Communication on site

Principles of building construction, information and communication

​Communication on site

Communication is the process or tool which people use to exchange or pass on information.

There are many ways to communicate.

Objectives

After successful completion of this task, you should be able to:

State the categories and methods of communication used on construction sites.

Explain the importance of communication.

Explain key personnel involved in day-to-day communication.

Explain how the key personnel involved in day-to-day communication on site communicate.

​Communication methods

​Verbal or oral communication (talking) is an example.

This includes:
Group discussions.
Meetings, face-to-face, one-to-one.
Lectures.
Telephone conversations.
video links.

Multiple Select

Group discussions is an example of?​

• Verbal Communication.

• Oral Communication.

• Written Communication.

• Electronic Communication.

Multiple Select

Meetings and lectures are an example of?

'Select those which apply'

• Electronic Communication.

• Written Communication?

• Verbal Communication?

• Oral Communication?

Multiple Select

Face-to-Face, One-to-One and One on One are all types of?

'Select those which apply'

• Written Communication.

• Electronic Communication.

• Verbal Communication.

• Oral Communication.

Multiple Select

Telephone conversations and Video links like MS Teams or Skype are all types of?

'Select those which apply'

• Verbal Communication.

• Electronic Communication.

• Written Verbal Communication.

• Oral Written Communication.

​Electronic communication.

Involves using electronic equipment.
Telephone (cable or satellite)
Video calling.
Fax machines.
Television and radio.
Computers – email and the Internet.
Mobile phones - Text message etc

​Communication methods

Multiple Select

Electronic communication involves using electronic equipment. Select those which apply.

• Telephone.

• Video calling equipment.

• Fax machine.

• Memo.

Multiple Choice

Television and Radio are both types of?

• Oral Written Communication.

• Electronic Communication.

• Written Memo's for example.

• Letters – personal and official.

Multiple Select

Computers – Email and the Internet are not types of.

• Oral Communication.

• Written Communication

• Verbal Communication.

• Electronic Communication.

​Verbal communication is the quickest and most common method of communicating, although it can easily be forgotten.

We use speech in two ways:

​Formal – at work, during interviews, on the telephone to customers.

​Informal – general conversations with your friends and relatives etc; chatting to people.

Multiple Select

The big problem with Verbal / Oral communication, is that the information can?

• easily be remembered.

• easily be forgotten.

• be misunderstood

• be misinterpreted

Multiple Select

Verbal communication generally takes two forms, which two?

• Abnormal

• Inter dimensional

• Informal

• Formal

Multiple Select

General conversations with your friends and relatives or chatting to people in general would be considered?

• Ignoble

• Informal

• Formal

• Noble

​Communication methods

​Written communication methods include:
Letters – personal and official.
Memos and notes – short and precise.
Timesheets – various forms.
Invoices – used to bill customers.
Drawings and sketches.
Specifications.
Schedules – lists of building components
Graphs and charts – used to display data.

Multiple Select

Written communication methods include?

• letters – personal and official

• memos and notes – short and precise

• timesheets – various forms

• Video call - to a friend or relative

Multiple Select

Written communication methods include?

• graphs and charts – used to display data.

• schedules – lists of building components.

• specifications.

• talking on the phone to your boss.

Multiple Choice

Drawings and Sketches are?

• Written communication methods.

• Electronic communication methods.

• Verbal communication methods.

• Oral communication methods.

Multiple Select

invoices – used to bill customers are?

• Written electronic communication.

• Written Communication.

• Oral Intervention.

• Verbal Diarrhea.

​Communication methods you are likely to use.

​As far as you and your job within the construction industry are concerned, you are most likely to use the following methods of verbal communication:

​Informal conversations.
Formal conversations.
Receiving instructions.
Telephone calls.
Taking part in meetings.
Oral presentations.

Multiple Select

As far as you and your job within the construction industry are concerned, you are most likely to use the following methods of verbal communication?

'Select those which apply'

• informal conversations.

• formal conversations.

• receiving instructions.

• telephone calls.

• taking part in meetings.

Multiple Select

As far as you and your job within the construction industry are concerned, you are most likely to use the following methods of verbal communication?

'Select those which apply'

• oral presentations

• formal conversations

• graphs and charts – used to display data.

• timesheets – various forms.

​Good Communication Practice.

