Wal-Mart’s Internal Communication Plan

Wal-Mart’s Internal Communication Plan

I am interested in developing an internal communication plan for Wal-Mart, the largest retailer globally. The U.S.-based company operates international outlets in different countries worldwide. Being the giant leader in the market, Wal-Mart has been using a good internal communication strategy, which has enabled the company to build a good corporate reputation and identity (Brenner et al., 2006). Walmart considers internal communication an important aspect of Business Corporation because every employee in the organization must be well-updated and informed on the company’s values, vision, and mission. In light of these, Wal-Mart uses two major communication strategies, which include face-to-face and electronic or virtual communication, especially in cases where the company wishes to conduct interactive and mass communication.

Virtual communication involves using mass media to disseminate information, especially when the message needs to reach many people. Some mediums Walmart uses for virtual communication include video conferences, memos, emails, and the Internet. Walmart also uses face-to-face communication to reach out to the company’s employees to encourage participation and engagement in meetings, building the company’s trust and culture (Brenner et al., 2006). While both virtual and face-to-face means of communication can be effective in achieving organizational and managerial functions, these means of communication have their advantages and disadvantages, which are discussed in the next section of this paper.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Virtual Communication

Technological advancements have it possible for organizations to use virtual communication, which enables people to send messages or interact without meeting physically. Today, there are different services and applications that make virtual communication possible, such as social media, video conferencing, video calls, and voice calls. Through virtual communication, organizations such as Walmart have created a platform for knowledge sharing, improving problem-solving in the company’s geographically dispersed offices (Rhoads, 2010). Therefore, Walmart has made the virtual environment a platform where the digital workforce can communicate and learn. This further improves the qualities, competencies, and abilities the employees could develop by interacting with technology, allowing them to construct ideas and manipulate information to help the organization achieve its strategic goals. Another advantage of virtual communication is that it is convenient and time-saving because employees or other people can interact with others from any location without meeting physically. This reduces frustration among employees and the top management, especially if they are busy doing something else.

Virtual communication also has its disadvantages, some of which make it difficult to communicate virtually. One of the disadvantages is the technical problems associated with this kind of communication. For instance, organizations such as Walmart depend on the Internet, machines, and software to communicate virtually. Such machines malfunction in some cases, affecting scheduled and ongoing virtual communication endeavours (Baker, 2007). Another disadvantage is that some of the organizational functions cannot be solved by interacting virtually. For instance, during a crisis, Wal-Mart must hold face-to-face conversations with employees to develop immediate solutions to problems.

Advantages and Disadvantages of In-Person Communication

While modern technology is driving businesses in this modern age, in-person or physical interaction is still necessary if organizations intend to keep their employees connected. However, organizations face both challenges and benefits by using in-person communication in their daily operations. One of the advantages associated with in-person communication is its higher ability to motivate people. While companies can write long text messages to encourage their employees, speaking to such people in person, thanking them, and smiling at them becomes more relevant to the receiver of the message (Baker, 2007). Additionally, as some might call it, good working relationships, camaraderie, a partnership, or friendship, it could be difficult for people working in large organizations such as Wal-Mart to develop a strong bond with other employees if they do not have in-person conversations. Consequently, in-person conversations make employees and top management trust each other.

Of course, in-person communication has its disadvantages, which large companies such as Wal-Mart might find hard to handle. In bigger organizations such as Walmart, finding enough time to meet people physically can be difficult, especially considering that the company has many offices in different countries and cities (Rhoads, 2010). In such cases, virtual meetings can be a significant communication option. Another disadvantage of in-person communication is the difficulty in delivering a message to everyone at once. Sometimes, even the people being addressed might not be listening or engaged in the conversation; hence, putting such information in emails could be more effective.

Comparison between Oral and Written Communication

Oral and written communications are unique because all the words used must have a specific purpose to avoid misunderstandings. In oral communication, the message’s sender transfers information using visual or verbal aids. Such types of communication could include discussions, speeches, and presentations. Oral communication becomes more effective when one needs to maintain a secret, develop direct relationships, avoid complexities, or obtain mutual understanding (Mariani, 2010). On the other hand, written communication involves writing and documenting communication, which is delivered in reports, research papers, memos, and letters. According to Downs and Adrian (2004), written communication becomes more effective when one wants the receiver to read the message repeatedly when the sender feels that sending oral information could be less effective when communicating to a large audience, when there is a need for a permanent record and when an organization needs to maintain uniformity in its application processes.

Organizations such as Walmart use methods such as face-to-face web conferencing or telephones in oral communication. Precisely, executives in Wal-Mart adopt face-to-face modes when applying oral communication, whereby top managers walk from one store to the other, talking to their employees. This communication method enables higher-level management to get first-hand information to develop realistic solutions to problems and address their associate

References

Baker, K. A. (2007). Organizational communication. Management Benchmark Study, 1(1), 1-3.

Brenner, A., Eidlen, B., & Candaele, K. (2006). Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Strategic Corporate Research Report.

Downs, C. W., & Adrian, A. D. (Eds.). (2004). Assessing organizational communication: Strategic communication audits. Guilford Press.

Mariani, L. (2010). Communication strategies: Learning and teaching how to manage oral interaction. Lulu. com.

Rhoads, M. (2010). Face-to-face and computer-mediated communication: What does theory tell us, and what have we learned so far? Journal of Planning Literature, 25(2), 111-122.

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Description
To get started on your final Key Assignment, you will select a global company and begin working to create an internal communication plan for that company. Each week’s assignment will be iterative, helping you research and start to develop a workplace communication plan. You will use research to study your selected company and design an internal communication plan. You may select a company that you are interested in, or choose one from this list of top global companies using the following link: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2011/.

Wal-Mart’s Internal Communication Plan

You have been assigned to a global work team tasked with creating a strategic internal employee communications plan for your workplace. Before the team can get started, you must examine the workplace to identify what the overall strategy must cover. Consider the following when brainstorming your communication strategy:

Sketch out your understanding of communication with a visual map.
Determine the best platforms for communication (virtual or face-to-face).
Develop at least 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of electronic and in-person communication.
Compare and contrast 2 written and oral communication methods.
Provide 1–2 sources other than your textbook to support your answer. Use APA style for citations.

Please submit your assignment.

For assistance with your assignment, please use your textbook and all course resources.