Business English
ENG 201
Fall 17-18
Importance of Proper Communication at Work: Case Study: Toyota
Submitted to
Dr.Marwan Alsaifi
Submitted by
Rashed Abdulla Al Farsi
ID: #201320986
Introduction
“Effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills are valuable in the workplace. Some
companies spend a lot of money to train their employees on how to effectively communicate.
Good communication skills go beyond conversations, but employees must know how to
communicate well in written reports and emails. Understanding the benefits of effective
communication helps companies place a focus on developing a workforce that is able to
communicate within the firm and with customers, vendors and international business partners.”
(Johnson, 2017)
In this report we discuss the importance of proper communication in Toyota Company.
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The importance of proper communication in Toyota Company
“For an organization effective communication between employees is very important
factor. Data flows sideways, forward and backward in an organization from Top to Bottom and
Bottom to Top approach. This flow of data is called communication in an organization. Main
factor of communication is a response mechanism between the supervision and workforce. This
mechanism means employees understand the task or process given by the supervision or vice
versa. Communication is very important factor in an organisation, if the communication between
the employees from Top to Bottom and Bottom to Top approach is not proper then employees
message not go to supervision board and supervision board message not come to employees
properly and employees always feel suspicious about the motive and task. Therefore for growth
of Multinational Organization the channels for communication marked as the main factor. Flow
of information is divided into three groups in every Multinational Organization Formal, Informal
and Unofficial and these flows of information are called Communication channels.
Communication is generally divided into three parts Oral, Written and Body Language. Methods
used for communication in MNC are Video conferencing, Phone, Meetings, Radio, TV, Face to
Face, Intranet, Emails, Fax, Letters, Memos, Reports, Manuals, Printed Materials, Audio CD and
Video CD's etc. Models used for communication between employees in MNC are Shannon's
Model, Berlo's Model and Schramm's Model.” (Essays, UK, 2015)
“In Toyota Motors Corporation there are several communication methods by which
employees share their ideas, information, opinions and feelings. The following are some of the
methods: news-letter, face to face, notice board, memo, e-mail, telephone, cell phone, text
messages, and instant messaging. The sharing ideas, information, opinions and feelings
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contribute to the operations of teams and the work of individuals within the corporation.”
(Toyota Motor Corporation Internal Communication Practices, 2008)
“Due to their communication effectiveness Toyota Corporation has always done
wonderful business of selling cars. In fact, Toyota Corporation has been rated as the best motor
vehicle company that produces the best cars and the most cars that are in demand all over the
world. It produces passenger cars, buses, sport utility vehicles, trucks, and vans. In addition,
Toyota owns companies that manufacture such products as rubber, steel, and textiles.” (Toyota
Motor Corporation Internal Communication Practices, 2008)
“Therefore, Toyota Motor Corporation has formulated ideas and techniques for both
front-line employees and managers. The Toyota Corporation has strategized and defined skills
that better their internal communication which make the staff more effective, work easier, faster,
and more satisfying. For example, the managers or leaders, use internal memo, letters, face to
face, mail, e-mail, telephone, cell phone, news-letter, notice board, text messaging to make the
team or department more productive, aids in employee retention, and this makes work easier.”
(Toyota Motor Corporation Internal Communication Practices, 2008)
“Communication in Toyota Motor Corporation uses both downward and upward
communication. The following pattern is followed in downward communication. Downward
Communication flows from supervisor to employee, from policy makers to operating personnel,
or from top to bottom on the organization chart. As messages move downward through
successive levels of the organization, they seem to get larger. A simple policy statement from the
top of the organization may grow into a formal plan for operation at lower levels.” (Toyota
Motor Corporation Internal Communication Practices, 2008)
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“Consequently, in Toyota Motors Corporation staff also uses uses communication that is
feedback that goes back up the hierarchy. Upward communication generally is feedback to
downward communication. Although necessary and valuable, upward communication does
contain risks. When management requests information from lower organizational levels, the
resulting information becomes feedback to that request. Employees talk to supervisors about
themselves, their fellow employees, their work and methods of doing it, and their perceptions of
the organization. These comments are feedback to the downward flow transmitted in both spoken
and written form by group meetings, procedures or operations manuals, company news releases,
and the grapevine.” (Toyota Motor Corporation Internal Communication Practices, 2008)
“The exchange of information and messages between an organization and other
organizations, groups, or individuals outside its formal structure is termed External
communication. An effective external communication with product quality ensures enhancement
of company reputation and public image. Toyota operates a separate external communication
department guided by a corporate manager, under the mainstream corporate communication.
Toyota follows a set of guiding principles in which principles 2 and 6 focuses on corporate
communication activities.” (Essays, UK, 2015)
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Conclusion
“This report has focused on the importance of external communications citing best
practices adopted by the giant Japanese car maker - Toyota. Barriers to communications
specifically to Japanese companies were highlighted. Further, shortcomings in the effectiveness
of external communication at Toyota and its impact on the company's brand image were
illustrated. It is also evident from the analysis above that Toyota was not able to handle the crisis
situation which clearly depicts that crisis management is also vital for effective functioning of
organization.” (Essays, UK, 2015)
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Bibliography
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Johnson, R. (2017). What Are the Benefits of Effective Communication in the Workplace?
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