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Discussion Board 1
Discuss how technology has affected the communication process both
positively and negatively.
"Once upon a time, business communications consisted of formal business letters and a
conversation in the boss’s office." (Natter, 2019) Communicating through technology has
become the new norm in our society today. Some communication barriers are the root of many
problems in our society, including business. The ability to effectively exchange information,
ideas, and opinions is critical to maintaining communication. As someone who uses today’s
technology to communicate, I understand it comes with positive and negative opinions. It
limits the ability to build meaningful relationships, making it challenging to form bonds and
solve problems. At the same time, I have found that the ability to create a more open
communication environment can open opportunities for meaningful relationships and help
create a more harmonious workplace. Communicating through technology can be an informal
way of communicating with someone. A written letter or speaking face-to-face would be the
more professional form of communication but is rarely used. In today’s world, a lot of
businesses are allowing their employees to work virtually leaving email, text, phone calls, and
video conferencing as their way of conversing.
As stated in our text, “Effective use of various communication technologies (when
used properly and effectively) help ensure timely, targeted, messages and responses and helps
build interpersonal relationships.” (Lehman, DuFrene, & Walker, 2020). One positive of
communicating electronically is that it provides the ability for more rapid response. Email,
text, or a phone call is an effective way of communicating within the office. Working remotely
also allows employees and supervisors to communicate from anywhere. Another positive of
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having all communication electronic is that this is a great way to track your employee’s
performance and to assure policies and procedures are being followed appropriately.
In conclusion, these are just some of the negative and positive examples of how
technology has affected communication. Over time, we have developed our ways of
communication with our socialization, different languages, and the ability to communicate
through nonliving objects. Overall, today’s use of technology allows for a greater ability to
communicate, and in the world of business, communication is paramount.
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References
Lehman, C. M., DuFrene, D. D., & Walker, R. (2019). BCOM (with MindTap, 1 term Printed
Access Card) (MindTap Course List) (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Natter, E. (2019, March 7). Effects of Technology on Business Communications. Small Business -
Chron.Com. https://smallbusiness.chron.com/effects-technology-business-
communications-23045.html
Leonard, K. (2019, February 4). What Are the Positive & Negative Effects of Using Technology
to Communicate? Small Business - Chron.Com.
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/positive-negative-effects-using-technology-
communicate-21241.html
