Miscommunication in Organizations and its Effects
Introduction
In the contemporary times, the emergence and explosion of the modern technologies have created immense business opportunities for digital enterprises. As a matter of fact, a majority of the organizations all around the world have been triumphant in establishing digital channels for the extension and expansion of their businesses. With the smart utilization of modern technologies, digital enterprises have been successful in accelerating their business activities such as sales, customer services, and transactions (within the enterprise). As far as digital enterprises are concerned, they rely on the information system for the improvement of their business’ value. For the same reason, the relationship between the IS and business departments is critical to the efforts that are aimed at meeting the organizational goals. Furthermore, the digital channels play a critical role in inter-departmental communication that ultimately enables the business to attain a competitive advantage over its various competitors – both domestic and international. Thus the miscommunication between the business department and IS can be harmful. The Information System department adopts technical languages and has a distinct perspective towards business improvement strategy such as software’s quality, information security, and customer privacy. However, business department is more focused on profit increase, cost reduction, and high-quality production.
Miscommunication Among Departments
The departments within an organization have different perspectives, aims, and interests. Due to this reason, there is always a possibility of miscommunication between different business departments and information system departments. As a consequence, the business value in the digital enterprise may be affected. This research attempts to understand and assess the issues that may occur in the communication process. It also highlights the ways this communication process could have a direct effect on the value of a digital enterprise.
Miscommunication Between Information Technology and Business Divisions
A digital enterprise has completely changed the business model with the adoption of modern technology as a crucial advantage to extend its business dimensions. If truth is told, a digital enterprise is both dynamic and improvable considering the nature of its software programs supporting the internal and external functions of the business. Therefore, the unique relationship between information technology and business divisions has a significant impact on the business value. Furthermore, the research endeavors to investigate an imperative aspect of the inter-departmental communication. It attempts to do so by examining how the current digital businesses tackle communication challenges between information technology and business units. Berger (2015) investigates the discussed problem from the perspective of the role that communication between different departments plays in the reinforcement of competitive benefit. According to him, adequate communication results in a high level of trust between the various parties/stakeholders involved. However, the trust between divisions is important for the improvement of digital enterprise’s value. Diverse departments in an enterprise contribute in its advancement in different manners. Even though there is a difference in their ways, they are intimately connected to the business success. Penrose (2006) regards miscommunication between various business departments and information system departments as a negative influential factor that hampers business functions. He considers that there is a need to adopt decisive strategy regarding the business’ information in such scenarios. The organization’s human resource, sales, finance, operating procedures, and executive management are connected through channels of the information technology department. In addition, IT can develop software to meet the expectations and vision of other departments. However, miscommunication between information technology and business divisions may lead to a failure in the implementation of an effective platform. Bourgeois (2013) tackles the issue from the aspect of information systems and the organization’s roles. He focuses on explaining the various elements of an information system of an enterprise and how it gathers, stores, and regulates the data before sharing it with other relevant divisions for further implementation strategy. He emphasizes that such information and data are only helpful to an organization if transmitted into organizational knowledge. The possession of effective information systems offers a cutting edge to an organization or business. In advancing his argument, the author gives an example about Walmart and how it relied on the proper and effective communication between its information systems departments and business departments to facilitate its success over the competitors. He posits that Walmart greatly benefited from its move to implement the Retail Link – an information system in its supply chain. By implementing this system, the author argues, the suppliers of the store were successful in accessing the inventory levels and information about their supplies in more than 9,000 stores. In fact, they enjoyed a distinct position to analyze how their selling products. In a digital enterprise, the author posited, miscommunication has a negative effect making different departments keep on guessing the right step to take, without understanding what their counterparts offer.
IT develops numerous software programs consuming a large amount of time and budget. However, it delivers a technology that does not satisfy the other business areas’ requirements with negative influence. This can be a result of miscommunication between involved parties. According to Karim (2014), the link between management information systems and an organization’s ability is fundamental to decision-making process. He then explores how the management of information systems, if well-implemented, can have a positive impact. His research is modeled around two different banking institutions in Bahrain and how they have used the information systems to boost their performance. In his work, the author makes use of a control experiment to determine whether the miscommunication, or rather miscommunication, may have a negative effect. In his findings, Karim (2014) indicates that management information systems play an extremely significant role in enhancing strategic planning; thereby boosting organizational operations.