How did your interpretation of the message change from one modality to the next?
In the email Jane wrote to Mark, it sounds like she is sincerely asking for his report so that she can complete her assignment. She knows he has been busy but she really needs his help right now in completing her report. Her wording makes it seem as though if she doesn’t get his report she will miss her deadline soon. As I listened to the message and saw the face-to-face conversation her tone and body language seemed as though she was really frustrated and at wits end by his delays in getting her the report. She sounded like she had repeatedly asked and had gotten no response from Mark.
What factors influenced how you perceived the message?
In an email you would have to type in all capitals or be blunt with the other party in order to know if someone were yelling or being rude to you. In a voicemail you can listen for tonality and know if the caller is intended to be rude or too direct. When you talk to someone face-to-face you can see their body language and hear the inflections in their voice and know exactly what they are trying to say to you when being addressed.
Which form of communication best conveyed the true meaning and intent of the message?
I believe the face-to-face message conveyed best how Jane was trying to communicate the importance of getting the report she needed from Mark. She expressed how her report depended on his and how she was not trying to rush him and he could just send her the data if he could.
What are the implications of what you learned from this exercise for communicating effectively with members of a project team?
The implications I can reflect on and use in the journey are many. Jane employed Stolovich’s tactics for effective communication. Jane remembered the spirit and attitude in which she was delivering the message. She also used the correct body language and tonality so that Mark would not feel pressured or intimidated by her request and she uses the correct timing in stating she needed the report or data soon so her report would not be late. Jane’s communication was clear and concise and helped him as well as her try to stay on target and not get off schedule. Jane makes the purpose of the email clear, states the situation and included a possible solution. She was also business-like and friendly during the communication. You have to be a diplomat in order to keep the lines of communication open among the team. You cannot alienate team members because you have your own personal agenda. Troy Achong states, “Everyone has an agenda and it is not the same as yours.” (Achong, 2012) You have to be willing to take a back seat sometime and not always voice your opinion. Remember it is for the good of the project and not your ego. No one knows everything and your ideas are not always the most insightful or profound.
References:
Stolovich, H. (2012). Project Management Concerns: Communication Strategy and Organizational Structure. [Video]. Laureate.
Ertmer, P., & Quinne, J. (2007). The ID Casebook: Case Studies in Instructional Design. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Achong, T. (2012). Project Management Concerns: Communication Strategy and Organizational Structure. [Video]. Laureate.
smacjackson 
As I’ve read through our classmates’ blogs, I’ve been amazed at how differently we all perceived the face-to-face video. What you saw as diplomatic, I saw as whining and insincere. I thought the voice mail was much more effective at emphasizing the urgency of the situation while providing all the important facts. I suspect that in the same situation, I would first write the email, for the documentation aspect, and then if I didn’t hear back within a day, I’d call, and hope that Mark picked up the phone so I didn’t have to leave a voice mail. Your last line, that our ideas are not always the most insightful, is a good reminder that even though we may perceive a message as positive or negative, what we really need to do is pay attention to the words of the message, and respond appropriately.