​When speaking, you should remember to:
Speak clearly without shouting.
Vary the tone and pitch of your voice.
Pronounce words correctly.
Never speak too quickly.
Make use of humour when speaking.
Avoid Jargon, nicknames or colloquialisms

Drag and Drop

When speaking, you should remember to​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Speak clearly without shouting

Vary the tone and pitch of your voice

Pronounce words correctly

Never speak too quickly

Make use of humour when speaking

​Using the telephone.

You receive a rapid response.

​It is accessible and can be used by people of all abilities and employment statuses.

​​Using the telephone has many advantages:

​It is used by every firm, company or organisation throughout the world.

It has a global network.

​The equipment is both simple and easy to use.

Categorize

Options (11)

It is accessible and can be used by people of all abilities and employment statuses

You receive a rapid response.

It is used by every firm, company or organisation throughout the world.

It has a global network.

The equipment is both simple and easy to use.

Bad line or signal.

Could get cut off half way through.

If you've never met, are you actually talking to the right person?

No record of what was said unless recorded.

Someone else could be listening.

You could be overheard, others can hear what you are talking about.

Using the telephone has many advantages, there are also disadvantages. Categorise the following.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Security issue.

Reliability issue.

​When ever using the telephone.
It is important to use the telephone correctly. Remember the basic rules – think TCP:

TONE

CLARITY

PACE

​Importance of communication

​Construction sites are information-intensive environments.
Various construction personnel in the field need large amounts of information, ranging from project design drawings to personal diaries to support their ongoing work.
The efficiency and effectiveness of the construction process strongly depends on the quality of communication.
Communication is important and can be positive if handled well.
It can also be hurtful, depending on how it is done and the words that are used. Communication needs to be open and sensitive, as well as appropriate to the situation.
The amount of information required by an individual can change according to the circumstances.

Multiple Choice

Various construction personnel in the field need *********** amounts of information. What is the missing word?

• Tint.

• Small.

• Medium.

• Large.

Multiple Select

Which of these suffer if there is poor communication on site?

• efficiency.

• effectiveness.

• productivity.

• profitability.

• morale.

Multiple Choice

Communication does NOT need to be open and sensitive, as well as appropriate to the situation.

The amount of information required by an individual can change according to the circumstances.

• True

• False

​Importance of communication.
Good communication is important, as it can help to:
Increase work productivity.
Ensure smooth day-to-day running of the site.
Enhance morale and friendship among the workforce.
Encourage quick relaying of information between members of the workforce.

Reduce unseen costs to do with:

Storage of materials, making sure this is done correctly avoiding unnecessary damage.

Damage due to poor handling, storage, installation.

Returned deliveries, because the delivery driver couldn't be sure it was the right place.

slow work progress, because there is a lot of misunderstanding, no one knows what is going on and what is supposed to happen.

Categorize

Options (10)

increase work productivity

ensure smooth day-to-day running of the site

reduce unseen costs – storage, damage, returned deliveries, slow work progress

enhance morale and friendship among the workforce

encourage quick relaying of information between members of the workforce

reduce work productivity

hinder smooth day-to-day running of the site

increase unseen costs – storage, damage, returned deliveries, slow work progress

damage morale and friendship among the workforce

discourage quick relaying of information between members of the workforce

Good communication is important, as it can help to?

Good communication will?

Poor communication will?

​Architects
Directors
Clerks of works
Site managers
Builders’ merchants
Charge hands
Tradespeople
Operatives
Delivery drivers

​On site there are key personnel who communicate with each other on a day-to-day basis:

​Key personnel

Categorize

Options (16)

Architects

Directors

Clerks of works

Site managers

Charge hands

Delivery drivers

Plumber

Electrician

Painter & Decorator

Plasterer

Carpenter & Joiner

Bricklayer

Ground workers

Roofer

Engineers

Surveyor

On site there are key personnel who communicate with each other on a day-to-day basis: Categorise them.

Professionals or professions

Management

Trades

Operatives

​Key personnel

​How key personnel communicate:

​Architect to directors / clerk of works / site managers

​Directors / clerk of works to site managers

​Site managers to tradesman

​Site managers to builders merchants

​tradesman to operatives

​operatives to tradesman

Categorize

Options (4)

verbal, electronic

verbal, electronic.

verbal, electronic, written

verbal, electronic, written.

How key personnel communicate: Categorise these.

Tradesperson to tradesperson

Trades person to operative

Managers to Builders Merchants

directors / clerk of works to managers