What do you do within the company?
Project Manager in a Branch office for an Architectural Firm.
What kind of communications does your company use?
E-mail, Phone, Video Conference, IM, Letters, Memos.
Are face-to-face meetings far more effective then any other method of communication?
Yes. Without a doubt. Building Committee meetings, client meetings, sub-committee meetings, contractor and consultant meetings. Yes, I spend half of my 50 hour week in meetings
How do you feel you could increase efficiency within your own company?
Eliminate or combine meetings. I see an excessive amount of papaerwork, that has to be documented. Probably the best way to increase efficiency, is to start shooting lawyers. We need to document when it was sent, who it was sent to, when it was sent, and how it was sent. On top of that, when it was recieved. So any one page memo will automatically develop into a 6 page document.
What is your preferred method of communication within your company?
Internally, via phone or video conference. Extensive conference calls, and e-mail. Preference depends on what the communication entails. Person to person (immediate action item) would necessitate a phone call), person to person (w/ days advance notice) via e-mail or memo. Both have to be documented with a memo to file of CC of the e-mail.
Does your company keep minutes?
Minutes of everything. Very desctriptive, and reviewed by at least three people before publishing in the company, then reviewed by the boss, before issuing to the public. Phone logs of conversations, and actions to be undertaken. E-mails are CC to a project file, printed weekly, and added to the project file.
What method of communication is the most effective and cost-protective?
Video Conference. Without a doubt. No travel time, it's face to face, and you can talk in real time. I've been advocating for webcams on the Branch PC's back to people in the main office. Beats picking up the phone and you can read body language.
As an additional note, any correspondence that goes via mail will be sent FEDEX or UPS, with Tracking numbers and transmittal covers.
Hope this helps.
AO
