International Business Communications Assignment Sample
Here’s the best sample of International Business Communications Assignment, written by the expert.
Introduction
The aim of this study is to critically analyze internal communication strategy for a company or organization seeking to implement workplace changes. The reason behind to undertake this practice due to globalization, technological shift and economic changes within which the firm are pressured to expand its business beyond their boundaries and this generate the problem of communication. In that case, the study regarding to internal communication is important to undertake (Mishra et al., 2014). Therefore, the study will outline the internal communication strategy which tends to support the firms for implementing the workplace changes.
In concern to discuss this essay, Unilever is taken for execute the internal communication strategy. According to Unilever (2019), it is a British-Dutch transnational consumer goods firm based on UK and it offered multiple food and beverages including cleaning agent, beauty products and personal care products etc. It has product availability in more than 190 countries. The use of Unilever example for this essay would be useful to provide evidences about how firm bring changes with the help of built internal communication. The selected firm support to provide facts about the areas that they incorporate to improve their internal communication for achieving the changes. However, this area usually results in the creation of problem of internal communication. It occurred due to the differences in culture and language. Thus, this study will outline the internal communication tool which could help the firm in current scenario to deal with it and implement the right flow of communication at workplace.
Understand the change management and internal communication importance’s for organization
In respect to change management, Karanges et al. (2015) stated that success of firm is largely depend upon them communication aspects among different stakeholders at workplace as if firm does not have right flow of information in its internal level then it directly affect the performances of workforces. That’s why the communication theory cited that smoothly flow of internal information is important to undertake. The theory mentioned both formal and informal process in the communication within that formal communication signified that communication need to be top-down in which manager share facts to its subordinates and it can be done through written or formal documentation way (Mazzei, 2014). Other than that, the informal method signified that hierarchy does not follow the rules and regulations in respect to make communicate the facts. Basically, under this, manager or employees does not follow any type of hierarchy to share news or facts. Thus, informal communication process is usually used in SMEs entities where number of employees is less. But the big enterprises more used the formal communication method for the development of best communication. It can be stated that use of right communication always proves to be right to bring improvement in business. However, Building change management capabilities means greater success on critical projects and support to consistent bring improvement as per the market demands.
Pressures/Problems faces by organization and causes change
In respect to implement the changes or improvement in business, the firms requires to adopting the right set of communication tool in order to make proper flow of information and messages among the different stakeholders. However, the digital transformation give rise to the mobile technology which considers as a best tool within which firm can make regular flow of information which resulted into coordination among different stakeholders (Zerfass & Franke, 2013). For Example, the suppliers always require the proper information about the raw-material requirements in order to avoid the wastage of resources. Thus, the use of advanced technology could support the business with making improvement in communication process of firm and allows stakeholders to work on common directions.
Still the firm is struggling to implement the best communication channel in its business. In that area, Unilever tops the list as it worked in more than 120 countries so in that case, it become difficult to retain proper internal communication for longer duration. Likewise, Banks (2015) stated that Unilever diverse culture employee work in different nations so it is obvious to face issue related to the differences in perception and lack of language understanding. Besides that, improper implementation of communication policy is another area which gives rise to the problem of communication problem in Unilever. Due to which, employees in Unilever failed to identify the target and requirement within which their performances get affected. So, it can be stated that Unilever face communication problem in its internal level as its coordination with external stakeholders are improper and it resulted in improper supplies on product on time across the globe.
Outline of strategy to implement the changes in the communication level of business
In the views of Gikas & Grant (2013) the mobile technology strategy can be the best way is the form of technology which is mostly used on cellular communication and other related aspects. It is majorly used for sending data at the same time on single channel. This allows many users to make use of single frequencies because it restricts likelihood of interferences of frequencies from two or more sources. This channel has evolved over the years and its users are becoming diverse and gradually replacing many sources such as document or paper work. Thus, these areas could assist organization to bring changes in their business in positive manner.
Furthermore, Professionals like Business Managers, Market Research team also stated that the mobile technology tends to be current and future trend where whole business tends to be dependent. However, the mobile technology tool currently not solely becomes an instrument of calling but it tends to have best source to make connection of people across the borders. It is found that mobile technology is appropriate for all sectors whether it is retail or construction in term to bring proper connectivity among the individuals and it supports them to perform their respective work properly (Jacobs et al., 2016). The networks and different applications are the major area which pushes this technology to a wider extent. This allows the users to make proper contact without failing in transmission of messages to different individuals. Thus, the solution of mobile technology could help firm to bring changes in their poor internal communication problem.
