Jagannath University

Assignment On

Business Communication (4106)

Topic: Communication Models

Submitted to:

A. N. M. Asaduzzaman Fakir

Lecturer, Department of AIS

Jagannath University

Submitted by:Group - 2

Name RollMd. Shaheen Mahmud 06691052Md. Shafiul Alam 06691118Md. Saiful Islam 06691030

Jesmin Ferdous 06691192

Zahirul Islam 06691092

2nd Batch, Section-BSession: 2006-07

Submission Date: March 25, 2012

What is a Model?

1. Mortensen: “In the broadest sense, a model is a systematic representation of an object or

event in idealized and abstract form. Models are somewhat arbitrary by their nature. The act of

abstracting eliminates certain details to focus on essential factors. . . . The key to the usefulness

of a model is the degree to which it conforms in point-by-point correspondence--to the

underlying determinants of communicative behavior.

2. “Models are metaphors. They allow us to see one thing in terms of another.”

The Advantages of Models

1. They should allow us to ask questions.

2. They should clarify complexity.

3. They should lead us to new discoveries-most important, according to Mortensen.

Limitations of Models

1. Can lead to oversimplifications:

“There is no denying that much of the work in designing communication models illustrates the

oft-repeated charge that anything in human affairs which can be modeled is by definition too

superficial to be given serious consideration.”

2. Can lead of a confusion of the model between the behaviors it portrays.

3. Premature Closure:

The model designer may escape the risks of oversimplification and map reading and still fall

prey to dangers inherent in abstraction. To press for closure is to strive for a sense of

completion in a system.

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What is Communication Model?

I. According to W.R. Tracey, “Communication model is a representation of a communication

process and not any separate system; rather a simple way to present the various objective

oriented events.”

II. “Communication models are merely pictures; they’re even distorting pictures, because they

stop or freeze an essentially dynamic interactive or transactive process into a static picture.”

III. Communication theory models offer a convenient way to think about communication,

providing a graphical checklist which one can use to create anything from a speech to a major

advertising campaign.

Usefulness of communication Models

1) Better understanding

2) Quick understanding

3) Improvement over traditional models

4) Identification of noise source

5) Facilitating communication plan

6) Feedback facility

7) Using as a sample.

Limitations of Communication Models

1) Details of a message are absent

2) Difficult to form an idea about a complete message

3) Inflexibility can’t be presented

4) May not be cost effective

5) Requirement of skilled manpower may remain unfulfilled.

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Difference between Communication Process & Communication model

Subject Communication Process Communication model

Nature Communication Process is a

theoretical concept.

Communication model graphical and

pictorial representation of

Communication Process.

Making The making of Communication Process

does not require any expertise as it

involves the plain structuring of the

steps.

The making of Communication model is

not a simple job. Its needed drawing,

pictures, graphs etc.

Complexity Communication Process is a

complicated issue.

It is very easy to form an idea about the

matter through mere observation at a

glance.

Explanatio

n

It presents the detailed description of

the message sent.

it can’t present the detailed description

of the message sent.

Wastage of

time

It involves much time to make as well

as to explain it.

It takes less time to draw picture &

graphs.

Channel Communication Process can be

explained through radio, tv, computer

etc.

Communication model can be explained

only with the help of computer &

television.

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Aristotelian Persuasion model

It is the oldest and simplest model of communication. Here the form of communication observed

by Aristotle is persuasive in nature. In this model the messages flow in a one way process. But

this model does not include all the elements of communication. It includes only three elements

of communications, such as speaker, message and listener/receiver. This model may be shown

in the following way:

Aristotelian Persuasion Model

In this model, the feedback is not present because the main goal is only to persuade the

audience. The spokesperson or the speaker when speaks something in powerful thoughtfulness

aptitude, passes the speech to the audience. The speech that is targeted to the audience brings

some alteration in the mind of the receiver (audience) which is known as the effect.

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Hovland Model of Communication

This model of communication is almost similar to Aristotelian Persuasion model. The only

difference between these two models is that in Hovland Model the listener will be in a

predetermined position. That is the message is sent to a predetermined listener. The listener

also gives his reaction to the speaker. It lacks all the other essential elements of communication

process.

