6 min readConcept sheetOften a 10-mark answer with a diagram

The communication process

A sender encodes an idea into a message and sends it through a channel. The receiver decodes it and gives feedback. Noise can disturb any stage.

Linear modelShannon and Weaver: sender → channel → receiver, with noise

Two-way modelAdds feedback, so the process becomes a loop

StagesIdea → encode → channel → receive → decode → feedback

NoiseAnything that distorts the meaning, at any stage

The communication process

back to Sender has an idea

Draw it as a loop. Without the feedback arrow it becomes one-way (linear) communication.

The stages explained

1
Idea (ideation)
The sender decides what to say and why: to inform, ask, persuade or instruct.
2
Encoding
The sender turns the idea into words, numbers, pictures or gestures the receiver will understand.
3
Choosing the channel
Face to face, phone, letter, email, notice or meeting, chosen to suit the message and the receiver.
4
Transmission
The message travels through the channel.
5
Receiving
The receiver hears, reads or sees the message.
6
Decoding
The receiver interprets the symbols and gives them a meaning, based on his or her own knowledge and experience.
7
Feedback
The receiver responds. The sender learns whether the message was understood and can correct it.
•
Noise
Not a stage: any disturbance, such as a weak phone signal, jargon, anger or a noisy room.

One-way and two-way communication

One-way (linear)Sender to receiver with no feedback. Fast and orderly, e.g. a notice on the board or a radio advert. The risk: a misunderstanding goes unnoticed.

Two-wayIncludes feedback. Slower, but more accurate, and it builds confidence, e.g. a meeting or a phone call where questions are welcome.

Most textbooks treat two-way communication as the more effective form for business.

Example: tracing the process in a real message

Problem

Kasun Jayasinghe, branch manager of Pahan Hardware Stores (a fictional company) in Kurunegala, wants his five sales staff to start the monthly stock count at 4.00 p.m. on Friday. Trace the communication process.

Working

Idea: Kasun needs the stock count started early so it ends before closing time.
Encoding: he writes a short message in Sinhala: “Stock count starts this Friday at 4.00 p.m. Please finish your counters first.”
Channel: he posts it in the branch WhatsApp group and also pins a printed copy near the staff room.
Receiving and decoding: four staff read it and understand. One assistant's phone is off all day (technical noise), so she misses the WhatsApp message.
Feedback: four staff reply “OK”. Kasun notices one reply is missing and tells the fifth assistant in person.
Result: all five know the time, because feedback showed Kasun where the message had failed.

Answer

Idea → encoded in simple Sinhala → sent by two channels → received and decoded → feedback revealed one gap (noise) → the sender corrected it face to face. Feedback made the message complete.

In Sri Lankan business

When a mobile operator such as Dialog sends a bill reminder by SMS, the customer's payment, or a call to the hotline, is the feedback. A weak signal in a rural area is technical noise, and an SMS in a language the customer does not read is semantic noise.

Exam angle

Essay: “Explain the communication process with a neat diagram.” Draw the loop; explain idea, encoding, channel, receiving, decoding and feedback; explain noise with examples; give one business example; close on why feedback matters.

Short answer: “What is encoding?” Encoding is turning an idea into a message (words, numbers, symbols or gestures) that the receiver can understand.

Structured question: “Distinguish between one-way and two-way communication.” Define each, say that two-way has feedback, compare speed, accuracy and confidence, and give one business example of each.

Remember it

I-E-C-R-D-F: Idea, Encode, Channel, Receive, Decode, Feedback. Noise can strike anywhere.