corporate communication use of technology

8/3/2019 Corporate Communication Use of Technology

1/32

Impact of technology

1


2/32

1. Todays business environment requires a certainlevel of competence.

2. Its important to understand that one to have

basic communication skills and can not rely ontechnology totally or let it overwhelm thecommunication process.

3. Employees who are comfortable usingtechnology have a competitive edge overothers.

4. Communication is about people connectingwith people irrespective of technology.

2


3/32

i. Companies who can use technology wiselycan communicate more effectively and

therefore compete more successfully.ii. Benefits of technology are not automatic.iii. Spend time and money wisely on

technology.iv. Disengage from the computer frequently to

communicate in person.

3


4/32

i. Technology is an aid to interpersonalcommunication, not a replacement for it.

ii. Technology cant think for you or communicate

for you.iii. If you lack some essential skills(e.g. writing orinterpersonal) then technology probably cannotfill the gaps.

iv. Your spell checker is happy to run all your wordsthrough the dictionary , but it doesnt knowwhether you are using the correct words orcrafting powerful sentences.

4


5/32

v. The sheer number of possibilities in manytechnological tools can get in the way ofsuccessful communication. E.g. , power point

presentation: if overloaded, if visuals more ,then content of a message is obscured.vi. If technology system is not adapted to user or

organizations needs , people wont use iteffectively or worse not use it at all.

vii. Another extreme is it could be addictive to thepoint of craving by workers to be connectedround the clock.

5


6/32

i. Communication technology can save timeand money and can also waste them if not

used effectively and efficiently.ii. You dont have to be an expert but you need

to be familiar with the basic features andfunctions of the tools you are expected touse on the job.

iii. Sufficient training to employees is a must.

6


7/32

New generation of digital technology. Right tool for right situation can enhance

communication. Flexible office setting. Distance minimal and immaterial now. Manufacturers use tools to track shipments

and customers to stay well informed. E.g. Sun Microsystems.

7


8/32

A. Tools redefining the office.B. Tools used for collaborating and

communicating remotelyC. Tools used for communicating about product

and services.D. Tools used for communicating with the

customers.

8


9/32

1) Flexible Workstations : docking stations inoffice.

2) Wireless Networks: laptop PCs with wirelessaccess cards let workers stay connected tothe network from practically anywherewithin the office ,any desk, any conferenceroom and offers high speed internet accesswithin range of a wireless access point.

9


10/32

3) Intranets : a private computer network thatsimplifies information sharing within the

company. Intranets can handle:

Company e-mails

Instant messaging(IM)

Websites Internet phone connections

To ensure security of company information,intranets are shielded from the public internet.

10


11/32

4) Electronic presentations : combining a colourprojector with a laptop or personal digital

assistant (PDA) running the right softwarelets people give informative businesspresentations that are enhanced with sound,animation, and even website hyperlinks.

Provides flexibility and editing option to makelast minute changes as everything is in electronicform.

11


12/32

5) Follow Me Phone Service: callers use onenumber to reach the person anywhere- at

the office, a remote site, a home office. The system automatically forwards calls to a list

of preprogrammed numbers and transfersunanswered calls to voice mail.

No juggling of multiple numbers is required.

12


13/32

Teamwork is essential. Difficulty arises if team members are working in

different parts of the company in different time

zones or even for different companies. Technology helps bridge the distance by making

it possible to brainstorm, attend virtualmeetings and share files from widely separated

locations. Saves money on travel without compromising

on benefits of face-to-face collaboration.

13


14/32

1) Wall display : instead of using a white boardduring meetings , brain storming, Wall

Displays take it a step further, letingparticipants transmit their words anddiagrams to distant colleagues via thecorporate intranet.

Users can even share the virtual pen to makechanges and additions from more than onelocation.

14


15/32

2) Web Based Meetings : workers can activelyparticipate in web based meetings by logging

on from a desktop PC, laptop or cell phone. Websites like Web Ex help users to integrate

voice text , and video and lets them shareapplications such as Microsoft Power Point and

Microsoft Word in a single browser window.

15


16/32

3) Internet Videophone : person-to-personvideo calling has long been possible throughpopular IM programs. Internet videophones lets multiple users

participate in a video conference without theexpense and complexity of a full-fledged videoconferencing system.