Mobile technology strategy in concern to Unilever to bring changes in communication
In respect to improper internal communication issue, the evolution of mobile technology proves to be quite worthy solution for Unilever as it helps the firm to make coordination among the work activity of different stakeholders. However, the recent developments in the mobile communication technology also bring various improvements in business domains. Likewise, Hume & Leonard (2014) stated that this technology helps in the form of receiving and transfer of message to right people which in turn to development of work in best manner. However, the use of mobile technology at Unilever help the top managers to quickly communicate the details or information without conduct the meeting or formal notice as it takes large time of organization. Thus, the mobile technology helps the managers or supervisors to directly contact to the lower level staff members and firm already follows the downward communication channel. In that case, the mobile technology proves to be effective for firm to implement the changes in positive manner (Kang & Sung, 2017).
In respect to ensure that messages are transferred to individuals, there is need to execute the personal WAN and LAN system so that supervisor can get an idea that the firm expectations are fulfilling or not. Other than that, the firm can follow the mention steps to evaluate that messages are reached properly or not. The steps mention below:-
Sender: The firm need to analyze whether sender send the right message with appropriate presentation skills (Mayisela, 2013).
Message: the message is the heart of communication so the content of message needs to be proper. The message need to be clear and logic in nature.
Encoding: The firm requires to encoding the targeted message into proper medium i.e. mobile application process that is quite popular in present scenario where strong competition exist. This area could help the sender to get the quick reply of message (Gikas & Grant, 2013). It positively influences the work task activity.
Channel: – The messages need to communicate through applications form so that right way it is interpreted and received by the receivers. However, mobile technology tool is the best channel to send the message.
Feedback: – The ultimate or final step is to analyze the message through collect feedback from receivers; this helps the sender to understand that how much its message is effective in nature.
Thus, this process could help to ensure that message is received by right person on proper manner.
On the basis of the mobile technology, it can be evaluating that Unilever can able to cope up the problem of communication which occurs due to differences in culture or manual process of communication. The mobile technology brings numerous benefits for the firm in term to make quick and direct communication with the individuals. It is found that firm majorly faced issue on the areas like delay in transferring of message and inappropriate medium of sending message. But the mobile technology tool able to address these gaps and support the firm to implement the change on successfully manner.
But at the same time, Steenbruggen et al. (2015) found that mobile technology is only appropriate when it is implemented properly. Likewise, there are various organizations that don’t have skilled human resources. This directly affects the process of communication. So, it is important for organization to develop the workforces skilled and helps them to develop right set of information flow. Other than that, mobile technology tool could also help the firm like Unilever in term to improve their customer experiences. This is because customer satisfaction is directly related to the employee acts so if individual perform better then it automatically turns out best productive results. This becomes possible only because of mobile technology which supports the individuals to reach out the right performances area. For instance, if store manager is not having proper understanding about any product or price then he/she can directly contact to the supervisor or respective person through mobile. This helps them to properly address the customer grievances and able to provide the positive experiences. Other than that, the proper communication also supports the business to develop positive and right working environment as if individuals are clear about the expectations and role, responsibilities then they able to make proper coordination and contribute positive outcomes. This is because if individual is known about their role then they perform accordingly and contribute best results. At the same time, timely flow of communication gives rise to the positive behavior at workplace and ignores the high chances of conflicts at organization (Verčič & Vokić, 2017). That’s why, it is stated that mobile technology tool is the appropriate one in term to bring changes in internal communication.
In the views of Cochrane (2014), mobile technology tool is the one which greatly emphasized over the improvement of employee efficiency in proper manner. Likewise, it supports the employee performances in a way to timely communicate the messages or important information to different individuals. It leads to timely completion of work without any delay and error. At the same time, the right communication also results on serving the right quality of services to customer as in case individual get the resources timely then it surely perform its work timely and it helps the customer to satisfy their needs which result on the productivity to organization.
In addition to this study, Karanges et al. (2015) identified that the use of mobile technology enhances the access to modern apps and services. However, there are varied mobile applications are launching which not only support the audio message transferring but also support the video process. This area may help the organization employees to record or virtually address the problem if any. Moreover, the video application also assist the supervisor to take decision while observe the scenario of business. Thus, these facilities on mobile application prove to be effective for gaining the right set of communication at business. This tool also contributes towards gaining access of existing records which assist the employee to evaluate the areas and then take wise decision. Moreover, there are times when situation occur where supervisor requires to revising the existing facts so that they can guide the individuals properly. Thus, the mobile technology assists them to take wise decision whether related to policy and employee performances area.
