Model of six primary modes of communication, plotted on a two-axis grid of broadcast<->interactive and personal<->public.

1. SUNY Fredonia  Web Content Management (WCM) Research Report
Conceptual models continued
Modes of Communication
Some online tools may work well for one purpose (mode), like mass distribution, but
may prove inappropriate for another mode (coordinating a small workgroup’s e ort).
Six common communication modes are shown below.
Scale: Few: ’s of users, Many: ’s to , , ’s of users
interact,
participate,
collaborate,
coordinate
One-to-One
conversation, phone, email,
instant messaging (IM)
Many-to-Many
enterprise content management
(ECM), social networks, wiki,
forum, listserv, learning
Few-to-Few management system (LMS)
group discussion,
email, listserv, blog,
IM chat room, team
project management
private, public,
personal general
Many-to-Few
service portal, online survey,
help desk, customer relationship
management (CRM)
One-to-Few
classroom lecture,
email, listserv, blog,
personal web site,
podcast
One-to-Many
mass communication, web site,
blog, listserv, newsletter, mass
email tools, radio, tv, newspaper,
publish, podcast
distribute,
broadcast
By: SUNY Fredonia Web Steering committee, Email: webmaster@fredonia.edu Page /
Version: Draft v.., modifed :PM, July , 
URL: http://www.fredonia.edu/pr/web/pdf/WCM_Research_.pdf