Some services are flexible enough to includetelecommuters who have broadbandconnections.

16


17/32

4) Shared Workspaces : online workspaces suchas eRoom and Groove make it easy for far

flung team members to access shared filesanywhere anytime.

Accessible through a browser , the workspacecontains a collection of folders and has built-in

intelligence to control which team members canread, edit , and save specific files.

17


18/32

5) Video Conferencing and Tele-presence : lesscostly than travel.

Same experience and benefits as in-personmeeting.

Advanced systems include tele-presence androbot surrogates, which use computers to

place participants in the room virtually.

18


19/32

Targeted at customers. The ability to easily access and share the

latest information improves the flow andtiming of supplies , operating costs , andboasts financial performance.

Right product to consumer at the right time.

19


20/32

1) RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) :throughout the distribution chain , from

factories to ships to warehouses to retailshelves, companies can replace manualtracking and reporting with automatedsystems that monitor small radio-frequencyidentification tags attached to goods andcontainers.

20


21/32

2) Extranets : extranets are secure , privatecomputer networks that use internet

technology to share business informationwith suppliers and vendors, partners andcustomers.

Its like an extension of the company intranet thatis available to people outside the organization byinvitation only.

21


22/32

3) Wireless Warehouses: FedEx/UPS have anedge over their competitors due to advanced

communication technology. Hand worn scanners use wireless links to help

warehouse personnel access instant informationthat lets them process more packages in less

time at transit hubs.

22


23/32

4) Package Tracking : senders and receiversoften want frequent updates when packages

are in transit. Handheld devices such as FedEx Power Pad

enhance customer service by letting them knowby instantly uploading updates.

It aids drivers by automatically receiving weatheradvisories.

23


24/32

5) Supply Chain Management : advancedsoftware applications let suppliers,

manufacturers, and retailers shareinformation even when they haveincompatible computer systems.

Improved information flow increases reportaccuracy and helps each company in the supplychain manage stock levels.

24


25/32

1) Over the Shoulder Support : for onlineshoppers who need instant help, many retail

websites make it easy to connect with a livesales representative via phone or IM.

The representative can provide solutions and witpermission even control the shoppers browser to

help locate a particular item.

25


26/32

2) Corporate Blogs : (Mena Trott : Six Apart) Web based journals let companies offer advice,

answer questions, and promote the benefits of

their products and services. Elements of a successful blog include frequent

updates and the participation of knowledgeablecontributors.

Adding a subtle mix of useful commentary andmarketing messages helps customers read andlisten.

26


27/32

3) Pod casting : with the portability andconvenience of downloadable audio andvideo recordings, podcasts have quicklybecome a popular means of deliveringeverything from college lectures tomarketing messages.

Podcasts are also used for internalcommunication , replacing conference calls,newsletters and other traditionalcommunication vehicles.

27


28/32

4) In-store Kiosks : Staples is among theretailers that let shoppers buy from the web

while they are still in the store. Web-connected kiosks were originally used to let

shoppers custom-configure their PCs, but nowthey give customers access to roughly 8000 in-

store items as well as to the 50000 productsavailable online.

28


29/32

5) Help lines : some customers prefer thepersonal touch of contact by phone.

Some companies assign special ID numbers thatlet them jump the queue.

Foreign language speakers are connected topeople who can reply them in their language and

assist them.

29


30/32

Waste of man hours in personal socialnetworking, e-mails, blogging etc.

Restrict blogs etc as company information leaks. Some companies allow fixed hours to allow use. Cases and legal issues/lawsuits as sexual

harassment issues of inappropriate images onyour desktop.

E-mail and IM are considered legal documentsand both can be used as evidence in lawsuits orcriminal trials.

30


31/32

Technology can overwhelm communication. E.g. if you ask your colleague how was your

sales presentation? and the answer you receive

is a text saying fine, then, what does it mean?Is an order expected soon? Did your colleaguelose the sale and doesnt want to talk about it?Was the client rude?

People wont know you if you stay hidden behindtechnology.

As technological options increases, people seemto need the human touch even more.

31


32/32

corporate communication use of technology

Documents