Question

Assume you are the sender in a hypothetical communication, what characteristics of the receiver, message, and level/type of noise would impact your decisions related to medium of the message. In what circumstances would you use written communication, oral communication, or both? Which of remaining three components (receiver, message, and noise) do is typically most important when you decide the specific medium (conversation, speech, phone call, video conference, letter, memo, email, etc.) you will use to communicate?

Answer 1

The following characteristics would affect the choice of medium:

- The listening ability of the receiver i.e. how good or bad the receiver is.

- The accessibility to infrastructure i.e. internet, telephone etc.

- The language that the receiver understands.

- How long or critical the message is to the users.

- If the noise is less or more and can it be reduced to a level where message can be easily transferred.

Written communication would be used when information has to be documented and there are less chances of discussions. The oral communication would be used wherein it is mandatory and obligatory to personally explain the meaning of the message so that the audience understands exactly what the sender wants them to and there is no confusion.

Message holds the utmost importance that is what is the type of message we are trying to convey and how important or critical the message is to the sender as well as receiver.