Knowledge and Global Communication

The impact of communication is always determined by the amount of knowledge one has. And in global context the amount of knowledge plays a crucial role in having an effective communication. Communication by process is simply the exchange of information that creates knowledge, and information is generated through knowledge. When the terms like knowledge, information and communication are used in this text one should understand that these words are used in reference to human communication.

Before explaining why knowledge plays an important role in the process of communication, one should understand why communication takes place. The process of communication basically takes place when one person has an idea and wants to share the idea with another person. Communication is said to be effective when the meaning of the idea is also shared by the receiver, which the source reflects in the process. But generally this doesn't happen. For example, when one says the word 'pen', the person is actually referring to the idea of having something that can write. But the pen has many dimensions. The same word pen would be reflected differently to different persons. Some may regard pen as traditional ink filled pen and to some it may reflect the new gel filled writing pen. Suppose there is one shopkeeper who sells pens but doesn't know it is used for writing. Then the shopkeeper would define pen as the object that would bring him some fixed amount of money. The difference in accepting the same idea occurs because different people have different level of understanding or knowledge. The shopkeeper in the example doesn't have the knowledge that pen is used for writing apart from selling; shopkeeper would perceive the idea in a different manner.

The effectiveness of communication process is determined by the degree of knowledge that the source and the receiver have. More knowledge the two parties share, more effective is the communication. The medium of communication is called language. So, to have communication one should have enough knowledge about the language.

Language can be of two types: verbal and non verbal. Both forms of language are used simultaneously in the process of communication. The exchange of idea takes place effectively when both parties share the knowledge about language. For example, in a small community all the members of the community share the same language in all forms, so communication is effective. Two physics' professors would share some amount of knowledge. To them the word “force” would mean more or less the same. But when one physics professor communicates the word “force” to a wrestler, the two may understand the word differently.

The success of the communication depends upon the three factors. Apart from knowledge, other two factors are motivation and skills. Communication is said to be successful when the receiver understands the idea reflected by source and desired outcome is achieved. "Motivation is the extent to which a communicator is drawn toward or pushed away from communicating competently in a given context." (Morreale, Spitzberg & Barge, 2001). Skills refer to repeated goal oriented behaviors reflected by an individual. Knowledge consists of the "content of what to say and do, and the procedures by which this content can be performed." (Morreale, Spitzberg & Barge, 2001).

Understanding the components of communication is very important while communicating in global context. Diversity is the beauty of the world. Everything in this world is diverse. Having communication in such a diversified context requires great deal of knowledge.

Today we live in a global world. Globalization is simply the integration of the diversities existing in the world: diversity in the sense of people, their ideas, values, cultures, the power, politics and many more. Such differences result in the difference in perception. Same word or expression is understood differently in different cultures or geographic locations. So, to have an efficient communication in the different diversified context, one need to have adequate knowledge of such variability.

Technological advancement has accelerated the process of globalization. There are more things that the whole world shares. Today's population has been experiencing more and more integration in their culture and ideas. People are communicating across their community, the ideas are shared globally, the cultures are shared, and products are shared. So the ambiguity in the process in communication has also increased. This ambiguity in the communication process has demanded more degree of knowledge for the communication to be meaningful.

The corporate have expanded their operations across the borders. It requires more understanding of the self and other to have a good relationship in the different environments. The opportunities that the process of globalization has offered have motivated the people to communicate across borders. But without having adequate knowledge and right skills, the success of this process cannot be experienced. So to have an effective communication in the global context, one should be knowledgeable and must posses right skills.