A Report on My Office Job Environment

Research methods: I hope to research the internal and external ways in which the company I have chosen communicate. I hope to collect this information from 4 sources, my mum, her boss the Internet and by books. I will collect as much information as possible to. It also helps me a lot that my contact is my mum and that she works locally my mum should be able to give me enough information to help me complete my research.

Year 11 Communication studies

Communication Methods:

• Letters: a letter is a written form of communication mainly used for external communication.
• Memo: a memo is a written communication sent internally.
• Fax: fax is a photocopier that sends the image to another office internally and externally.
• Telephone: telephone is a verbal form of communication but over the phone this can be used anywhere.
• E-mail: email is a written form of communication but on a computer an email can be sent worldwide and can contain attachments such as documents, pictures etc.

Findings:

In this pie chart it shows me that the most popular form of communication used is the telephone. It also tells me that the least used type of communication is a meeting.

From this graph I can tell that telephone and email are the most frequently used type of communication inside the work place. The type of communication, which is used least inside the work place, is a meeting.

Strengths and weaknesses:

• Letters

• Advantages of using letters are that they can provide a permanent record for future reference.
• Accurate, clear messages can be sent
• Disadvantages are they can be less personal
• There is no immediate feedback

• Memoranda
• Advantages are short and to the point
• They can provide a permanent record for future reference
• Disadvantages there is no immediate feedback

• Reports
• Advantages are reports can be copied and circulated to many people
• Disadvantages are they can be complicated

• Notices
• Advantages are they are cheap to produce
• They can be seen by a large number of people
• Disadvantages can be torn down or damaged

• Telephone
• Advantages are that they provide two way communication
• Immediate feedback can be obtained
• Problems can be sorted quickly
• Information can be received quickly
• Disadvantages are there is no written record of the conversation

• Face to face
• Advantages are feedback and revision can be given and received
• Problems can be sorted out quickly
• Disadvantages are that in a big meeting you cannot be sure if everyone is listening.

• E-mail
• Advantages are that it is useful for organisations spread over a number of different sites
• Frequent contact can be made between users
• Disadvantages are that users need a modem and a computer
• Connections can be sometimes be lost

Data Protection Act:

The Data Protection Act is an Act of Parliament, which controls the use and storage of personal data. This will affect the ways in which people communicate as company’s will not be able to store a lot of information about one company which limits them to only being able to keep in storage the name and address of the company. Unless there is a very good reason to withhold more information they are limited which would cause problems when information gained, is either forgotten or lost.

Health and Safety:

 The health and safety act is an act of parliament, which supports people who have been injured in the work place. If the health and safety act is not visible in the work place the company can be sued.