Open Leadership Wiki

Methods of Communication

Method of communication: Email

Category: different place, different time

Applicable to:

    * Coordination of small groups (up to 3 people)
    * Activity Checks
    * Distributing information to a large group of individuals
    * Any other contact with individuals who appear to no longer use CyberArmy resources

Advantages:

    * Ease of use
    * Widely used medium, therefore readily available
    * File transfer capabilities
    * E-mails can be kept for later reference

Disadvantages:

    * Office-Spam, i.e. unecessary copies costing work time
    * Expectation of quick replies no matter how complicated the issue
    * Threat of arguments getting out of hand since the difference in time makes correction of misinterpretations difficult
    * SPAM cluddering inboxes
    * SPAM filters "junking" legitimate e-mail

Method of communication: CAIRC

Category: different place, same time

Applicable to:

    * Coordination of small to medium-sized groups
    * Private Conversations
    * Communication across all of CyberArmy

Advantages:

    * Centralized channels for brigades/projects
    * Group identity
    * Promotes interpersonal relationships
    * File transfer capabilities
    * Immediate resolution of discussions and problems

Disadvantages:

    * Time differences globally can make it difficult to arrange meetings

Method of communication: Instant Messaging

Category: different place, same time

Applicable to:

    * Activity Check
    * Private Conversations
    * Communication across small groups (three-way conversations, group chat)???

Advantages:

    * Alternative place to find inactive members
    * File transfer capabilities

Disadvantages:

    * Inefficient way to hold large meetings

Method of communication: Forums

Category: different place, different time

Applicable to:

    * Organized communication across large groups
    * Discussion where real-time is not needed

Advantages:

    * Group identity
    * Centralized place for discussion and information
    * Easy to check for new information
    * Disscussion is recorded for later reference

Disadvantages:

    * Inactive members may not check forums

Method of communication: cMS

Category: different place, different time

Applicable to:

    * Messages to entire groups of people
    * Private Messages with individuals
    * CyberArmy internal communication

Advantages:

    * One-way communications to large groups of people
    * Alternative way to reach people who aren't present on CAIRC/IM
    * cMSes can be kept for later reference

Disadvantages:

    * Ineffective for discussions among groups
    * Inactive members may not check cMS

Method of communication: Telephone

Category different place, same time

Applicable to:

    * Private conversation between individuals
    * Coordination of small groups of people (three-way calling, conference calls)

Advantages:

*

Disadvantages:

    * Expense on long-distance and international calls
    * Need to gather phone numbers
    * Possible privacy invasion when calling internationally
    * May be difficult to arrange meetings due to time differences

Method of communication: Video Conferencing

Category: different place, same time

Applicable to:

    * Coordination of small groups
    * Discussions involving visual aids

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

    * High bandwidth requirements
    * Difficult to configure

Method of communication: Skype (VoIP)

Category: different place, same time

Applicable to:

    * Coordination of small groups

Advantages:

    * Less expensive than telephone

Disadvantages:

We have no advantages for telephones or video confrencds, and no disadvantages for Skype.