1. Effective cascade
of meeting
outcomes
Ayokunle Okanola-Biala
September, 2014

2. Introduction
 Effectively cascading the outcome of a meeting is as important, if not
more than the meeting itself.
 Distorted messages may not only be ineffective, but also produce just
the opposite of desired objectives
 Effective communication is a skill that can and should be acquired, and
this entails employing the right communication medium at the right
time
2

3. Modes of Communication
For the purpose of this presentation, I will classify the modes of communication
into different pairs of juxtaposition:
1. Personal vs Impersonal
2. Synchronous vs Asynchronous
3. Electronic vs Manual
4. Oral vs written
3

4. Means of Communication
Internet
4

5. Determinants of Means/Modes of Communication
 Urgency of the information
 Size of Audience
 Confidentiality
 Importance
 Status of the recipient
 Situational context
5

6. Dynamics of Information Cascade
Given it is known that the audience of the information to be cascaded is
geographically dispersed, I would approach the determination of the suitable means
of communication by considering 2 factors:
1. Importance of the message
2. Urgency of the message
Figure 1 (next slide) is a 2-dimensional chart showing the proposed means of
communication to be adopted under the four possible scenarios when both factors
are considered, which are:
Scenario 1: Urgent and Important Information
Scenario 2: Urgent but not important information
Scenario 3: Important but not urgent information
Scenario 4: Information lacking importance and not urgent.
6

7. Dynamics of Information Cascade
Figure 1: Dynamics of Communication
Importance
Low High
Low High
Urgency
Email; Intranet
Town hall session;
webcasts;
videoconferencing
Text message
broadcast; Email
Organisation’s website,
notice board; social
media
Source: Author
7
Newspaper;

8. Subordinates
 In order to communicate the outcome of the meeting to staff, I would consider
using email in the first instance. If the information to be cascaded is expected
to elicit questions and answers, I would arrange for the creation of a intranet
portal (if it doesn’t yet exist) where the message can be pasted, questions
asked and feedback given.
 If the information is important, sensitive but not urgent, organising a live
webcast or video conferencing of the various staff locations (in groups) may be
applicable.
8
Application

9. Clients
 Urgent and important information could be communicated by email. Blind-copying
the recipients will be appropriate if information is competition
sensitive.
 Unimportant and non-urgent information may be published in national dailies
or the organisation’s website.
9
Application (continued)

10. Suppliers
10
Application (continued)
 As for clients, urgent and important information could be communicated by
email. Blind-copying the recipients will be appropriate if information is
competition sensitive.
 Unimportant and non-urgent information may be published in national dailies
or the organisation’s website.
 Furthermore, if the information is important but not urgent, I would consider
calling a face-to-face meeting with suppliers.
 Commercial information could also be shared via electronic data interchange
platforms where they exist

11. Thank you
11