The last decade has been very exciting with all types of new technologies that improve access and communication. With the help of these new technologies, organizations can share information, collaborate on work, and transfer knowledge among employees, customers, and suppliers with greater efficiencies than ever before. And likely as not, more innovations are underway.

While an organization’s success depends on the efficient means of communication, it also depends on commitment and collaboration among all participants. Effective communication is the process of transmitting valuable information from one individual or group to another. But commitment and collaboration fuels the organization.

To create an effective communication system, organizations should:

• Bury bureaucracy and rigid hierarchy: Create a boundary less organization in which information and ideas can flow freely from one level to another among the employees.
• Create a fearless environment: Using power to intimidate is a foolish management approach. By eliminating fear and creating an emotional bond with and among its people, management can make the organization a better place in which to work.

“Interact with your customer” will be the slogan of the future. Organizations will strive for “customer enthusiasm” instead of “customer satisfaction.” Customer enthusiasm generates excitement and loyalty in customers.

To build a customer-interaction strategy, an organization must have a clear picture of its prospects and customers – their identity, demographics, preferences, the products and services they buy, and the channels through which they make their purchases. Then, the organization should develop the technical architecture to support its business goals.

Organizations should employ following strategies to interact with their customers on an ongoing basis.

Also, given that communication is so immediate and spontaneous, keep in mind of the value of on-time response, no matter what technology or mode of communication you use, is absolutely vital. On-time response (read “timely response”) shows your commitment and demonstrates your enthusiasm.

Although some executive education and training programs tend to be very costly, management cannot and should not eliminate these programs. Of course, your options are cloud-based or web-based learning programs that add diversity in training without the cost of travel. Technology-enhanced learning modals can also be collaborative team-centered experiences that can add to the collaborative environment in your workforce.

Make wise use of other CRM and cloud computing resources – video conferencing, virtual whiteboards, desktop viewing – that may enhance information throughput, group learning,  openness and transparency in the management process.

At the end of the day, it’s still people who matter most.

Networking – Collaboration with Thought Leaders

Boston University School of Management, USA  

• N. Venkatraman
  The David J. McGrath Jr. Professor of Management
  Next Generation Business Handbook

Copenhagen Business School, Denmark

• Kim Viborg Andersen
  Head, Center for Research on Information Technology in Policy Settings, Department of Informatics
  Next Generation Business Handbook

• Ann M. Fogelgren Pedersen
  Ph.D. Student, Department of Informatics
  Next Generation Business Handbook

Georgia State University, USA

• Upkar Varshney
  Faculty of CIS
  Next Generation Business Handbook

INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France

• Ben M. Bensaou
  Professor of Technology Management and Asian Business
  Next Generation Business Handbook

IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland

• Carlos Cordon
  Professor of Operations Management and Head of Research and Development
  Next Generation Business Handbook

Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, USA

• Shane Greenstein
  The Elinor and Wendell Hobbs Professor, Management and Strategy Department
  Next Generation Business Handbook

New York University, USA

• Christopher L. Tucci
  Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  Next Generation Business Handbook

Oxford University, UK

• Chris Sauer
  Fellow in Information Management
  Next Generation Business Handbook

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, The Netherlands

• Eric Van Heck
  Professor of Business Administration
  Next Generation Business Handbook

The Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, USA

• Carol V. Brown
  Associate Professor of Information Systems
  Next Generation Business Handbook

Warwick Business School, UK

• Leslie Willcocks
  Professor of Information Management
  Next Generation Business Handbook