. The owner, Charles Gillbeck He is to propose his preferred company’s location, mode of financing, participants and their roles, number of workers and the amount to be invest. The suppliers They are to suggest their preferred company’s location, goods and services, raw materials prices, brands, delivery means, production time and other interests The potential customers such as the local authority, school and sports teams who may be interested in buying the badges According to Macdonald and Arnold (2014, p.624), all the stakeholders discussed above should suggest their preferred company’s location, goods and services, prices, brands, packaging, delivery means, production time and other interests. Bibliography Langtry, B. 2014. Stakeholders and the Moral Responsibilities of Business. Business Ethics Quarterly, 431-431. Macdonald, C., & Arnold, D. 2014. Managing for Stakeholders. Business Ethics Quarterly, 621-629. AC 2.2 For success project implementation and sound decision making, there should be an effective business relationship with these stakeholders (Perrigot2012, p.550). The various methods of contact that will enhance business relationship with the stakeholders may include; Formal methods Meetings  They are effective communication avenues that can be held by any number of attendees. Conference Calls These entail dialogue that relies on verbal messages (Green 2007, p.8). They do not involve any traveling costs. Mails or Newsletters They involve a unidirectional communication and make use of print newsletters, brochures, posters and emailed updates. Informal methods Hallway communications; are informal meetings are meant for one to one talks (Green 2007, p.7). They are concise with simple messages shared. Lunch Meetings, They may be scheduled at a cafeteria or later after work. They are convenient forums where stakeholders meet to share directly (Workplace communication for the 21st century 2010, p.802). They are suitable for bonding, obtaining feedback, and opinions to build support. Sporting sessions These may include games like soccer or athletics opinions and input in decision making may be obtained. They strengthen communication and create collective stakeholder support. Bibliography Perrigot, R., Kacker, M., Basset, G., & Cliquet, G. 2012. Antecedents of Early Adoption and Use of Social Media Networks for Stakeholder Communications: Evidence from Franchising*. Journal of Small Business Management, 539-565. Workplace communication for the 21st century: Tools and strategies that impact the bottom line: V.1: Internal workplace communication; v.2: External workplace communication. 2010. Choice Reviews Online, 50-6291. Green, W. 2007. Communicating in the Workplace. Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 10-11. AC 2.3 The following stakeholder decision making action plan may be considered for the project AC 2.4 It is important to improve the individual networking skills. It will help to improve on involving others in the decision making process for this project (Social networking and the workplaces 2014, p.20). The following strategies may be implemented to enhance the personal networking skills. Direct or via media Stakeholders can link with each other and with other resourceful persons through social media or even directly and share ideas (Social networking and the workplace 2014, p.20). The interaction can boost the decision making process. Relating and interacting Stakeholders may form relations with each other and with other useful individuals through casual and official interactions (“Social networking and the workplace” 2014, p.21). Such relations can improve the individual networking skills, which in turn boost the decision making process. Trust and confidentiality By developing trust amongst them and even external resourceful persons, the stakeholders of the company may build good personal networks (Social networking and the workplace 2014, p.20s). It will help promote the decision making process. Forming business relationships Stakeholders may form partnerships and business associations (“Social networking and the workplace” 2014, p.22). These can be helpful in improving their individual networking skills and consequently improve the involvement of others in the decision making process. Bibliography Social Networking and the Workplace: Making the most of web 2.0 technologies. 2014. Strategic Direction, 20-23. Social Networking in the Workplace. 