Communication is basically classified into two major categories, viz. written communication and oral communication.
Written communication advantages:
- Written communication can be kept as a legal record or as a source of reference.
- It is carefully formulated.
- It saves time and money.
- It is used in case of transaction, proposals, agreements, organisational charts, rules, legal documents, bulletins, memoranda, contracts, claims, advertisements, policy statement, manual, job description and many other things.
- Use of written communication is a matter of the communicator’s preference.
- It protects the organisation against charges, claims, law suits etc. For example, it includes property titles, contracts, financial records, minutes of Director’s Meetings of several meetings like Board of Director’s, General Body Meetings, Organisational Meetings, etc.
Written communication disadvantages:
- Sometimes poorly written messages require further clarification. This ultimately becomes expensive.
- Written message sometimes gives chances to shift blame to others in big organisation.
- Unnecessary paper work may even bankrupt a firm.
Oral Communication advantages:
- Oral communication is more speedy than the written communication.
- In oral communication, there is an ample scope for expression in the form of questions and answers.
- The speaker can come into direct contact with the listener. He can, therefore, impress the listener and convincingly make him understand what he intends to communicate.
Oral Communication disadvantages:
- Sometimes listeners fail to pose right questions.
- It may convey inadequate information.
- It may not necessarily save time.
- Sometimes, the devices like conference, meetings, etc. become costly where oral communication is important.
