The Internet has provided new ways to communicate using various tools for electronic communication. Today, organizations interact differently with their various stakeholders – board members, employees, customers and suppliers – depending on the nature of the message, the goals, and the strengths of the available tools, such as telephone, e-mail, fax, voice mail and text messages.
One of the major advantages of electronic communication is that it lets you combine numerous types of media – text, graphics, sound and video – into a single message. In this chapter, we will discuss the following types of electronic communication:
World Wide Web Tools; facsimile (fax); short message service (SMS); teleconferencing; electronic mail;
Selection of communication media
In selecting which communication media to use to deliver a message, the following factors should be considered:
Degree of urgency: How quickly must the document be delivered?
Genre: What format should the material be presented, i.e.: oral format, audible, written or visual
Level of confidentiality:
How sensitive is the information being transmitted?
Location/time zone:
What is the local time at the destination of the recipient?
Cost:
What will each option cost?
Efficiency:
Is this medium worth it?
Effectiveness:
Will the method selected allow for the transmission to be done within the time (urgency) and time zone while maintaining the required level of confidentiality?
A facsimile is a document sent over a telephone line. Fax services are available using: standalone fax machines; multi-function devices; fax servers;
Internet fax service.
Short Messaging Service is a component of phone, web or mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between fixed line or mobile phone devices.
Voice over IP is another technology which allows us to use Skype, MSN or Oovoo video calling.
Instant messaging like