| According to the Book on Military Administration, "In | | | | within a department. Cheap because can transfer with |
| battles, as verbal communication cannot be heard | | | | least costs throughout company even if overseas. It is |
| clearly, cymbals and drums are used as commands" | | | | prone to technology risks. |
| As visual communication and eye contact are | | | | Letter |
| hampered, banners and flags are used as signals. Now | | | | What is described here are paper letters sent from |
| the purpose of using cymbals, drums, flags and | | | | one department to another. It is only needed when you |
| banners is to draw attention of the troops and focus | | | | want to formalize a request or a work order. But this |
| them for combat under the direction of the | | | | kind of communication is slowly being taken over by |
| commander. Once the troops are united as one body, | | | | e-mail. Letters are more concrete than e-mail because |
| the courageous ones will not advance forward by | | | | electronic files are usually subjected to suspicion of |
| themselves and the cowardly ones will not retreat by | | | | editing or changing. Letter has the same characteristics |
| themselves. This is the art of directing larges forces in | | | | as that of the e-mail but since it is tangible, it is not like |
| battles. - Chapter Seven, Sun Tzu Art of War | | | | e-mail where you can deny you have received it.. |
| For battles at night, use more torches and drums. For | | | | Security wise, it could be better or worse than e-mail |
| battles in the day, use more banners and flags. These | | | | depending on situations. It could be costly if you need |
| different means of communication can be designed to | | | | to send it overseas. It is more reliable than electronic |
| influence the judgment of the enemy. - Chapter Seven, | | | | mode of communication. |
| Sun Tzu Art of War | | | | Internet Messenger (Instant Messaging) |
| As mentioned above, during day operations more | | | | With the popular use of internet, internet messenger |
| banners and flags should be used for communication | | | | like ICQ, MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger are |
| and during night operations, drums and torches should | | | | being popularized, it allows fast relay of information and |
| be used instead. From here we can see how | | | | nowadays these messengers have the capabilities to |
| observant Sun Tzu is. He even noted down what type | | | | help you know whether the person on the other end is |
| of communication we should use during each battle, | | | | around or not. But again, it lacks the transfer of |
| but of course the list of tools mentioned is not | | | | emotions. The voice and tone of your message |
| exhaustive, communication channels should depend on | | | | cannot be sent out through the messenger, even with |
| the terrain as well. For example, if you are in a flat | | | | emoticons, misunderstanding can still occur. What you |
| terrain, a larger banner (daytime) or fireworks (night) | | | | sent out could be in a tone of offering help like "What |
| should be used for communication because they can | | | | do you want me to do?" But others after reading the |
| convey accurate messages, if you have explained | | | | message may interpret, you are angry with him for |
| accurately what each signals meant. But note here is | | | | doing something. But Internet messenger has its pros |
| that your signals, not tools, should be like your strategy, | | | | as well, it could be used as a channel for informal |
| it should change with every battle. If you have a fixed | | | | discussion within the company because some of these |
| form of communication signals, sooner or later, your | | | | messengers can allow multiple users in a single chat |
| enemy will be able to decipher them and that is would | | | | windows. And it is cheap since most of them are free |
| likely be the result of your defeat. This explains why | | | | and information can be transferred overseas cheaply. |
| Sun Tzu said the means of communication can be | | | | It is prone to technology risks. |
| used to influence the enemy. | | | | Telephone |
| Business Application | | | | Compare to the other modes that are mentioned, it is |
| Communication is very important in business. | | | | a relatively better channel of communication. Because |
| Communication breakdown can be detrimental to a | | | | your tonality, voice qualities are also transmitted |
| business, like losing a big client or slow reaction to a | | | | reducing the chance of your message being |
| rival's move. With a strong understanding of each | | | | misunderstood. But it lacks another communication |
| communication tools weakness and strength would | | | | characteristic that is important and that is body |
| you then be able to use it to your advantage. Good | | | | language. It definitely solicits fast response because |
| communication system can grant a company great | | | | you can only communicate when the receiver is on |
| flexibility, shorter reaction time and faster response. It is | | | | the other side at the same time. But it can be very |
| similar to an irrigation system. With good proper control | | | | expensive if you need to communicate overseas. And |
| system of the flow, accurate amount of water, water | | | | reliability should be better than any electronic channel |
| flowing to the right place, the fields will flourish because | | | | since this industry has been around for a very long |
| of it. These are capabilities that are extremely valuable | | | | time. |
| in this dynamic business environment. Some forms of | | | | Internet Telephony & Video Conferencing |
| communication channels are e-mail, letters, internet | | | | Internet telephony is slowly becoming very popular |
| messenger, telephone, internet telephony or video | | | | because SMEs and MNCs can make overseas call |
| conferencing and face to face. I shall talk about their | | | | cheaply. This also includes video conferencing, which is |
| usage within the company. Please take note that | | | | made more popular with the prevalence of broadband. |
| having the proper communication tools is only one | | | | It has all the characteristics of telephone, with video |
| aspect of a good communication system though. | | | | conferencing being better because body language, to |
| E-mail | | | | some extent, can be conveyed as well. But reliability |
| E-mail could be formal or informal, nowadays because | | | | could be a problem depending on the infrastructure |
| of the corporate frauds that happened in US, | | | | and service provider available on both sides. Setting it |
| companies are now required to keep a copy of all the | | | | up is cheap with a web camera and broadband |
| e-mails that are sent out to within and outside the | | | | connection. |
| company. E-mails does not solicit fast response from | | | | Face to Face |
| the recipients. It can be secure if the security system's | | | | Up till now, this is the best form of communication, the |
| guideline and usage is strictly adhere to. E-mail is a | | | | only downside is you although you can observe and |
| cheap way of sending information and documents | | | | receive the full signals from your conversation party, |
| within the company and these information can be | | | | the same thing can be said for the other party as well. |
| stored electronically thus cost savings arise from these | | | | So choose the proper communication tools to |
| characteristic. But one downfall of communication is | | | | effectively bring your message across. The correct |
| emotions are not properly conveyed out. E-mails would | | | | communication tools can enhance the efficiency and |
| be suitable for clear cut instructions or information that | | | | effectiveness of your communication system thus |
| does not require immediate attention and preferably | | | | improving your business process. |