Written Communication

• Involves any type of message that involves the use of the written word
• It includes things like emails, reports, letters, instant messages (Whatsapp and Facebook)

Advantages

• Same message can be delivered to different receives with speed e.g. an email to thousands/millions of recipients
• Everyone can receive the same message at the same time (mass communication) e.g. newspaper
• Can deal with a large audience quickly
• The message can be circulated at the same time using various means e.g. emails, printed, posted on a website, send via instant message, on social media forums etc
• It can act as a back up to complicated verbal communication e.g. on an advanced Engineering topic or a multi-paced business merger
• There is a permanent record that can be kept for future reference

Disadvantages

• There is no guarantee that the recipient has understood the message
• Ambiguities cannot be explained
• There is delayed feedback
• It is impersonal
• Reduces the sender’s participation
• There is no room for non-verbal communication such as gestures and facial expressions etc.

To access more topics go to the O Level Business Notes page