{"id":1130,"date":"2024-01-27T02:39:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-27T02:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=1130"},"modified":"2024-06-12T19:55:34","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T19:55:34","slug":"apply-it-internal-written-communication","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/chapter\/apply-it-internal-written-communication\/","title":{"raw":"Apply It: Internal Written Communication","rendered":"Apply It: Internal Written Communication"},"content":{"raw":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Explain what typical emails inside an organization look like and their key features<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Describe the main features of memos<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<h2>More About Memos<\/h2>\r\n<section class=\"textbox interact\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/content\/1290919463586285278\/embed\" width=\"1088\" height=\"637\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><script src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/js\/h5p-resizer.js\" charset=\"UTF-8\"><\/script><\/section>\r\n<h2>Are Memos Obsolete?<\/h2>\r\n<p>While memos may seem outdated compared to modern communication tools, they are far from obsolete. Their ability to provide a clear, documented, and non-intrusive method of communication ensures they remain a valuable tool in the business communication arsenal. However, their use must be balanced with other forms of communication to address their limitations, particularly in areas requiring immediate feedback or sensitivity.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Disadvantages of Memos[footnote]Frederick, Ann. \u201cThe Disadvantage of a Standard Memo for Communication in Business.\u201d Chron. Accessed June 12, 2024. https:\/\/smallbusiness.chron.com\/disadvantage-standard-memo-communication-business-23564.html[\/footnote]<\/h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p><strong>Length and Focus<\/strong>: Traditional memos are designed for brevity, typically spanning one or two pages, which limits their utility for conveying complex or multifaceted topics. Their focus on a single subject can be a drawback when multiple issues need addressing simultaneously.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p><strong>Cost and Delays<\/strong>: Physical memos incur costs for paper and copying, and their distribution can delay the receipt of information. Employees who do not check their mailboxes regularly may miss timely updates.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p><strong>Formality<\/strong>: The formal tone of memos makes them unsuitable for sensitive communications, such as disciplinary actions or layoffs, where face-to-face interaction is more appropriate and allows for nonverbal cues and immediate feedback.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p><strong>One-Way Communication<\/strong>: Memos often convey decisions or directives without inviting dialogue, unlike meetings where employees can ask questions and share opinions. This can make employees feel excluded from the decision-making process.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h3>Advantages of Memos[footnote]Thibodeaux, Wanda. \u201cThe Significance and Advantages of Business Memos.\u201d Chron, January 11, 2019. Accessed June 12, 2024. https:\/\/smallbusiness.chron.com\/significance-advantages-business-memos-21025.html[\/footnote]<\/h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p><strong>Inexpensive to Create<\/strong>: Memos, especially digital ones, are cost-effective. Even printed memos are cheaper than holding meetings, and digital memos eliminate printing costs entirely.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p><strong>Transparency and Record-Keeping<\/strong>: Memos provide a written record of communications, which can be referenced in disputes or audits. They help maintain clarity and accountability in business operations by documenting who said what and when.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p><strong>Less Disruptive<\/strong>: Memos can be read at employees' convenience, making them less disruptive than phone calls or instant messages, which demand immediate attention.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p><strong>Efficient Delivery<\/strong>: Digital memos can be distributed to many recipients almost instantly, ensuring rapid dissemination of information across the organization.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p><strong>Encourages Critical Thinking<\/strong>: The brevity and evidence-based nature of memos compel writers to think critically about their content, fostering clarity and precision in communication.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","rendered":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\">\n<ul>\n<li>Explain what typical emails inside an organization look like and their key features<\/li>\n<li>Describe the main features of memos<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<h2>More About Memos<\/h2>\n<section class=\"textbox interact\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/content\/1290919463586285278\/embed\" width=\"1088\" height=\"637\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><script src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/js\/h5p-resizer.js\" charset=\"UTF-8\"><\/script><\/section>\n<h2>Are Memos Obsolete?<\/h2>\n<p>While memos may seem outdated compared to modern communication tools, they are far from obsolete. Their ability to provide a clear, documented, and non-intrusive method of communication ensures they remain a valuable tool in the business communication arsenal. However, their use must be balanced with other forms of communication to address their limitations, particularly in areas requiring immediate feedback or sensitivity.<\/p>\n<h3>Disadvantages of Memos<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Frederick, Ann. \u201cThe Disadvantage of a Standard Memo for Communication in Business.\u201d Chron. Accessed June 12, 2024. https:\/\/smallbusiness.chron.com\/disadvantage-standard-memo-communication-business-23564.html\" id=\"return-footnote-1130-1\" href=\"#footnote-1130-1\" aria-label=\"Footnote 1\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Length and Focus<\/strong>: Traditional memos are designed for brevity, typically spanning one or two pages, which limits their utility for conveying complex or multifaceted topics. Their focus on a single subject can be a drawback when multiple issues need addressing simultaneously.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Cost and Delays<\/strong>: Physical memos incur costs for paper and copying, and their distribution can delay the receipt of information. Employees who do not check their mailboxes regularly may miss timely updates.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Formality<\/strong>: The formal tone of memos makes them unsuitable for sensitive communications, such as disciplinary actions or layoffs, where face-to-face interaction is more appropriate and allows for nonverbal cues and immediate feedback.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>One-Way Communication<\/strong>: Memos often convey decisions or directives without inviting dialogue, unlike meetings where employees can ask questions and share opinions. This can make employees feel excluded from the decision-making process.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>Advantages of Memos<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Thibodeaux, Wanda. \u201cThe Significance and Advantages of Business Memos.\u201d Chron, January 11, 2019. Accessed June 12, 2024. https:\/\/smallbusiness.chron.com\/significance-advantages-business-memos-21025.html\" id=\"return-footnote-1130-2\" href=\"#footnote-1130-2\" aria-label=\"Footnote 2\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Inexpensive to Create<\/strong>: Memos, especially digital ones, are cost-effective. Even printed memos are cheaper than holding meetings, and digital memos eliminate printing costs entirely.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Transparency and Record-Keeping<\/strong>: Memos provide a written record of communications, which can be referenced in disputes or audits. They help maintain clarity and accountability in business operations by documenting who said what and when.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Less Disruptive<\/strong>: Memos can be read at employees&#8217; convenience, making them less disruptive than phone calls or instant messages, which demand immediate attention.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Efficient Delivery<\/strong>: Digital memos can be distributed to many recipients almost instantly, ensuring rapid dissemination of information across the organization.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Encourages Critical Thinking<\/strong>: The brevity and evidence-based nature of memos compel writers to think critically about their content, fostering clarity and precision in communication.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr class=\"before-footnotes clear\" \/><div class=\"footnotes\"><ol><li id=\"footnote-1130-1\">Frederick, Ann. \u201cThe Disadvantage of a Standard Memo for Communication in Business.\u201d Chron. Accessed June 12, 2024. https:\/\/smallbusiness.chron.com\/disadvantage-standard-memo-communication-business-23564.html <a href=\"#return-footnote-1130-1\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 1\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-1130-2\">Thibodeaux, Wanda. \u201cThe Significance and Advantages of Business Memos.\u201d Chron, January 11, 2019. Accessed June 12, 2024. https:\/\/smallbusiness.chron.com\/significance-advantages-business-memos-21025.html <a href=\"#return-footnote-1130-2\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 2\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":23,"menu_order":12,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[]","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"part":147,"module-header":"apply_it","content_attributions":[],"internal_book_links":[],"video_content":null,"cc_video_embed_content":{"cc_scripts":"","media_targets":[]},"try_it_collection":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1130"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3617,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1130\/revisions\/3617"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/147"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1130\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=1130"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1130"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}