Choose a business communication method
Select among common communication methods based on urgency, audience, detail and confidentiality.
Exam scope and assessment notes
Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies 0450, 2026 syllabus, Version 2. Use the 2026 A*–G route; this qualification changes to 0264 for first assessment in 2027. Candidates are not assessed on constructing income statements or statements of financial position, nor on price-elasticity or exchange-rate calculations. Simple cash-flow forecast construction is assessed. Written practice is self-checked, not an official Cambridge grade; timed-paper evidence and human subject-teacher review remain outstanding.
Before you begin
- No previous business study is assumed. Read each scenario for the people affected, the business objective and any limits on time, cost or information.
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
Which is an example of internal communication?
What you will learn
- Explain why communication matters
- Distinguish internal and external communication
- Recommend a method for a stated purpose
Communication supports coordinated work
Businesses communicate to share instructions, information and decisions, coordinate work, inform customers and receive feedback. Internal communication occurs within the business; external communication is with people or organisations outside it.
The syllabus examples include face-to-face or virtual meetings, email, text messages, social media, phone calls, letters, posters and noticeboards.
Choose the method that fits
A method can be compared by speed, reach, detail, privacy, record-keeping and whether two-way discussion is needed. A short text may be quick for a shift update, while a meeting may support discussion of a complex change.
Social media can reach customers but may not suit private employee information. A recommendation should name the audience and purpose and explain its trade-off.
Pause and explain
Which method may suit a detailed change that requires questions?
Worked example
A manager must tell one employee privately about a change to their shift. Which method is more suitable than a public noticeboard?
Show the worked solution
- The audience is one employee.
- The information is personal.
- Use a direct private channel and allow questions.
Answer A private conversation or direct message is more suitable than a public noticeboard because it limits the audience and allows the employee to ask questions.
Try a topic test
Choose Easy, Normal or Difficult. Save your answers and open worked review after finishing.
Test this topic →From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
A supermarket must notify staff about a last-minute shift change and later explain a new customer-return process. Recommend a method for each message.
Give me a hint
Compare urgency and detail for the different audiences.
Compare my reasoning
- A direct text or call can alert affected staff quickly.
- A team meeting or detailed written guide can explain the return process.
- The method should let staff confirm or ask questions when needed.
Use a direct text or call to alert the staff whose shifts change, then a team meeting with a written guide to explain the return process and answer questions. The exact choice depends on the workplace's communication arrangements.
Look for these in your work
- Urgent update matched
- Detailed instruction matched
- Response channel considered
A company wants to announce a new product to potential customers and tell employees how to answer questions. Distinguish the two communication audiences and suggest a channel for each.
Give me a hint
One message is external promotion; the other is internal preparation.
Compare my reasoning
- Potential customers are external.
- Employees are internal.
- Public advertising and staff briefing serve different purposes.
A public advertisement or social media post could reach potential customers. An internal briefing or guide can prepare employees to answer questions accurately.
Look for these in your work
- Audiences classified
- Channels matched
- Purpose differentiated
A manager proposes email for every business message. Give two situations where another method could work better.
Give me a hint
Consider the need for immediate attention, discussion or privacy.
Compare my reasoning
- Urgent schedule changes may need a call or text.
- A complex change may need a meeting.
- Sensitive issues may need a private conversation.
A text or call may be better for an urgent schedule change, while a meeting can support a complex discussion. A sensitive employee matter may call for a private conversation. Method choice depends on purpose and audience.
Look for these in your work
- Two alternative cases
- Different needs explained
- Context qualification
Common mistakes
- Choosing a fast channel that misses the intended audience
- Posting private information publicly
- Treating one method as best for every message
What can you explain now?
Which is an example of internal communication?
Compare with the explanation
A manager explains a new process to employees
The message stays within the business.
After trying it yourself, choose your next review. This is your self-assessment.
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Make it stick
How do audience and purpose help determine whether communication should be internal or external?
If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.