July 15, 2003

When to use communication modes

Dave Pollard has nice, clear, useful, but non-definitive guide for when to use different communication media.

































































Tool or Medium

 Some Unique Advantages
Face-to-face

 Conveys body language, allows sidebar conversations,
builds trust, coordinates multiple communication media best
Telephone

 Fast iteration of a few people's ideas and knowledge
, conveys tone
E-mail, Letter, Memo (anyone remember memos?)

 Makes the organization of complex ideas visible
and easy to grasp, leaves a trail, can be saved
V-mail

 Conveys tone, can be saved
IM, Chat

 Immediate access, fast iteration of a few people's
ideas and knowledge
Weblog

Provides context of communicator's other work,
categorizable, allows comments back, can be saved
Newsletter, Newspaper

 Brief, immediate, categorizable
Radio, TV, multimedia

 Compelling, reach
Videoconference (room)

 Visual, inexpensive
Videoconference (P-to-P)

 Next best thing to being there
Forum, Collaboration Tool (project, team)

 Egalitarian, leaves a trail
Wiki

 Openness, multiple voices
Format

 Unique Advantage
Conversation

 Iterative, flexible
Interview

 Structured
Presentation Can use multiple media

Some of these items are subject to debate:

  • Implies that you'd use a weblog as a last resort if there isn't another more appropriate medium.
  • Implies that voicemail is better than email for short messages -- without taking into the account that email is easier to archive.
  • Implies that wiki is the tool to use if you *don't* need fancy formatting; vs. being the tool to use if you want to focus on collaboration on content *prior to* formatting.
  • Also, it doesn't distinguish between forum discussions, which are suitable for exploring, brainstorming, and other open-ended pursuits, and weblogs, which are conducive to converging on a result.

Despite these quibbles, the article makes the right underlying assumption. There isn't one best communications medium; each mode has its strenghts and weaknesses; different modes should be used in different situations.

Posted by alevin at July 15, 2003 11:12 PM | TrackBack
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Comments

I think that a lot of communication is about control. The matrix does not integrate the elements of control that are/are-not present in each mode of communication. A cell phone is used to coordinate meeting at a restaurant or mall, in effect controlling the actions of another. The immediacy is important. Email is used to control people in a different way - email offers accountability - it shows what was asked for, and when, and who knows. At the end of the day, communication is very frequently about influencing others (read control).

Posted by: stephen on July 17, 2003 01:53 PM

Posted by: logo on January 16, 2004 04:20 AM
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