Communication Channel
In the basic communication process, a senderputs a message in words and transmits it to areceiver who interprets the message. The mediumthe sender chooses to transmit the messageis called the communication channel
Today, with the help of media richness
theory, most people realize that the appropriate choice of communication
channel (medium) contributes significantly, along with the words, to the success of a message. Appropriate choice helps senders communicate
clearly, saving them and their businesses time and money. Therefore, examining various communication
channels to understand their appropriate use is important. Media richness theory ranks communication
channels along a continuum of richness, defining highly rich channels as those handling multiple inherent cues simultaneously, such as using feedback, nonverbal cues, and several senses. A face-to-face meeting, which employs feedback as well as audio and visual senses, is considered extremely
rich. However, a newsletter or brochureis lean, involving only the visual sense and slow or no feedback. Most popular of these channels arebrochures, letters, e-mail messages, video e-mail messages, telephone conversations, videoconferencing,
and face-to-face meetings
⠀ Flatley, M. E. (2001). Communication channels. In B. S. Kaliski(Ed.). Encyclopedia of Business and Finance, vol. 1.(pp. 147-149). MacmillanReference USA (p. 147)
⠀ Flatley, M. E. (2001). Communication channels. In B. S. Kaliski(Ed.). Encyclopedia of Business and Finance, vol. 1.(pp. 147-149). MacmillanReference USA (p. 147)