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 signs. 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 cowards will not retreat alone. This is the art of leading great forces in battle. – Chapter Seven, Sun Tzu’s Art of War
For night battles, use more torches and drums. For the day’s 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 it is like to observe Sun Tzu. He even wrote down what type of communication we should use during each battle, but of course the list of tools mentioned is not exhaustive, the communication channels must also depend on the terrain. For example, if you are on flat terrain, you should use a larger banner (during the day) or fireworks (at night) to communicate because they can convey precise messages, if you have precisely explained what each sign means. But keep in mind that your signals, not tools, should be like your strategy, they should 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 will probably be 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 losing a large customer or a slow reaction to a rival’s move. With a solid understanding of each of the strengths and weaknesses of communication tools, you can 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 proper flow control system, the precise 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, nowadays due to corporate fraud that happened in the US, companies are now required to keep a copy of all emails that are sent inside and outside the company. E-mails do not request a quick response from the 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 the cost savings stem from these features. But one of the failures of communication is that emotions are not transmitted correctly. Emails would be suitable for clear instructions or information that does not require immediate attention and preferably within a department. Cheap because you can transfer with the lowest cost to the entire company, even if you are abroad. It is prone to technological risks.
Lyrics
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 taken over by email. Letters are more specific than email because electronic files are often subject to suspicion of editing or modification. The letter has the same characteristics as the email but, since it is tangible, it is not like an email where you can deny that you have received it. In terms of 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 communication mode.
Internet Messenger (instant messaging)
With the popular use of the internet, internet messengers such as ICQ, MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger are becoming popular, they allow fast transmission of information and today these messengers have the ability to help you know if the person on the other side is close or not. But again, it lacks the transfer of emotions. The voice and tone of your message cannot be sent through the messenger, even with emoticons, misunderstandings can occur. What you sent could be in an offering to help tone like “What do you want me to do?” But others after reading the message may interpret that you are angry with 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, as most of them are free and the information can be transferred abroad cheaply. It is prone to technological risks.
telephone
Compare to the other modes mentioned, it is a relatively better communication channel. Due to its tonality, the qualities of the voice are also conveyed, reducing the possibility that your message will be misunderstood. But it lacks another communicative characteristic that is important and that is body language. You definitely ask 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, as this industry has been around for a long time.
Internet telephony and video conferencing
Internet telephony is becoming very popular little by little because SMEs and multinational companies can make calls abroad cheaply. This also includes video conferencing, which is becoming more popular with the prevalence of broadband. It has all the features of the phone, and video conferencing is better because body language can, to some extent, be conveyed as well. 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 a broadband connection.
Face to face
So far, this is the best form of communication, the only drawback is that you, although you can observe and receive the complete signals of your interlocutor, the same can also be said of 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, thus improving your business process.