2014. Network Security, 20-20. Task 3 Developing the Communication Process The organization I worked for previously was Hamilton Inquiry Company. It is a state organization located in the United Kingdom. The company deals in city services and programs for residents and is largely a government institution. The mission of Hamilton is “to ensure a healthy and safe City for Hamilton residents.” AC3.1 The existing processes of communication in Hamilton Inquiry Company The company maintains an efficient and continuous communication with the city inhabitants and its clients. It issues news releases to the local media with significant information on the city issues and services. The news releases are posted here at the exact time when they are passed to reports (Hamilton City Improvement Society, organized 2004, p.88). Persons interested in knowing more about Hamilton can contact the company’s communication officers. Currently, the company’s communication system has both formal and informal communication processes. Under formal methods, the company uses the following communication means Meetings and conferences These include; Council and Committee Meetings Here requisitions to meet the council are made by the top management in line with the committee calendar. In such meetings, agendas and minutes are considered important Public Meeting or Consultation sessions Employees and clients are often invited to attend the Public meetings and consultation sessions. These are usually hosted in the city of Hamilton and comprise a many public consultations on a varied series of local and city-wide subjects (Hamilton City Improvement Society, organized 2004, p.88). The company values the publics view and hopes to get informative debates with inhabitants, companies, and other major stakeholders from allover of the City. One to one Meetings These are informal meetings are meant for one to one talks. They are concise with simple messages shared. Sub Committee Meetings Internet and email The use of mails and internet is common in Hamilton. According to Curtis (2009), they involve the use of unidirectional communications that make use of print newsletters, brochures, posters and emailed updates. Formal methods Meetings  They are effective communication avenues that can be held by any number of attendees. Conference Calls These entail dialogue that relies on verbal messages. They do not involve any traveling costs. Written communication There are many forms of print communication, involve all forms of printed literature with relevant business information (Curtis 2009, p.11). They range from newsletters, microfiche, books, microfilm to periodicals.  Telephone Communications are also done via phone among departments and individuals. Some telephone communications are official while others are not official. Video conferencing Today, video conferencing is a common communication method in Hamilton. Meetings and conferences are held through virtually without participants having to attend physically. They are usually held at departmental levels or by the senior management. Bibliography Curtis, J. 2009. Managing sticky situations at work communication secrets for success in the workplace. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger/ABC-CLIO. Hamilton City Improvement Society. 2004. Hamilton, Harvard Business Review, 84 (1), pp.88-97. AC 3.3 Recommendations on the improvements that need to be implemented to ensure greater integration of systems of communication in that organization The management (communications department) of the company ought to utilize the latest forms of communication technology. Till today, there are various forms of old and outdated forms of communication technology that are being used at Hamilton inquiry (Hamilton City Improvement Society 2004, p.89). The cases of communication hitches in the company may be reduced through this (Corrado 2004, p.67). Many old forms of technology and methods of communication are outdated and unreliable today. It is because there are changes in almost every other factor related to communication. Modern communication systems like telephones and computers are the appropriate and more reliable. Unproductive informal communication techniques should be abandoned. Many cases of communication breakdowns and work place strife are on the rise due to the use of informal/ odd communication means (Curtis 2009, p.69). Communication should be formally organized so that the messages are logically and systematically disseminated and understood by all the parties in the organization. Bibliography Corrado, F. 2004. Communicating with employees improving organizational communication. Menlo Park, CA: Crisp. Curtis, J. 2009. Managing sticky situations at work communication secrets for success in the workplace. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger/ABC-CLIO. Hamilton City Improvement Society. 