Use of Communication in the Analysis of Business Problems.

It is a few weeks into the first semester and we have been pushed to the conscious realization that our learnings in Communication Class must be applied to the Analysis of Business Problems (ABP). If we want to do well in ABP, our communication skills must be in play. Writing an effective problem statement requires good grammar, right punctuation, proper sentence structure etc. Similar to effective communication, a good analysis must be free of cognitive bias and focused only on the problem as stated in the evaluation.

Effective communication is essential at various stages of problem analysis, from gathering information to presenting findings and recommendations. There are several meeting points between ABP and Communication and this article will attempt to discuss a few.

• Documentation: To achieve clear writing in a case analysis, our understanding of the situation, problem statement and recommendations must be spelt out in a clear and concise manner. We must tailor our writing to our stakeholders and ensure that they can easily understand and reference the information provided.
• Presentation: Learning in the ABP course often requires us to make presentations of our analysis and results. Visual communication skills, using charts, graphs, pictorials and other visual aids are crucial to conveying complex information to stakeholders. It is important to understand the interest of our stakeholders and reflect that in our presentations.
• Team Work: Just as in reality, business problems are often tackled in the MBA in groups of multi-disciplinary teams. Our use of effective communication becomes essential for collaboration, enabling team members to share insights, brainstorm solutions, and coordinate efforts towards a common goal.
• Listening: While this may not appear obvious in ABP, but in the past few weeks, listening has proven a necessary skill in ABP. Since case analyses are mostly done in groups, the ability to listen to opinions and ideas from other members of the team, are crucial to building a clear understanding of the case. It is easy for us to talk over one another, be judgmental of other people’s opinions or be closed-minded to differing views, however, the seemingly difficult yet highly rewarding part of active listening ensures that we understand and are understood. It creates mutual understanding and satisfaction betwen all members of the team.

The MBA program seeks to mould us into global managers who are adept at applying soft skills and technical skills to problem solving. As managers, we must be able to clearly communicate the overarching business goals to stakeholders who require it to align the strategic objectives of the organisation. Our skills must be reflected in the delivery of budgets, reporting and feedback communication.

The risks of poor communication in our analysis cannot be over-emphasized. Poor communication of our analysis could result in misunderstanding of requirements, ineffective stakeholder engagement, and poor decision making resulting from incorrect analysis. To mitigate these issues, it is important that we prioritize clear and open communication throughout the analysis process. This requires us to take cognizance of the communication skills listed above and apply them not only in the MBA but also in our businesses and organizations.