Introduction
Business communication is the sharing of information within organizations and with the stakeholders. It is aimed at promoting the business interests of an organization and enhances the reputation of the company through a continuous engagement with the customers, shareholders, distributors, the suppliers and the entire group of the stakeholders. The use of visual materials for communication is crucial as it communicates important messages about an organization with the utilization of the minimum amount of words. Usually, the visuals used by media are eye catching and deliver the business message instantly unlike the written messages which could be time-consuming. Even then the messages may remain unclear to the reader. The visual representation of information in the business communication has a lot of impact on the real life of the people and is aimed at assisting in reaching quick decisions.
The visual media represents a summary of a particular issue, related to the operations of an organization and hence communicate a lot of messages with the application of the minimum number of words. The use of the visual images is also helpful in depicting danger or precautions. For example, the use of red color or even the road signs that communicate specific messages related to the risks on the road and therefore serve to caution the road users. This assignment discusses different visual media to demonstrate their effectiveness in business communication. The paper also evaluates the rationale behind the use of each visual element in the media. The article also discusses the intent of the messages in the visual media with an objective to give a comprehensive insight on the media elements.
Visual Media One (International Business Marketing)
The rationale behind the choice of the above visual media is the clarity in which it delivers the message. An encounter with the image for the first time clearly depicts executives who are busy engaging and operating across the borders to promote the interests of the organization. The visual media has a clear objective, which is to communicate across the international boundaries to support the organization and the products (Varner, 2000). The visual media enables the formation of ideas and communicates at the same time, which is crucial for any visual media. The media adopts easy presentation so that even without the use of the words one is able to interpret the message depicted in the media elements. It is apparent that the organization has the intention to offer the products and the services to all members of the international community. It is evident that the organization does not discriminate between the men and women in its workforce and hence observes equality which is extended to the way it targets the entire group of the stakeholders such as the consumers, shareholders and the members of the general public.
The other rationale is that the visual media is self-explanatory and anyone encountering the image for the first time can tell that it is a business organization with the mission to serve across the entire world. The media elements such as the people and the globe deliver the message that the company depicted is truly international and conducts its businesses across the borders. It is also clear that the members of the teams in the organization highly engage in sharing ideas that are appropriate in advancing the objectives of the organization. The intent of the message is that the organization conducts its business across the international boundaries and highly engages within its workforce to find the solutions aimed at advancing the mission and the vision of the organization. It is also explicit that the concept communicated is the visual marketing as the images demonstrate engagement in an aim to provide information on the availability of the various products and services that the organization provides.
Visual Media Two (Business Interactions with the Stakeholders)
The concept depicted in the visual media is the branding as the company endeavors how it interacts with the various groups of the stakeholders to promote the brand. The rationale behind the use of the media is that it is efficient for the semi-literate users who may only be able to understand the meaning of the common terms in the businesses. Such terms include customers, contractors, banks, sales people and the suppliers (Kernbach, Eppler & Bresciani, 2015). The visual communication is efficient in the exchange of information between the organization and the people, as the information can easily be understood by both the literate and the semi-illiterate groups across the demographic divide. The media delivers the message due to its simplicity and the use of a simple concept. The visual media does not contain intricate details and explanations offering an attractive model that most people can easily be able to relate. The terms applied in the visual media are simple while the diagram does not contain complicated details, which may not be easily understood. The visual media saves time as the messages can be interpreted by the majority of the people.
The message in the visual media is straight forward and easily captures the attention of the reader. The intent of the message is to inform the public about the various stakeholders that the company interacts with as it carries out the operations (Hocks, 2003). The visual media also communicates the marketing concept of the company as the various levels of interactions with the different stakeholders as a marketing tool for the business. The visual describes the perception concept so that it emphasizes the formation of images that the people should have regarding the company. The media elements in the visual also communicate the idea of the social media. The advancement of technology informs the high rates of interaction between the company and its entire group of stakeholders.
Visual Media Three (Cross Cultural Business Communication)
The rationale behind the use of the visual media is that it is self-explanatory in the sense it is easy to notice the diverse cultures of the people in the meeting. Therefore, it is used to explain what is happening in the image. It is clear that people of different backgrounds are directors and top management of the organization (Eppler & Burkhard, 2007). The implication is that the group is highly representative with the inclusion of the people from all the regions of the world as the decision makers in the company. It is clear that the enterprise adopts a non discrimination approach in all its affairs and respects the cultures of communities from around the world. A reader who has an objective to make a decision regarding the investment in the company would be reassured that the company embraces and works with people from all corners of the globe
The media element delivers the message in a straightforward manner as the picture is self-explanatory regarding the nature of the delivery (Patterson, 2009). A part of the people of different cultures, the media depicts the various parts of the world to articulate the intent of serving the various regions of the world. The message is emphasized by the fact that the company has directors, employees, and shareholders from all over the world and hence has an international image. The intent of the message is the cultural diversity in the organization. The message is that the organization does not discriminate on the people or the regions it interacts with and that it is a company with a truly international outlook. It endeavors to serve the people from the diverse communities from around the world.
Conclusion
The visual media is extensively being used by the business to communicate with the various stakeholders and the public in general. The visuals consist of eye-catching images that can easily be interpreted by the majority of the people. The different elements in the visuals are essential in enabling the viewer to reach a quick decision, with minimum levels of consultation. Most of the visuals media employ minimum use of words and therefore are easily understood even by the illiterate audiences. The visual media communicate various concepts such as the marketing, branding, visual literacy among others. The concepts can easily identified by viewers due to the clarity of the messages. The visual media is important in communicating the functions of an organization. The messages communicated in the visual media are straightforward which is essential for easy interpretation.
References
Eppler, M. J., & Burkhard, R. A. (2007). Visual representations in knowledge management: framework and cases. Journal of knowledge management, 11(4), 112-122.
Hocks, M. E. (2003). Understanding visual rhetoric in digital writing environments. College composition and communication, 629-656.
Kernbach, S., Eppler, M. J., & Bresciani, S. (2015). The Use of Visualization in the Communication of Business Strategies an Experimental Evaluation. International Journal of Business Communication, 52(2), 164-187.
Pettersson, R. (2009). Visual literacy and message design. TechTrends, 53(2), 38.
Varner, I. I. (2000). The theoretical foundation for intercultural business communication: A conceptual model. Journal of Business Communication, 37(1), 39-57.
