People: These are the creators of messages who create and send the information, and consumers of messages, who receive, decode and use the information
The messages themselves: their subject matter/content
The language in which the message is produced (words, pictures, figures; national language; use of jargon or technical terms)
The medium in which the message is transmitted (spoken word, face-to-face, by telephone, digitally by computer or mobile phone or smartphone, in printed form, in film, and so on).
people
People
• Creators deliver/provide messages
• Consumers receive/observe/interpret messages
• Consumers become creators of information by providing feedback/responses
• Creators encode their messages and consumers decode and interpret them
• Perception has an impact on understanding and interpretation
• ‘Prosumers’: individuals can use the internet both as producers (creators) of communications and as consumers
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Language
• Messages can be delivered in multiple languages.
• Used, invented, or developed by the creators of the information.
• Learned by consumers.
• National languages, jargon, style of language, body language, visual language.
The language used in business communication will vary based on a number of factors—
for example, individuals’ education, their roles and the work cultures of different parts of the organisation. While larger organisations will exhibit a greater range of languages, multiple languages and conflicting jargon can also be found in smaller organisations.
media
• Messages are delivered within media, including face-to-face contact.
• The content of the message, the language used, and the medium used are all important for effective communication.
• Some media provide for one-way communication. Others allow two-way communication.
Communication media can be synchronous, where there is immediate or simultaneous interaction between participants (e.g. voice conversation, instant messaging) or asynchronous, where there can be a time delay between discrete messages (e.g. email, social media).