Lines of communication are channels for sharing information, used in military operations and corporate structures. They can pass through individuals or technology. In political disputes, lines of communication are established through neutral intermediaries and technology. Military lines of communication include physical and technological links. Companies use lines of communication to connect with employees and customers through email, intranet sites, and customer service help desks. Advertising and marketing campaigns allow for one-way communication.
Lines of communication are channels through which people share information. The term is often used in discussions of military operations, although it is also used in the corporate world to refer to internal communication structures and how companies share information with customers. Sometimes lines of communication pass through specific individuals while in other cases people use the term to refer to means of communication such as telephone lines of computer networks.
During political disputes, government agencies often attempt to establish lines of communication with rebel groups or protesters. The process begins when a representative of one party attempts to establish direct contact with someone who is involved with the other party involved in the dispute. Initially, lines of communication may pass through a neutral intermediary and this individual must attempt to establish a direct line of communication between the two parties. When both sides have agreed to enter into direct talks, an actual line of communication such as a telephone link or video conference needs to be set up. Thus, the lines of communication in political or legal disputes are often made up of people and technology.
Communication lines within the military arena are conduits through which both information and equipment can pass. Armies need to establish communication lines in the conflict field so that different groups of soldiers are able to stay in constant contact and help each other. Military lines of communication often include hubs such as forts or installations, and these locations are connected by both physical links, such as roads, and technological links which can take the form of satellite phone links or email links. When a war reaches its conclusion, military leaders on both sides usually develop lines of communication with each other so that a ceasefire or surrender can be agreed.
Companies have lines of communication that allow company directors to communicate with lower-level employees. Some communication channels such as corporate email or intranet sites allow executives to connect directly with all employees of the company. In other cases, lines of communication pass through several layers of management, in which case individual managers are used as information channels. Employees can also use email or managerial chains of command to relay information to company executives.
Businesses need to establish lines of communication with customers. These can take the form of customer service help desks manned by employees equipped to deal with customer issues. Companies also use advertising and marketing campaigns to convey information to consumers about products and services, but these types of channels only allow for one-way communication.
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