MGT269 – BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION
VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Picture, tables, charts and diagrams that can aid the sender’s
expression of an idea and the receiver’s understanding
What is VISUAL Communication?
POWER OF VISUALS
BENEFITS OF USING VISUALS
Add another sensory channel to the oral communication
process.
Visuals improves efficiencies:
◦ Improve group consensus.
◦ Less time spent in discussing decisions.
◦ Less time spent in meeting.
◦ Highly significant improvements in audience action.
Visual improves audience’s:
◦ Attention.
◦ Comprehension (understanding).
◦ Agreement.
◦ Retention.
◦ Action.
IMPROVE COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVENESS
Audience perceive presenter as more:
IMPROVE AUDIENCE’S PERCEPTION
“A picture is worth a thousand words”.
Visualization encourages preliminary & early organization &
planning.
Poor presenter using visuals can be as effective as good
presenters not using visuals.
IMPROVE SPEAKER’S CONFIDENCE
ADVANTAGES OF USING VISUALS
Purpose Application
To clarify Support text description of “graphics” topics; quantitative or numerical information,
explanations of trends, descriptions
To simplify Break complicated descriptions into components that can be depicted with the
conceptual models, flowcharts, organization charts or diagram
To emphasize Call attention to particularly important points by illustrating them with line, bar and
pie charts
To summarize Review major points in the narrative by providing a chart or table that sums up the
data
To reinforce Present information in visual and written form to increase reader’s retention
To attract Make material seem more interesting by decorating the cover or title page and by
breaking up the text with visual aids
To impress Build credibility by putting ideas into visual form to convey the impression of
authenticity and precision
To unify Depict the relationship among points – for example, with a flowchart
WHEN TO USE VISUAL
TYPES OF VISUALS
A systematic arrangement of data in columns and rows
Helpful in consolidating (combining) info.
Ideal when audience needs the info what would be either difficult or
tedious to handle in the main text.
Uses
◦ To present groups of detail facts in a concise and readable form
◦ To help readers find particular facts quickly
◦ To compare features of products or process
Eg:
CLASSES FEMALE STUDENTS MALE STUDENTS
DBS 3A 32 15
DBS 3B 20 30
TABLES
Bar graph represents numbers by the height or length of its rectangular
bars so that a series of number will be easy to be read and understood.
Uses
◦ To compare quantities/size of several items at one time.
◦ To show changes in one item overtime (trends).
◦ To indicate the composition of a whole.
Vertical/ Column Bar Chart Horizontal Bar Chart Component Bar Chart
BAR GRAPHS
Line Graphs Pictorial Graph
Graphs of time series. Also known as pictograms
Uses It is a simplified bar charts to help
◦ To show trends and cycle those who do not understand the
◦ To compare trends usual presentation
Symbols are used to make visual
◦ To show the relationship of
two or more variables e.g. impact
relationship between sales and
profit
Years
= 10,000 trees
2003
2002
2001
2000
No of trees
LINE GRAPH & PICTORIAL GRAPH
Pie Chart Gant Chart
Shows how a whole is divided into Identifies the major steps in a
parts. project and tells when they will
The different values of are drawn in
be performed. Also tracks the
proportion to the slices of the pie
progress towards completing the
May be constructed on a percentage
project
basis, or actual figures
Example below shows a chart
The circle which is divided into
segments adds up to 100% that depicts the progress of a
Effective way of to show new computer system
percentages or compare one segment installation.
with another
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
Design
Test
Implementation
Feedback
PIE CHART & GANT CHART
Flowchart Organizational chart
• Useful in presenting a series of Represent the arrangement of
steps in a process or procedure people and department in an
organization and the way they
interrelate.
FLOWCHART & ORGANIZATIONAL
CHART
Uses
Visual appeal
To show the appearance of something the reader have
never seen
To show the condition of something
To help reader recognize something
PICTURES
Communication Challenge Effective Visual Choice
To present individual, exact values Table
Show trends or relationships over time Line charts, bar charts
Compare two or more sets of data
To show frequency or distribution of parts in a whole Pie chart
To show geographic relationship or comparisons Map
To illustrate processes or procedures Flowchart/Diagram
To show spatial relationship (realistic) Picture
Summary - Selecting the Best Visuals
PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE VISUAL DESIGN
You are preparing the annual report for FretCo Guitar Corporation. For
each of the following types of information, select the right chart or visual
to illustrate the text. Explain your choices.
1. Data on annual sales for the past 20 years
2. Comparison of FretCo Sales product by product for this year and last
year
3. Explanation of how a FretCo acoustic guitar is manufactured
4. Explanation of how of how FretCo market its product
5. Data on sales of FretCo products in each of 12 countries
6. Comparison of FretCo sales figures with competitor for the past 5
years
Activity – Selecting the Right Visual
The figures below show the number and percentage of unemployed graduates.
Based on the statistics given, draw a suitable graph with proper labeling to
depict the scenario. Make your own analysis from the statics, form conclusion
and propose recommendations.
COURSES NUMBER OF %
UNEMPLOYED
GRADUATES
COMPUTER SCIENCE 3942 19.5
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 3736 18.5
ENGINEERING 3096 15.3
ACCOUNTANCY 1923 9.5
LITERATURE & SOCIAL SCIENCES 1283 6.3
PURE & APPLIED SCIENCES 1303 6.4
ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING MANAGEMENT 540 2.7
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES & FORESTRY 401 2.0
HUMANITIES 3993 19.8
APRIL 2010
The above pie chart shows the numbers and percentages
(%) of unemployed graduates according to courses
taken. (1m)
The statistics are based on nine (9) different courses.
They are agri….. (1m)
The highest percentage/number of unemployed students
are from the Humanities that takes 19.8 %. (1M)
This could be because of a limited job opportunities/high
competition among grads.(1M)
Encourage entrepreneurial venture.
