CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1.          BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Communication is a discipline that embraces all aspects of Human life. It forms all our actions and inactions in relationship to others. Communication takes place all the time. It can manifest itself in symbolic, verbal and non-verbal forms.

Communication is essential for social interaction. It helps in understanding ourselves, keeping in touch with other people, understanding them and being able to predict their response.

Communication particularly in business organizations provides a means by which power is acquired, exercised, shared and sustained. It is a medium by which relationships are established, extended and maintained. It is the means by which people in business organizations, politics, etc, act, interact, exchange information, ideas, develop plans, proposals and executes them.

Business and organizational communication help to orientate workers to their jobs as well as helping the supervisors to monitor the activities of the workers.  Communication is an extremely invaluable asset in human organizations that explains why it has been described as the lubricant which keeps the intricate machinery of the organization going.

The term communication has been defined variously by different scholars. To Eyre E.C. communication is not just the giving of information, but also the giving of understanding of the message. On the other hand, Frank Ugbojah (1982), communication is a process which involves all acts of transmitting messages to channels which link people o the language and symbolic codes which are used to transmit message. It means messages are received and stored, and the roles, custom, conventions which define and regulate human relationship.

Defining communication within organizational context, Gerald M. Haben (1983) asserted that communication is a process of creating and exchanging messages within a network of interdependent relationship to cope with environmental uncertainty. Essentially however, communication is achieved or accomplished when it is able to provoke the desired response; but when the communication cannot communicate to the other person effectively, communication gap automatically exists. In other words, when information is wrongly conveyed, misunderstanding and misinterpretation crops up.

Beta Glass Company Ughelli which was established to help the growing need of materials in the community and sate, finding way of improving them in such a way that it will reach both community and state. Communication within the management is done orally, in writing and by mechanical means.

Directives from the top management are passed down to subordinates. Meetings are held where information are passed to the staff in oral form. No matter how small or big an organization is, it is composed of individuals each of whom is charged with specific duties and responsibilities in order to achieve the set goals. There must be effective communication otherwise; it might lead to lack of understanding which may result in a very chaotic situation like strife, misinterpretations, labour unrest and low turnover and the organization not being able to meet its target.

1.2.          STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The organizational management of Beta Glass Company Ughelli has been doing well since its inception. At a time, the staff and management had a dispute that lasted for a very long period of time.  Some people were of the opinion that the cause of this has been the lack of properly established communication system. Some maintained that the management is involved in hoarding information from the staff and worst still; the management does not enhance or encourage bottom-up flow of communication.

This research work is therefore designed to identify the cause and effects of such communication gap on the management and ways of solving problems.

1.3.          OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This research s aimed at suggesting ways on improving communication process in the management of Beta Glass Company, Ughelli and other companies so that efficiency and productivity is enhanced.

The researcher will provide answers to the following:

i.                        To evaluate and analyze the flow of communication in Beta Glass Company, Ughelli;

ii.                      To identify the method of communication in the organizational management of Beta Glass Company, Ughelli;

iii.                   To find the cause of communication gap in the management of Beta Glass Company, Ughelli;

iv.                    To investigate into the effects of the problems;

v.                      To suggest ways of bridging the gap in communication in the sad management and other similar companies, all over the country would have come to identify remote causes which have constituted to the problem of communication.  It would also help in reducing disputes and labour unrest caused by communication gap.

It would also serve as a guide to those who might serve as consultants to business organizations on how to approach the problems of communication gap in an organization for the achievement of the goals and objectives of such enterprises.

1.4.          RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This research study is designed to provide answers to the following questions:

i.                        What do you understand by communication in your own point of view?

ii.                      What are the different methods of communication in Beta Glass Company Ughelli?

iii.                   Are there problems in communication in the above named organization?

iv.                    What are the effects of communication gap in the above management?

v.                      Are there possible ways of bridging the gap?

1.5.          SGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

No society, organization or office can exist for more than a few days without communication.  In an organization, communication helps to make work purposeful. It gives meaning to the job. Organizations exist through communication. It is the essence of organized activity and the basic process out of which all other functions derive.

The importance and purpose of communication in an organization are as follows:

i.                        Information and persuasion: In the idea case and for the best working atmosphere, everyone in the firm should be helped to know what the plans are and how they affect him or her and how the plans are to be achieved.

ii.                      For identification purpose: By means of effective communication, orders or commands are issued with the aim of inducing co-operation, obedience and high morale. Identity or co-operation is more easily achieved when goals are clearly and concisely communicated.

iii.                   To aid understanding and commitment: To aid employees in obtaining better understanding and appreciation of the organization’s policies, practice, problems and responsibilities.

iv.                    To build up workers’ sense of security: Communication with workers gives the confidence, feeling of recognition, and a sense of security. E.g. a clear statement as to how their respective jobs fit in the scheme of things.

1.6.          SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research work is limited to Beta Glass Company located at Ughelli, Delta State. It also covers the causes and effects of communication problem or gap experienced by the organization since its establishment.

1.7.          LIMITATION

Finance constituted a constraint in this research work as well as other management obligations which must also be met.

1.8.          OPERATIONAL DEFINTION OF TERMS

i.                        Transmitter: Also known as sender, source, encoder, communicator, and originator. There must be a sender without whom there is no communication His position in the communication process is vital because he determines not only the objectives, the messages or symbols, and the method but also the target of the communication.

ii.                      Message: There must be a message, information, idea, belief, instruction, order, etc. the message is usually encoded n symbols before being transmitted. Also without a message, there is no communication for there will be nothing to send or receive. 

iii.                   Transmission: Also known as channel, expression, method, means. A message (information, idea, belief, instruction, order, advice, etc) must move out of the sender, i.e. transmitted or expressed. E.g. through speaking, writing, drawing, acting, signing, etc. if a message is not transmitted or expressed but remains in the mind of the source, then there s no communication.

iv.                    Receiver: Also known as destination, target, decoder, etc. the transmitted message must be received. This means that communication is a two-way process. At least two people must be involved before communication can occur.

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