1.
One consulting firm has predicted that video and Web conferencing will
makebusiness travel extinct. Do you agree? Why or why not? (arissa!
We believe that video and web conferencing is a much more viable option for businesses in todays
day and age and will in deed supersede business travel. Businesses that are finding that they are
spending a significant amount on unnecessary travel will soon be taking the video/ web conferencing
option to save money.
Case Study, irtual !eetings" Smart !anagement states that #ideoconferencing is now growing at
an annual rate of $% percent&. 'his confirms that videoconferencing is on the increase therefore we
can only assume that business travel must be decreasing and will eventually be non(e)istent.
ideo/ web conferencing has become easily accessible for most businesses around the world and is
much more convenient than organising flights and accommodation to attend those important
meetings. 'here is less risk of not being able to attend a meeting due to flight delays or cancellations
and if a meeting has been cancelled at the last minute there will be no e)penses due to flight or
accommodation cancellation charges.
'here are a variety of video conferencing products in the market as well as web based programs
making this option readily available to businesses. ideoconferencing products can be a significant
e)pense incurred at the start but these costs will mean a large saving on travel e)penses that will
either be reduced or no longer e)ist. !ost web based conferencing products are free so this would
mean no initial out lay. 'hese free programs are not always of the best *uality but are a good option to
test out if video/ web conferencing is the best way forward for a business.
'hese options would take away the #face(to(face& factor of a meeting and the personal touch such as
a handshake that some clients, customers or suppliers desire when they are having business dealings
with a company but with the worlds advancing technology they can now make it feel like a person on
the other side of the world is actually right there in the room with you.
Benefits of ideo and Web conferencing +'ravel and associated e)penses will be reduced
+,ncrease in productivity as managers/employees will no longer be re*uired to leave the office for
hours or even days at a time for meetings. +'he ability to communicate more often with others
+,nformed decisions can be made faster +-nvironmentally friendly, reducing the companies carbon
footprint. ./olycom 0act Sheet 1'he 'op 0ive Benefits of ideo Conferencing 2 3ll of these benefits far
outweigh the benefits of business travel. (WO"D #O$%& '11!
"eferences(
Case Study, Virtual Meetings: Smart Management
Polycom Fact Sheet "The Top Five Benefits of Video Conferencing
http:!!"""#ivci#com!international$videoconferencing$ne"s$"hitepapers#html
).What are the ways in which videoconferencing provides value to a business*
inparticular the business communication processes? Would you consider it
smartmanagement? +xplain your answer. ("ay!
4ey /oints
5p to 6%7 of business travel could be replaced by virtual meeting technology
ideo Conference allows individuals at 6 or more locations to communicate simultaneously
3llows for better meetings and is easier to meet with partners , suppliers , subsidiaries and
colleagues in office or around the world
3llows for meeting contacts that may have been inaccessible for various travel or budgetary
constraints
8elps , designers , marketers and manufacturers collaborate on new products
Companies that are financially able to use this technology report large savings in travel and
accommodation costs
8elps companies meet its green environmental goals is necessary
-specially helpful for training and sales presentations
!ore employees may be able to work closer to home and balance work and personal lives
more efficiently
(Rough Draft)
'he acceptance of videoconferencing as part of the normal business practice provides many
organi9ations the ability to provide its stakeholders with a more complete and concise way of
communicating within the internal environment of the business, it also allows the organi9ation a
deliberate form of communication that is directly related to its e)ternal environment. By utili9ing the full
potential of video conferencing facilities a business will be providing value to its organi9ation in
several forms , most notably, the ability to allow for better meetings with partners , suppliers and work
colleagues either within the office or at various locations around the world. ideo Conferencing also
provides a collaborative forum for designers , marketers and manufacturers when preparing for the
launch or pre design of new products and reduces the time to market for a new product by up to 6:7
./olycom 6%%; ,Benchmarking the Benefits of ideoconferencing <eployments2
ideo Conferencing also provides a clearer channel of communication that may be more accessible
for certain stakeholders of the organi9ation dependent on location or budgetary constraints , this
allows for conducting meetings with other companies or employees that may be based in remote
areas. 'he ability of organi9ations now to dedicate video conferencing aimed at their sales
departments that can be used for training or presentations on various products or re(enforcement of
core values of the business. 'he effectiveness of video conferencing is also immediate as it provides
an opportunity of employees to interact with each other from various locations within the organi9ation
that may not have been possible due to various factors of geographical or cost.
ideo Conferencing can be considered smart management if it helps achieve the goals of the
organi9ation in an efficient and effective manner , by utili9ing this form of communication it aids in the
planning , organi9ing , leading and controlling of the organi9ation whilst also nurturing a business that
is not constrained by geographical or regional conditions. !any organi9ations that have utili9ed this
type of communication have reali9ed costs saving on travel and accommodation of up to 6%7 whilst
also reporting an increase in reaching customers and partners, so in effect providing an more effective
and efficient way of achieving the goals of the organi9ation. (WO"D #O$%& ,--!
