1. How can communication be improved in an organization that is structured in a traditional bureaucratic form?  

In a traditional bureaucratic organization, communication comes from the head of the department down to the lowest level or to the people or person to perform the task. This type of organization is strict and does not like to or is uneasy to change. This is sort of like the military style of organization. The only difference I think is that at each level in the organization, leaders are allowed to make decisions on the situation based on current information. Information or communication is pushed out to all and is checked to ensure all understand what is to be accomplished by the top of the organization or what the military organization calls the chain of command. Sometimes this information or communication can get lost or confusing due to translation.  In order to improved communication in any organization, what we call C2 (command and control) must be enforced. Information must be kept on a need to know bases but all must know and understand the plan.

 2. How might computerized communication be utilized to improve the effectiveness of communication in a bureaucratic organization?

Communication may be improved if the source of the communication is stored in one centralized location for all to access and it will decrease time of meetings. Information can be sent out to all at the same time to lessen confusion of employees or members of the organization. The speed of communication will increase as well as increase the knowledge of the employee using this system. Decisions can be made and information on critical tasks can be disseminated down to the lowest level and back to the top with results. The speed of communication can assist in the way the organization reacts to a situation. It also make people interact differently because they can receive information in an instance instead of waiting hours for needed information to make a decision on a matter of importance. One of the most importance things I believe computerized communication does for an organization is to give a person a voice or a chance to be heard on the decisions or direction the organization is going.    

3. How might computerized communication be ineffective?  

Computerized communication can be ineffective in an organization if the system is new to members of the organization be it will take time to ensure all members are efficient on the system. This may also be very costly to get them trained on the new system or software not to mention the cost of the new system. Computerized technology may require special trained personnel which also add to the cost. Sometimes translation is lost in this style of communication. Have you gotten an email from a co-worker with your name on it but they meant to send it to someone else with your same last name or first name? This email made no sense to you at all…maybe you were not supposed to see this email traffic. This type of communication replaces the most effective type of communication which is face-to-face. Face-to-face communication gives a person to see gestures and ask questions and the same time if something is not understood.

 Communication could be improved in a traditional bureaucratic setting by utilizing and sticking to the chain of command. If you relate this to a police department everything starts with the chief of police and then it goes down in the ranks. Communication could be improved in a working environment such as this but it would take as team to do so. It would have to start with the leader of the department. A leader in this position should talk to his employees and always get a feeling for how they feel about the job, and what can be done to better the job, and the crew in which they work with.

Computerized Communication could be a good asset in a bureaucratic organization as long as there is consistency within the timeline as far as when an officer communicates with an administrator or a higher ranking officer about a complaint or concern. Departments could set up a way of communication via email or some sort of secured sever where officer could send complaints, safety concerns, questions and etc.

Computerized communication could also be ineffective due to timing of a response. If lower ranking officer sends up a safety concern, or compliant to administration and he doesn’t hear anything or it takes forever. At that point that officer feels as if his complaint or concern isn’t important. When that happens, that attitude towards a tool that is put out there for employees to use gets a negative outlook due to a few bad experiences.