Business Commentary

Management Professor and Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives Donna De Carolis, Ph.D., did a business commentary covering office communication and how email, instant messaging, cell phones and texting are supposed to facilitate communication within an office but instead are causing communication breakdowns. Different generations use different methods of communication, boomers prefer email and cell phones and face to face communication. Generation Y prefer instant messaging, email and cell phones while Generation X prefer cell phones and texting and avoid emailing. This causes disparity in the workplace since everyone might not be using the same means of communication. Companies are now setting rules of communication when sending out messages establishing what methods are appropriate for different situations.