The high frequency of communication

Just how much communicating a business organization needs depends on a number of

factors. The nature of the business certainly is one. Some have much greater need to

communicate than do others. The organization plan of the company also affects the

volume of communication, for much of the information flow is provided by the structure.

Also, the people who make up the organization affect the volume of communication. As

we shall point out later, every human being is different. Each has different

communication needs and abilities. Thus, varying combinations of people will produce

varying needs for communication.

Although the communication needs vary by company, people in organizations

communicate more than most of us suspect. According to one generally accepted

estimate, between 40 and 60 per cent of the work time spent in a typical manufacturing

plant involves some phase of communication. Of cours, these percentages are only

averages. Some employees spend much more of their time communicating. In fact, the

higher up the organization structure the employee is, the more communicating he or she

is likely to do. Typically, top executives spend from 75 to 95 per cent of their time

communicating. Unskilled labourers, on the other hand, need to communicate little to do

their work.

Without question, communication is imp0l1ant to the business organization. Because it

is important, it stands to reason that business wants its communication to be well done.