This model may be shown in the following way:

Hovland Model of Communication

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The Newcomb Interpersonal Model

The Newcomb Interpersonal Model is one of the simplest models of communication. Suppose, A

wants to communicate a message to B. But B is not known to him. Another person X is known to

both A & B. Hence, A will communicate message to B through the help of X. B will also

communicate message to A with the help of the same person X. In this model, both the parties

which are concerned should establish trust upon the 3rd party which is not possible all times.

This model can be represented as:

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The Newcomb Interpersonal Model

Shanon & Weaver’s Information Theory Model

Claude Shannon, an engineer for the Bell Telephone Company, designed the most influential of

all early communication models. His goal was to formulate a theory to guide the efforts of

engineers in finding the most efficient way of transmitting electrical signals from one location to

another (Shannon and Weaver, 1949). Later Shannon introduced a mechanism in the receiver

which corrected for differences between the transmitted and received signal; this monitoring or

correcting mechanism was the forerunner of the now widely used concept of feedback

(information which a communicator gains from others in response to his own verbal behavior).

This model involves an information source which selects a desired message transmitter which

changes the message and it is sent through some communication channel to a receiver to whom

the message was originally intended.

This model can be represented by this figure:

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A noise source means any interference with the transmission and reception of the message. The

noise may be of two types:

a) Mechanical Noise: It comes from any mechanical source.

b) Semantic Noise: Semantic noise is the difference between the meaning intended by the

sender and the receiver of the message.

It is obvious that such a model can be helpful to the evangelist who desires to communicate the

gospel accurately and clearly. He wants to avoid any barriers that might prevent the gospel from

taking root in the heart of the listener.

Strengths of Shannon-Weaver Model:

This model, or a variation on it, is the most common communication model used in low-

level communication texts.

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Significant development. “Within a decade a host of other disciplines—many in the

behavioral sciences—adapted it to countless interpersonal situations, often distorting it

or making exaggerated claims for its use.”

“Taken as an approximation of the process of human communication.”

Significant heuristic value.

The concepts of this model became staples in communication research

Provided an influential yet counter-intuitive definition of communication.

Criticisms of Shannon-Weaver Model:

Not analogous to much of human communication.

“Only a fraction of the information conveyed in interpersonal encounters can be taken as

remotely corresponding to the teletype action of statistically rare or redundant signals.”

“Though Shannon’s technical concept of information is fascinating in many respects, it

ranks among the least important ways of conceiving of what we recognize as “information.”

Only formal—does not account for content

Mortensen: “Shannon and Weaver were concerned only with technical problems associated

with the selection and arrangement of discrete units of information—in short, with purely

formal matters, not content. Hence, their model does not apply to semantic or pragmatic

dimensions of language.

Emphasis in on the transmission of message

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Developed to separate noise from information-carrying signals

Flow of communication is linear and one-way

Assumes that communication is relatively unproblematic

Referred to as an information model.

Berlo’s Model (1960)

Background:

1. Ehninger, Gronbeck and Monroe: “The simplest and most influential message-centered model

of our time came from David Berlo (Simplified from David K. Berlo, The Process of

Communication (New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1960).

2. Essentially an adaptation of the Shannon-Weaver model.

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Berlo’s Model can be represented as follows:

Significant after World War II because:

The idea of “source” was flexible enough to include oral, written, electronic, or any other

kind of “symbolic” generator-of-messages.

“Message” was made the central element, stressing the transmission of ideas.

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The model recognized that receivers were important to communication, for they were

the targets.

The notions of “encoding” and “decoding” emphasized the problems we all have

(psycho-linguistically) in translating our own thoughts into words or other symbols and

in deciphering the words or symbols of others into terms we ourselves can understand.

Weaknesses of Berlo’s Model:

Tends to stress the manipulation of the message—the encoding and decoding processes.

It implies that human communication is like machine communication, like signal-

sending in telephone, television, computer, and radar systems.

It even seems to stress that most problems in human communication can be solved by

technical accuracy-by choosing the “right” symbols, preventing interference, and

sending efficient messages.

