Message Communication Feedback: Interactive Model in Project Communications
PMBOK v8 Definition
The interactive communication model describes communication as a process consisting of two parties—the sender and receiver—but recognizes the need to ensure that the message has been understood. The additional steps are: Acknowledge (the receiver signals receipt, which does not necessarily mean agreement with or comprehension of the message—merely that it has been received) and Feedback/response (when the received message has been decoded and understood, the receiver encodes thoughts and ideas into a message and transmits this message to the original sender; if the sender perceives that the feedback matches the original message, the communication has been successful).
Why It Matters for the Exam
The interactive communication model with feedback appears frequently in PMI exam questions testing your understanding of effective communication versus basic message delivery. Exam questions often present scenarios where a project manager must confirm understanding, not just transmission, and ask you to identify which communication model is being used or which step is missing.
Key Points to Remember (for the exam)
- Two Additional Steps Beyond Basic Model: Acknowledge + Feedback/response
- Acknowledge ≠ Understanding: Acknowledgment signals receipt only—not agreement or comprehension
- Feedback Confirms Success: Communication is successful only when feedback matches the original message
- Active Listening: Feedback among people can be achieved through active listening
- Sender Responsibility: The sender is responsible for transmission, ensuring clarity/completeness, and confirming correct interpretation
- Receiver Responsibility: The receiver must receive in entirety, interpret correctly, and acknowledge/respond appropriately
- Noise & Barriers: All communication takes place in an environment with likely noise and other barriers to effective communication
Typical PMI Exam Example
A project manager sends a technical specification to a remote team member. The team member replies "Received." The project manager later discovers the team member misunderstood a critical requirement. What went wrong? Answer: The team member acknowledged receipt but did not provide feedback confirming understanding. The interactive communication model requires feedback/response where the receiver encodes and transmits their understanding back to the sender.
PMI Exam Traps
- Trap: Assuming acknowledgment equals understanding → Reality: Acknowledge only signals receipt, not agreement or comprehension
- Trap: Confusing the basic sender/receiver model with the interactive model → Reality: The basic model is concerned only with delivery; the interactive model ensures the message is understood through feedback
- Trap: Thinking feedback is optional in project communication → Reality: Feedback is essential for confirming successful communication; without it, the sender cannot verify correct interpretation
- Trap: Ignoring cross-cultural communication challenges → Reality: Cross-cultural communication presents specific challenges to ensuring the meaning of the message has been understood
Important PMI Connections
| Related Concept | Relationship Type | Exam Attention Point |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Models | Part of broader classification | Three models exist: basic (sender/receiver), interactive (with feedback), and complex (with human elements) |
| Active Listening | Tool for achieving feedback | Active listening enables feedback in people-to-people communication |
| Noise/Barriers | Environmental factor | Noise and barriers compromise transmission and/or reception; feedback helps detect this |
| Cross-Cultural Communication | Challenge to effectiveness | Cross-cultural differences require extra attention to ensure meaning is understood |
Quick Review Questions
- What is the difference between "Acknowledge" and "Feedback/response" in the interactive communication model?
- Who is responsible for confirming the message is correctly interpreted?
- What indicates that communication has been successful in the interactive model?
- How can feedback be achieved in communication among people?
- What are the three types of communication models described in PMBOK v8?
PMBOK v8 Reference
Section 2.5 - Communication Models (Interactive Communication Model)