Blog 1: Overview of Communication Policies and Planning
Communication policies are sets of principles and norms established to
guide the behavior of communication systems. Their orientation is fundamental and
long-range, although they may have operational implications of short-range significance.
They are shaped in the context of society’s general approach to communication.
Emanating from political ideologies, the social and economic conditions of the country
and the values on which they are based, they strive to relate these to the real needs
and prospective opportunities of ‘communication’. Communication policies exist in every
society, though they may frequently be latent and disjointed, rather than clearly
articulated and harmonized. What is proposed, therefore, is not something radically
new, but rather an explicit statement and deliberately prospective formulation
of practices already established in society. Since then, the discussion of policies
has been heard at the national and international levels. It relates to such issues
as the balance of information flow, the transfer of technologies, and the activities
of transnational enterprises. It is more concerned with the construction of
frameworks and methodologies which assist the rational interpretation of policy.
Policy refers to a high level overall plan embracing the general goals and
acceptable procedures especially of a government body. It can refer to a law, a binding
government decision, set of goal, an organizational commitment, or general strategy. It
implies an authoritative statement or set of guidelines involving government or
legal bodies and subject to enforcement (ADB, 2002).
Communication Policies refer to the guidelines on ownership, distribution
and utilization of communication resources; define the role of communication in
society; define the relationship between media, government and business; provide the
framework by which the present structures may be transformed so that they can
support the goals of building a just and humane society(Braid et al.,1990).
Communication Planning refers to the preparation of both short-range and
long-term plans for the efficient and equitable use of communication resources, in
the context of a particular society’s goals, means and priorities, and subject to its
prevailing forms of social and political organization(Hancock, 1981).
Communication is pervasive in the process of development. Communication
includes mass media, telecommunications, information and communication
technologies (ICTs), organized interpersonal communication, and all resources
used by a society to enable information to flow within it. It has for its aims to
inform, educate, persuade, entertain, motivate people and induce behavior change
that contributes toward national development.
The communication policy and communication planning are two inseparable
concepts. They are directly linked because systems planning is dependent upon the
clear formulation of objectives and objectives cannot be articulated without
understanding the overall goals and policies. Moreover, policies are formulated in
accordance with the development priorities of each nation and they provide a
framework for action. While broad policy guidelines will generally be established by
the government, more detailed communication policies will be determined by
agencies or institutions working at provincial and community levels (Sommerlad,
1978).
Supervisors play a vital role in an organization. In order for a supervisor or a
manager to be effective they must acquire several invaluable traits: The ability to
communicate effectively and efficiently, decision making skills, technical skills, team-
building and leadership skills , political skills, delegation skills, possess emotional
intelligent and self-awareness skills, administration skills, and time management skills. I
will reveal how these traits coincide with the five functions of management. The five
functions of management are known as planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and
controlling. I will also talk about the importance of managerial relationships within an
organization, and how these relationships impact an organization. I will also explain the
importance of finding the proper employee for a position, and the challenges a manager
could face while trying to staff an individual in such a diverse society.