M6.3: The Simple Model of Communication

• Provide a brief overview of the principal components of Shannon and Weaver’s model of interpersonal communication.
• Determine the stage of the communication model that presents the greatest challenge to most leaders and managers along with a strategy that leaders and managers should consider overcoming this challenge.
Managing Organizational Change: A Multiple Perspectives Approach (3rd ed.) Chapters 8 & 9, by Palmer, Dunford, and Buchanan

M6.3: The Simple Model of Communication

There are various models that have been developed over the years to explain how communication is handled and managed within organizations. The Shannon-Weaver model is one of the most popular models of communication. The model was developed with the aim of improving technical communication within organizations and groups. The Shannon-Weaver model of communication, which is also referred to as the simple model of communication, proposes that interpersonal communication is made possible by the presence and interaction of various key components: the sender, the encoder, a channel, a decoder, the receiver, and feedback (CommunicationTheory.org, 2010).

In addition, the model includes the concept of noise, which is looked at as a barrier to effective communication. The noise goes through the channel of communication and makes it difficult for a message to be received and understood by the receiver. The individual who wishes to communicate or send a message is the sender. When the sender sends a message, the message is converted into a signal, such as a sound wave, a process that is referred to as encoding. The receiver is the recipient of the message, who receives an encoded message and decodes it to find meaning or understand it. After receiving the message, the receiver may ask for clarification or confirm receipt; the provision of feedback (CommunicationTheory.org, 2010).

Noise is a major problem in the transmission of messages from one person to another. With the presence of noise, a message can be distorted, which results in misunderstandings or the reception of inaccurate messages. For this reason, the transmission stage, where the message is going through a channel poses the greatest challenge to leaders and managers. Feedback is very important in the process of communication, as the receiver of a message can clarify the message to make sure that it was accurate (Al-Fedaghi, 2012). In addition, leaders should use media that have a low probability of being affected by noise.

References

Al-Fedaghi, S. (2012). A conceptual foundation for the Shannon-Weaver model of communication. International Journal of Soft Computing, 7(1), 12-19.

CommunicationTheory.org (2010). Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication. Communication Theory. Retrieved November 20, 2019, from http://communicationtheory.org/shannon-and-weaver-model-of-communication/