But even with the “right” symbols, people misunderstand each other. “Problems in

“meaning” or “meaningfulness” often aren’t a matter of comprehension, but of reaction,

of agreement, of shared concepts, beliefs, attitudes, values. To put the com- back into

communication, we need a meaning-centered theory of communication.”

Collin’s and Guetzkuw’s Group Communication Model

It deals with communication in the decision making group which occurs as a basic part of

organizational communication.

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This model may be shown in the following way:

As it is seen in the above figure, the top three boxes represent the source, behavior, and reward

associated with the task aspects of group operation, while the lower three boxes represent the

source, behavior and reward associated with interpersonal aspects of group operations.

Obstacle in the task environment and interpersonal environment affects the group’s

interpersonal communication behavior.

In sum, Collins and Guetzkow’s theory is a very important and prominent model to study.

Through its simplistic language, it emphasized the importance of interpersonal concepts in the

group decision-making process. People still enter groups with task and interpersonal obstacles,

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and it is imperative to note and be aware of them. Group behaviors are also vital to understand

because they predict group outputs, where the ideal goal is the creation of an assembly affect.

Finally, rewards are extremely significant because if they are positive, group members will have

better feelings toward future decision-making groups.

Thayer’s Organizational Model

Organizational model attempts to show or to place the individual communication efforts within

the large organizational communication setting which influences him or her. It is based on levels

of communication. The levels are –

Organizational

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Interpersonal

Intrapersonal

Technological

which are derived from four basic sources or determinants of human communication behavior.

These basic sources are – physiological, psychological, sociological and technological.

It is more complex model & not easily be understood.

This model of communication will be more clear to us from the following diagram:

Thayer’s Organizational Model

Murphy’s Model of Communication

In Murphy’s Model, Sender encodes the message and receiver decodes that message. There

stands a media between two persons. Stimuli stand between those two persons. There is

feedback in Murphy’s model. Here receiver does not act as the sender.

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This model of communication will be more clear to us from the following diagram:

Murphy’s Model of Communication

Lesiker’s Psychological Model of Communication

It is different from other models. In this model it is thought that people will live in a real world

which is simply an assumption and has no connection with the reality. It is not easily

understood by all persons because here message go through sender and receivers sensory

world and filtration process.

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This model can be as follows:

Lesiker’s Psychological Model of Communication

Wenburg and Wilmot’s Transactional Model

The transactional model represents the communication as a process of simultaneous message

exchange. According to Wenburg and Wilmot “All persons are engaged in sending (encoding)

and receiving (decoding) messages simultaneously. Each person is constantly sharing in the

encoding and decoding process and each person is affecting the others.” The transactional

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model emphasizes the idea that communication is mutual as well as reciprocal. The following

figure shows a transactional model of communication.

Wenburg and Wilmot’s Transactional Model

In the transactional model, communication takes place without sharp distinction between the

source and receiver roles. A person occupies both roles at the same time. Although these models

– linear, interactional and transactional can be applied as accurate description of the

communication process, yet the ranges of application differ.

A linear model is very limited in practice because few instances of human communication truly

happen in a one-way fashion. Giving orders to the subordinates and issuing policy statements

through memorandums or newsletters with no expectation of getting feedback, appear to be

linear. But most organizational communications are interactional and transactional.

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Mediated forms of communication are better performed through interactional process.

Interaction through an electronic or paper medium separates communicator’s from receiver’s

simultaneous response and structures communication as a process of message exchange.

The transaction model is most appropriately used in situations where face to face

communications occurs through speech and various nonverbal behaviors. To the extent that is

participant in such an encounter has an awareness of self and others in the situation, the sender

(source) and receiver aspects of human communication are performed simultaneously.

Which communication model is most acceptable and why?

From the discussion of all models of communication above, the transactional model of

communication is considered to be the most acceptable on the following grounds:

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1. It brings fulfillment in communication process because all the elements of communication

process are present here.

2. Without any feedback communication is supposed to be incomplete. The transactional model

emphasizes more on feedback and therefore, gives a full view of communication process.

3. Transitional model of communication reflects simplicity and thereby, anybody can easily

understand the actual content of the message sent.

4. Obtaining the concise and complete information through exchanging the message between

the sender and the receiver under transactional model, the decision making task is very simple.

The End

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