Effective communication is a prerequisite for the achievement of the goals facing the organization. For the effective organization of work and the management of joint coordinated activities, everything related to the reception, processing, and transmission of information is of great importance. In the absence of communication, employees do not have information about what their colleagues are doing, management does not receive primary data, and managers and leaders cannot give orders. Consequently, without effective internal communication, it is impossible to coordinate various types of activities and the cooperation of employees.
Internal corporate communication serves the structure of the organization and the decision-making process. It affects motivation, value systems, and the positions of groups and individual employees. In addition, it is impossible to fully cover intra-company relations without studying the channels of information dissemination. Communication by its nature is a contact, a connection to exchange ideas, opinions, and information orally or in writing through symbols or actions. The purpose of communication is to achieve an accurate understanding of the sent message from the receiving party.
Toyota Motor was chosen as an example of a company for which an internal communication plan is being developed. Toyota Motor is the largest Japanese automaker with headquarters in the city of Toyota. The corporation holds the title of the largest automotive company in the world in terms of sales. In Toyota Motor, several communication methods are practiced, using which employees share their thoughts, feelings, ideas, and opinions. The following methods can be distinguished: newsletter, face-to-face, bulletin board, memo, email, phone, mobile phone, text messages, and instant messages (Bhattacheryay, 2021). The exchange of interpersonal information improves teamwork and promotes productivity growth.
Communication skills are essential at Toyota Corporation, as employees actively use these skills to ensure competitiveness with such companies as General Motors, Kia, Honda, and many others (Bhattacheryay, 2021). The best platform for internal communication is personal communication, such as briefings and meetings. This platform has both undeniable advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed further. The benefits include the fact that personal communication makes it easier to understand the true motives and goals of the counterparty and understand the details of their interest and intentions.
In addition, during a personal conversation, the conversation, as a rule, goes not only on the issue under discussion. Thus, it becomes possible to learn new facts about the interlocutor, find additional common interests and topics for further communication. Finally, when communicating in person, it is easier to implement a group search for solutions. Participants have fewer opportunities for weighing and thinking and more for applying concepts in practice. The disadvantages of live communication include a low speed of information exchange, personal hostility and possible negative emotional consequences.
Electronic communication also has pros and cons that need to be mentioned. With the help of electronic messages, it is possible to write off with anyone from any corner of the country and even the world. When writing, there is no need to spend time on the road and looking for a suitable place to meet. Unlike a personal meeting, the interlocutors are not required to give an instant response in electronic communication. Among the disadvantages of electronic communication, it is possible to highlight the problem of maintaining the secrecy of correspondence, the inability to see the interlocutor’s reaction, and the falling literacy rate.
Methods of written communication include, for example, emails and memos. A memo is an abbreviated form of a letter with minimal politeness and direct access to a specific subject of the message. Email is a complete communication option, despite the relative informality. Methods of oral communication include, for example, conferences and personal meetings. Conferences involve formal communication, compliance with the hierarchy, and strict adherence to the topic. Personal communication is more accessible and open and implies a certain level of intimacy and trust between the interlocutors. Thus, effective internal communication is essential for the work of any organization because it ensures coherence and clarity of the tasks set.
Reference
Bhattacheryay, S. (2021). Multinational working capital management a study on Toyota Motor Corporation. International Journal of Finance & Economics.