Read the following extract and then answer the question below.

Question

Critically discuss the purpose of communication in an organisation and explain how
communication has so far assisted your organisation to achieve its goals. (Use an organisation of
your choice to illustrate your answer.)

Answer 1

The purpose of communication in an organization is to facilitate the flow of information, ideas, and decisions among individuals or groups within the organization. It serves as a means for coordination, collaboration, and dissemination of knowledge. Effective communication ensures that everyone in the organization is aware of the organization's goals, objectives, and strategies, and helps in aligning individual efforts towards achieving these goals.

As an example, let's consider a multinational technology company, Apple Inc. Communication plays a critical role in Apple's success. Firstly, communication within the organization ensures that everyone understands Apple's vision, mission, and key objectives. This clarity of purpose enables employees to make informed decisions that align with the company's overall goals. For instance, when designing a new product, engineers and designers collaborate closely, exchanging ideas and information through various communication channels, such as meetings, emails, and virtual platforms. This enables them to work towards creating innovative and user-friendly products that meet customer needs.

Furthermore, effective communication within Apple promotes cross-functional collaboration. Different departments, such as marketing, research and development, and production, need to coordinate their efforts to ensure the successful launch of a product. Regular communication among these departments helps in sharing vital information, resolving conflicts, and making timely decisions. For example, the marketing team needs to communicate product features and benefits to the production team, ensuring that the product is manufactured according to the desired specifications.

Communication also plays a pivotal role in disseminating knowledge and creating a learning organization culture at Apple. Through effective communication channels, such as training sessions, internal newsletters, and team meetings, employees at Apple are continuously updated on the latest industry trends, technological advancements, and best practices. This enables them to stay ahead in the highly competitive technology market and contribute to the achievement of organizational goals.

In summary, the purpose of communication in an organization is to facilitate information flow, coordination, collaboration, and dissemination of knowledge. In the case of Apple Inc., effective communication has enabled the company to align individual efforts towards organizational goals, promote cross-functional collaboration, and create a learning organization culture.