ANRS Management Institute

Department Of Project Management

Individual Assignment for 1st Distance Course
Course Title:- Project communication and Stakeholder
Analysis

Course Number:- PM6211

Name: Hailu Tamir Anteneh

ID No: AMI140184PS

Instructor: Sewagegnehu .A

January, 2023
Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
 1. Communication

Communication determines and influences the relationship between the project manager and
project members and how the members work to attain the set project goals. When transparency
and openness is overlooked in project management, misunderstanding may result among the
members, a factor that may lead to project failure. Communication also enhances contribution
and sharing of ideas from all the project members. Nevertheless, communication in project
management ought to be conducted in all directions. This is the only way that the members will
feel accountable of their roles and duties for the attainment of project goals and objectives.
Communication models refer to the conceptual frameworks or theories that explain the way of
human communication. It also represents the entire process of communication between the
sender and the receiver. Communication models are systematic representations of the process
which helps in understanding how communication works can be done. Models show the process
metaphorically and in symbols. They form general perspectives on communication by breaking
communication from complex to simple and keep the components in order. The communication
model tries to answer the 5Ws and 1H questions; for example, what is communication? Who is
involved in this process? When does it happen? Where does it take place? Why does it occur?
And finally, how does the communication happen. Project communication is the exchange of
project-specific information with the emphasis on creating understanding between the sender
and the receiver. Effective communication is one of the most important factors contributing to
the success of a project. Project communication includes general communication between team
members but is more encompassing. It utilizes the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for a
framework, it is customer focused, it’s limited in time, it is product focused with the end in
mind, and it involves all levels of the organization. Project Communication is the responsibility
of everyone on the project team. Communication theory is the discipline that studies the
principles of transmitting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio
or television, etc.). A "communication theory" is an attempted explanation of how and why
humans communicate meaningfully with each other.

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 2. Communication Models
Communication models refer to the conceptual frameworks or theories that explain the way of
human communication. It also represents the entire process of communication between the
sender and the receiver. The communication model tries to answer the 5Ws and 1H questions;
for example, what is communication? Who is involved in this process? When does it happen?
Where does it take place? Why does it occur? And finally, how does the communication
happen? Additionally, communication models contribute to developing many other theories and
models. For example, the communication models are the basis of the mediated
communication technology adoption models. Furthermore, communication models explain
the elements of the communication process, for example, context, sender, receiver, encoding,
decoding, channel, message, feedback, and noise. These are the components of communication
that describe the entire process of communication. However, some communication models do
not have all these elements or features. For example, the linear model of communication does
not have feedback. The communication model also explains the factors that prevent effective
communication, known as barriers or noise. Communication barriers or communication
noises bar effective communication processes. Communication models are systematic
representations of the process which helps in understanding how communication works can be
done. Models show the process metaphorically and in symbols. They form general perspectives
on communication by breaking communication from complex to simple and keep the
components in order. In order to explain the social process of communication, scholars have
developed several models. The three most well-known models for communication are Linear,
Interactional, and Transactional.
i. Linear Models of Communication
The linear communication model is a one-way interaction where feedback is not present. Linear
is the primary communication model, whereas the transactional model is formed based on the
linear model. The sender communicates with the receiver without receiving feedback. It also
represents the one-way process of communication.

Berlo’s SMCR Model of Communication. Berlo’s Model of Communication is the SMCR

model that includes the element of Source-Message-Channel-Receiver. David Berlo developed
Source-Message-Channel-Receiver in 1960. It is also known as the David Berlo SMCR model of

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communication. However, Berlo invented this model based on the Shannon-Weaver
communication model (1949). The four elements of David Berlo’s SMCR communication model
are the source, message, channel, and receiver. Berlo focuses on both verbal and nonverbal
communication elements to convey information.

ii. Interactive Models of Communication

The interactive communication model refers to the two-way method of communication with
feedback. However, feedback is not simultaneous, providing slow and indirect feedback.
Sometimes, the communication can be linear if receivers do not reply to senders. The interactive
model of communication indicates mediated and internet-based communication.

Westley, and Maclean’s models are interactive communication models. Westley and Maclean’s
interactive model of communication examines the communication process between sender and
receiver. Bruce Westley and Malcolm S. MacLean Jr. established the model in 1957. Westley
and Maclean’s communication model was adapted from Newcomb’s communication
and Lewin’s change management model. It represents the two-way communication process,
so feedback is subsisted in this model. It also explains interpersonal and mass communication.
The feedback is indirect and slow in mass communication, whereas feedback is direct and fast in
interpersonal communication. According to Westley and Maclean’s model, A represents the
sender, B represents the receiver, and C represents mass media. The interactive communication
process is more effective than linear communication.

Joseph A. DeVito defines human communication as “the act, by one or more persons, of sending
and receiving messages that are distorted by noise, occur within a context, have some effect, and
provide some opportunity for feedback. With communication comes a purpose; whether that may
be when we speak or write, we are trying to send a message in order to accomplish a goal. There
are different elements included in every communication act; these are sources-receivers,
messages (feed-forward and feedback), context (physical and social-psychological), channel,
noise (physical and psychological) and effects.

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iii. Transactional Models of Communication
The transactional communication model seems like a two-way communication process with
immediate feedback. Simultaneous feedback is the essential component of the transitional
models of communication. So, the communication process will not become transactional without
feedback. The feedback is direct and very fast. The receiver is compelled to provide instant
feedback. The major difference between the interactive and transactional models is indirect and
direct feedback. For example, Dance’s helical model of communication, in 1967, Frank Dance
introduced the transactional communication model called the helical communication model. The
author initially named Dance’s Helix communication model. Frank Dance used helix to develop
the model that describes the complex communication process. Helix, meaning spiral staircase.
Communication gets more extended when it grows up like a helix. Communication is an
evolutionary and dynamic process with feedback. Any communication starts from a small circle
when the communicators share little information about themselves. Communication expands
boundaries when people share more personal information. Finally, the relationship grows up
gradually to reach the top level.
3. Conclusions
Communication determines and influences the relationship between the project manager and
project members and how the members work to attain the set project goals. Communication also
enhances contribution and sharing of ideas from all the project members. Communication models
refer to the conceptual frameworks or theories that explain the way of human communication. It
also represents the entire process of communication between the sender and the receiver. The
communication model tries to answer the 5Ws and 1H questions. The linear communication
model is a one-way interaction where feedback is not present. It also represents the one-way
process of communication. The interactive communication model refers to the two-way method
of communication with feedback. The interactive model of communication indicates mediated
and internet-based communication. The transactional communication model seems like a two-
way communication process with immediate feedback. Simultaneous feedback is the essential
component of the transitional models of communication.

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 4. References
Berlo, D. K. (1960). The process of communication; an introduction to theory and practice.
New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Dance, F. E. X. (1967). Toward a theory of human communication. In F. E. X. Dance (Ed.).
Human communication theory: Original essays. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Project Communication Handbook ( 2007). The second edition of the project communication
handbook.
Pedro Andrade Rodríguez (2017). Conceptual model of communication theories within project
process. INNOVA Research Journal 2017, Vol 2, No. 3, 42-51