Communication illustrated: Ram’s half hour

The role of communication in organized activities is perhaps best explained by

illustration of a real situation. By design, our illustration is both detailed and scant. It is

detailed because it is made up of illustrations of the minute and specific communication

events which occur in business. It is scant because at best it covers only a sample of the

almost infinite number of events.

For this review we could select any organization, as communication is vital to every

conceivable type. Our choice is the Typical Company, manufacturer of a line of ladies

garments. The Typical Company is moderately large, with scores of departments and

hundreds of workers doing a thousands and one tasks. It employs trams of salespeople

who sell the gatments to wholesalers all over the country. Like most companies in its

field. Typical works to help move its products from wholesaler to retailer and from retailer

to the final consumer. And it works to keep the consumer happy with the purchase. The

Typical Company is indeed typical.

Our review begins with the workday of Ram, a clerk in Typical’s order department.

Ram’s communication activities begin each day the moment he awakens. But for our

purposes we shall pick up Ram’s activities as he goes to work in a chartered bus with

three of his co-workers. Of course, Ram and the member of his chat.tered bus

communicate as they travel. Obviously, communication has a social use, and going to

work is a form of social occasion for Ram and his friends.