According to Men (2014), mobile technology tool is the best suited one for Unilever in present scenario as it solved various level of communication problem such as culture diversity problem also as with the help of mobile technology; the individual can communicate the different culture people in specific language. So this could help to reduce the language barrier.
Consider the iceberg model and Lewin’s three steps to planning the communication process
The Lewin three stage models is an appropriate one to execute the changes in Unilever. It includes stages like Unfreeze, change and refreezes etc.
- Unfreeze:- It includes the preparation of organization to accept the changes through identify the requirements of change so that accordingly ways are find out to implement the change.
- Change:- this step include the execution of changes through make people accept the changes. For this, organization made effort by planning, organizing and monitoring of change.
- Refreeze:- to gain the positive effect of change, the organization build policies and training programs for the employees so that they can feel encourage to undertake the changes.
On the basis of these steps, Unilever can implement the mobile communication strategy at business on proper manner with develop own firm application so that employees can connect regularly and share problem solution with each other. ‘
Iceberg model is one of the famous models to implement the strong communication as it is very simple representation of a complex system that uses the metaphor of an iceberg to illustrate the experience about the bringing of changes. Basically, this model support the implementation of changes in the communication through undertake the following aspects such as structure of organization and business model within which operations are performing and individuals skills etc. similarly, the application of this model stated that Unilever should evaluate the firm current business strategy and structure to adapt the changes. This can be done through identify whether business is using social-site for making communication or if yes then firm need to introduce their own application at the workplace so that individuals can able to get work done properly with making regular coordination. Other than that, the use of digital business model of Unilever will also support the firm to reach on the desired result by directing people towards common goal.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it is proved that internal communication is an important aspect to undertake after globalization. The evolution of technology give rise to the mobile platform and it is the best suited solution for the internal communication implementation. This solution helps the business to smoothly flow of information among the individuals and employees which turns out positive for business. Moreover, the technology also supports the positive working environment without involvement of any conflicts and it results on contribution of productive results to business. Thus, it can be stated that mobile technology tool could proves to be effective for Unilever type of business which perform its operation on multiple areas. Thus, this technology increases the succession of business even in this competitive business environment.
References
Banks, J.A., 2015. Cultural diversity and education: Foundations, curriculum, and teaching. UK: Routledge.
Cochrane, T. D. (2014). Critical success factors for transforming pedagogy with mobile Web 2.0. British Journal of Educational Technology, 45(1), 65-82.
Gikas, J., & Grant, M. M. (2013). Mobile computing devices in higher education: Student perspectives on learning with cellphones, smartphones & social media. The Internet and Higher Education, 19, 18-26.
Hume, J., & Leonard, A. (2014). Exploring the strategic potential of internal communication in international non-governmental organisations. Public relations review, 40(2), 294-304.
Jacobs, M. A., Yu, W., & Chavez, R. (2016). The effect of internal communication and employee satisfaction on supply chain integration. International Journal of Production Economics, 171, 60-70.
Kang, M., & Sung, M. (2017). How symmetrical employee communication leads to employee engagement and positive employee communication behaviors: The mediation of employee-organization relationships. Journal of Communication Management, 21(1), 82-102.
Karanges, E., Johnston, K., Beatson, A., & Lings, I. (2015). The influence of internal communication on employee engagement: A pilot study. Public Relations Review, 41(1), 129-131.
Mayisela, T. (2013). The potential use of mobile technology: enhancing accessibility and communication in a blended learning course. South African Journal of Education, 33(1).
Mazzei, A. (2014). Internal communication for employee enablement: Strategies in American and Italian companies. Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 19(1), 82-95.
Men, L. R. (2014). Strategic internal communication: Transformational leadership, communication channels, and employee satisfaction. Management Communication Quarterly, 28(2), 264-284.
Mishra, K., Boynton, L., & Mishra, A. (2014). Driving employee engagement: The expanded role of internal communications. International Journal of Business Communication, 51(2), 183-202.
Steenbruggen, J., Tranos, E., & Nijkamp, P. (2015). Data from mobile phone operators: A tool for smarter cities?. Telecommunications Policy, 39(3-4), 335-346.
Unilever., 2019. Company Profile. Retrieved from: https://www.unilever.com/
Verčič, A. T., & Vokić, N. P. (2017). Engaging employees through internal communication. Public Relations Review, 43(5), 885-893.
Zerfass, A., & Franke, N. (2013). Enabling, advising, supporting, executing: A theoretical framework for internal communication consulting within organizations. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 7(2), 118-135.
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