by Kodjo Adadevoh

Created on: April 24, 2010   Last Updated: September 24, 2011

Companies need to recognize the utility value of each medium they have for disseminating information. Companies also have to recognize the importance of redundancy in information; this means that they need to disseminate critical information through more than one medium. Most people choose one or more mediums of communication as their primary source for receiving company information.  However, there are mediums that have become the main form of communication, email is one example of this type of communication medium and is perhaps the most dominant medium for most businesses in the United States today.

Other channels of communication exist within companies, including Town Hall meetings, phone distribution, company intranet, email, instant messenger, texting and the grapevine. Each means of communication lends itself as a means by which the company can reach its employees and utilize their talents efficiently.

Town Hall meetings are a very important information sharing venue for disseminating business critical information, including the overall company, division or unit vision and mission. It is also a good venue for discussing upcoming events or problems that need to be addresses to all employees company wide. Town Hall meetings are typically held in conference rooms or auditoriums that are set up by the Information Technology department. All of the audiovisual aids, the microphones and sound effects have to be appropriately set up to ensure that everyone in the audience can both see and hear the speakers properly. At the conclusion of the meeting, it is often important to distribute meeting minutes or slides to all staff members, those who attended and those who did not. This way, they have a document that they can reference in the future. The information could also be stored in an electronic room, on a company-wide shared drive or on the company website for ease of access. Town Hall meetings are perhaps the most interactive forums for senior management and staff to exchange ideas. These meetings are usually used to define company goals for the fiscal year, review quarterly progress or discuss pertinent company wide information.

Phone distribution list are an efficient way of disseminating company information.  Information such as a delayed opening or a business closing can be easily disseminated to employees via the telephone. A good example of this application is delayed opening or closings due to natural events, such as a snow storms, hurricanes

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