2004. Hamilton, Harvard Business Review, 84 (1), pp.88-97. AC 3.4 The main purpose of communication is to comprehend and be understood unmistakably (Worth 2004, p.46). I have some weaknesses in the four major communication areas of listening, speaking, writing and reading and I hope to improve them. To improve my personal communication skills, I ought to make a personal communication plan (Ellis 2002, p.119). Sustaining an eloquent talk for long is one of my major communication difficulties. I do not have a strong language command when I speak and can only get a few languages. The following is my personal plan to improve my own communication skills Communication Challenge Remedy Expected outcome Poor/ wrong interpretation of information Be more attentive in dealing with bosses, colleagues, customers, supervisors and subordinates Listen and understand messages well Poor language command Appreciate my desires on personal own terms and learn more Communicate confidently and even more clearly People do not get me properly Try to communicate more clearly Communicate more clearly Lack of confidence and courage Enhance my performance and feel better about my esteem Speak more confidently and clearly Language barrier Learn more languages Better understanding of languages Not a good writer Practice writing more often Write better Slow and little attention when reading Read, summarize and understand more books Improved reading   Bibliography Ellis, R. 2002. Communication skills stepladders to success for the professional. Bristol, UK: Intellect. Worth, R. 2004. Communication skills (2nd ed.). New York: Ferguson. Task 4 Improving systems relating to information and knowledge AC4.1 The existing approaches to the collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge at Hamilton Inquiry Company include; Observation Here, the original information is obtained by the use of the human eye. It is usually free from response bias. The level of accuracy exhibited by the observer determines the quality of the outcome (Corrado (2004, p.101). It is applied in the company by the officers and workers who apply it to assess the clients’ complaints. Interviews/ Surveys They are surveys carried out to gather first-hand information/ qualitative data from respondents about a given phenomenon. It is usually associated with high quality as it allows the coverage of the target population on given issues (Corrado 2004, p.156). At Hamilton Inquiry, market surveys, opinion polls, and census surveys have been done in the past. Transaction Processing Here the required information is available but requires dispensation and mixing before use. Currently, transaction processing is being used in Hamilton inquiry in the form of ledgers, workers’ payrolls, stock reports and sales reports. Publications These are cheaper means of data collection that emphasize various ideas. They include; government publications, industry publications, and institutional publications. Government agencies They are sources of important data, which may be accessible but not readily applicable. It is because some are not that up to date and are hence unreliable (Curtis 2009, p.125). Some include the central bank’s publications, findings, and reports. Dissemination techniques at Hamilton include; Searching Indexed method Here information is gathered only from indexed information sources like comprehensive databases, library catalogues, digital libraries, repositories or the internet. Searching Non-Indexed Sources method Here non-indexed sources of information are searched to gather and keep the appropriate information. At Hamilton Inquiry, three types are used (Hamilton City Improvement Society, organized 2004, p.88). They include; Grey Literature, Reference Sources, and Gathering information about academic resources of the local community. Bibliography Corrado, F. 2004. Communicating with employees improving organizational communication. Menlo Park, CA: Crisp. Curtis, J. 2009. Managing sticky situations at work communication secrets for success in the workplace. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger/ABC-CLIO. Hamilton City Improvement Society. 2004. Hamilton, Harvard Business Review, 84 (1), pp.88-97. AC 4.2 The appropriate changes that need to be carried out to improve the collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge in this organization may include the ones discussed below. Modern digital computers with faster processors may be introduced to replace the old technology (Curtis 2009, p.152). Such computers should be installed everywhere in the organization to enable uniform/ systematic collection, formatting and dissemination of information. According to Corrado (2004, p.68), wwhenever data is obtained about the services and goods offered by the organization, it should be documented properly and kept for future reference. Workers of the organization and the clients should be given ready access to the reports and databases of Hamilton Inquiry Company (Hamilton City Improvement Society 2004, p.96). Such a move will help to eliminate the challenges that come with the inefficient dissemination of information. At Hamilton Inquiry Company, modern technologies of information management like OIS, MIS or DIS are used in various ways to ensure improved information management. MIS and DIS are used to store and organize the collected information (Hamilton City Improvement Society 2004, p.91). They also help the information managers to identify and assess the various information needs of the company. Data collection may be enhanced through emphasizing accuracy and completeness in the primary collection stage. Bibliography Corrado, F. 2004. Communicating with Employees Improving Organizational Communication. Menlo Park, CA: Crisp. Curtis, J. 2009. Managing sticky situations at work Communication secrets for Success in the Workplace. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger/ABC-CLIO. Hamilton City Improvement Society. 2004. Hamilton, Harvard Business Review, 84 (1), pp.88-97. AC 4.3 To improve the communication and knowledge in Hamilton City Inquiry, a number of measures/ changes must be put in place. The following recommendations should be put into consideration; The company should embrace the modern forms of information technology. There are number of cases of communication breakdowns in the company caused by the dependence on old technology and methods (Curtis 2009, p.101). Some of the old forms of technology and methods of communication may be appealing, but they are not that reliable today. It is because there are changes in almost every other factor related to communication (Awad & Ghaziri 2004). The newest communication technology involving modern machines like telephones and computers are the fastest and the most reliable methods. Another important point to take note of is the use of diagonal communication methods. The cases of communication breakdowns and work place conflicts are on the rise due to the use of informal/ odd communication means (Corrado 2004, p.108). Communication should be formally channelled so that the messages are logically and systematically disseminated and understood by all the parties in the organization. Bibliography Corrado, F. 2004. Communicating with employees improving organizational communication. Menlo Park, CA: Crisp. Curtis, J. 2009. Managing sticky situations at work communication secrets for success in the Workplace. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger/ABC-CLIO. Awad, E., & Ghaziri, H. 2004. Knowledge Management. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall. Conclusion In conclusion, companies should embrace modern forms of information technology. There are number of cases of communication breakdowns in the company caused by the dependence on old technology and methods. In most companies today, cases of communication breakdowns and workplace conflicts are on the rise due to the use of informal/ odd communication means. When using any external or internal source of information to make key business decisions, it is vital to understand the reliability of the data sources. Workers of an organization and the clients should be given ready access to the reports and databases to improve the efficiency of knowledge management. Bibliography Awad, E., & Ghaziri, H. 2004. Knowledge Management. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall. Baldoni, J. 2010, ‘What does the organization need me to do?’ The Journal for Quality and  Participation, April, pp. 10-14. Balsley, H., & Clover, V. 2008. Research for business decisions: Business research methods (4th ed.). Columbus, Ohio: Publishing Horizons. Coman, E. 2004. Sources of business information, (Rev. ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press. Corrado, F. (2004). Communicating with employees improving organizational communication. Menlo Park, CA: Crisp. Curtis, J. 2009. Managing sticky situations at work communication secrets for success in the workplace. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger/ABC-CLIO. Debowski, S. (2006). Knowledge management. Milton, Qld.: Wiley. Ellis, R. 2002. Communication skills stepladders to success for the professional. Bristol, UK: Intellect. Green, W. 2007. Communicating in the Workplace. Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 10-11. Hamilton City Improvement Society. 2004. Hamilton, Harvard Business Review, 84 (1), pp.88-97. Langtry, B. 2014. Stakeholders and the Moral Responsibilities of Business. Business Ethics Quarterly, 431-431. Macdonald, C., & Arnold, D. 2014. Managing for Stakeholders. Business Ethics Quarterly, 621-629. Massman, V., & Daniells, L. 2014. Business Information Sources. The Business History Review, 413-413. Perrigot, R., Kacker, M., Basset, G., & Cliquet, G. (2012) Antecedents of Early Adoption and Use of Social Media Networks for Stakeholder Communications: Evidence from Franchising*. Journal of Small Business Management, 539-565. Social Networking and the Workplace: Making the most of web 2.0 technologies. 2014. Strategic Direction, 20-23. Social Networking in the Workplace. 2014. Network Security, 20-20. Steingold, F. 2011. Legal guide for starting & running a small business (12th ed.). Berkeley, Calif.: Nolo. Torrington, D., Hall L., Taylor S. 2007. Human Resource Management, 7th edition, Pearson Education. Workplace communication for the 21st century: Tools and strategies that impact the bottom line: V.1: Internal workplace communication; v.2: External workplace communication. 2010. Choice Reviews Online, 50-6291. Worth, R. 2004. Communication skills (2nd ed.). New York: Ferguson. Read More

 

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