According to the Book on Military Administration, “In battles, as verbal communication cannot be heard clearly, cymbals and drums are used as commands.” As visual communication and eye contact are hampered, banners and flags are used as signals. Now the purpose of using cymbals, drums, flags, and banners is to draw the attention of the troops and focus them for combat under the direction of the commander. Once the troops are united as one body, the brave will not advance alone and the cowardly will not retreat alone. This is the art of leading large forces in battle. – Chapter Seven, Sun Tzu’s Art of War
For night battles, use more torches and drums. For day battles, use more banners and flags. These different means of communication can be designed to influence the judgment of the enemy. – Chapter Seven, Sun Tzu’s Art of War
As mentioned above, during daytime operations more banners and flags should be used for communication and during nighttime operations, drums and torches should be used instead. From here we can see what Sun Tzu’s observation is like. He even wrote down what type of communication we should use during each battle, but of course the list of mentioned tools is not exhaustive, the communication channels should also depend on the terrain. For example, if you are on flat ground, you should use a larger banner (during the day) or fireworks (during the night) for communication, as they can convey accurate messages, if you have explained precisely what each means. sign. But he keep in mind that his signals, not the tools, must be like his strategy, it must change with each battle. If you have a fixed form of communication signals, sooner or later your enemy will be able to decipher them and that is probably the result of your defeat. This explains why Sun Tzu said that the media can be used to influence the enemy.
business application
Communication is very important in business. Communication disruption can be detrimental to a business, such as the loss of a big customer or a slow reaction to a rival’s move. With a solid understanding of each of the communication tools’ weaknesses and strengths, you will be able to use them to your advantage. A good communication system can give a company great flexibility, a shorter reaction time and a faster response. It is similar to an irrigation system. With a good flow control system, the right amount of water, the water flowing to the right place, the fields will flourish because of it. These are capabilities that are extremely valuable in this dynamic business environment. Some forms of communication channels are email, letters, Internet messaging, telephone, Internet telephony or video conferencing, and face-to-face. I will talk about its use within the company. However, keep in mind that having the right communication tools is only one aspect of a good communication system.
Email can be formal or informal, today due to corporate frauds that occurred in the US, companies are now required to keep a copy of all emails that are sent in and out of the company. Emails do not request a quick response from recipients. It can be safe if the guidelines and use of the security system are strictly adhered to. Email is an inexpensive way to send information and documents within the company and this information can be stored electronically, so cost savings arise from these features. But one disadvantage of communication is that emotions are not conveyed properly. Emails would be suitable for clear instructions or information that does not require immediate attention and preferably within a department. Inexpensive because it can be transferred with minimal costs throughout the company, even if it is located abroad. You are prone to technological risks.
letter
What is described here are paper letters sent from one department to another. It is only necessary when you want to formalize a request or a work order. But this type of communication is slowly being absorbed by email. Letters are more to the point than email because electronic files are often subject to suspicion of editing or modification. The letter has the same characteristics as email, but because it is tangible, it is not like an email where you can deny that you have received it. As for security, it could be better or worse than email depending on situations. It could be expensive if you need to send it abroad. It is more reliable than the electronic mode of communication.
Internet Messenger (instant messaging)
With the popular use of the Internet, Internet messaging such as ICQ, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger are becoming more popular, it enables fast transmission of information, and today these messengers have the ability to help you know if the person on the other end is close or not But then again, it lacks the transfer of emotions. The voice and tone of your message cannot be sent through the messenger, even with emoticons, misunderstandings may still occur. What you sent could be in a help-offering tone like “What do you want me to do?” But others after reading the message can interpret it, you are mad at him for doing something. But Internet Messenger also has its advantages, it could be used as a channel for informal discussions within the company because some of these messengers can allow multiple users in a single chat window. And it is cheap, since most of them are free and the information can be transferred abroad cheaply. You are prone to technological risks.
phone
Compared to the other modes mentioned, it is a relatively better communication channel. Because your tonality, the qualities of your voice are also conveyed, reducing the chance of your message being misinterpreted. But it lacks another communicative characteristic that is important and that is body language. It definitely asks for a quick response because you can only communicate when the receiver is on the other side at the same time. But it can be very expensive if you need to communicate abroad. And the reliability should be better than any electronic channel since this industry has been around for a long time.
Internet telephony and video conferencing
Internet telephony is becoming increasingly popular because SMEs and multinationals can make calls abroad at low cost. This also includes video conferencing, which is becoming more popular with the prevalence of broadband. It has all the features of the phone, video conferencing being better because body language, to some degree, can also be conveyed. But reliability could be an issue depending on the infrastructure and service provider available on both sides. Setting it up is cheap with a webcam and broadband connection.
face to face
So far this is the best way of communication, the only drawback is you, although you can watch and receive the full signals from your speaking party, the same can be said for the other party.
So choose the right communication tools to get your message across effectively. The right communication tools can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your communication system, thereby improving your business process.