Purpose Of Communication: What Is It Good For?

This post is part of a series called “Solving The Project Communication Problem“

The purpose of communication (to engage in the act of information exchange) is the fulfillment of one’s physical or emotional needs. If you are tired, you start asking around for a cheap hotel.

The effectiveness of the communication is determined by the quality of the communication channel, the quality of the interaction, if you will. If there is noise on a channel, the effectiveness of communication reduces.

Photography by Mayr.

The risk of noise on a channel is determined by a need to cheat, and the opportunity to cheat.

The need to cheat arises when there is scarcity; when you get in direct conflict with others when trying to fulfill your needs. If the entire village is competing for the same bed, asking around will probably sent you in the wrong direction.

The opportunity to cheat appears when information can be manipulated, when it is possible to provide wrong information on purpose. If information is not clear, complex or ambiguous the opportunity to cheat increases. When there is no way to verify information, when it is difficult to get feedback the opportunity increases also.

Of course, people are aware of the risk of noise on the channel. We have some build in “trust-filters” that should guard is against cheaters on the line. This works fine as long as people have the perception they can fulfill the needs on their own. However, some people need other people to find e.g. food, water or a bed to sleep. This perceived dependency on others lowers their “trust filters” for information, they are quicker to accept information, they want to believe.