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Media Convergence Definition, Example Types & Elements

Media Convergence Example- Example of Media Convergence. Media Convergence in Journalism. Who and when established the Media convergence theory? Also, Examples and Elements of Media Convergence. Characteristics of New Media Audiences.

Convergence

Convergence means converging multiple items to unite things to get benefits. It is the process of forming a unique thing by utilizing two or more things. The convergence has been happening in all sectors to meet people's demands. This world is very famous in the medical discipline. As per the technological revolution, technological and media convergence has been impossible to reverse trends.

Types of Convergence

According to Henry Jenkins, the six types of convergence are technological, media, global, economic, cultural, and organic.

Media Convergence

Media convergence refers to merging diverse media outlets, including traditional and new media, to promote the program and media content. The traditional and new media have been merged to adjust to new technology. There are many types of convergence, such as technological convergence and cultural convergence. The new technology and culture have changed human lifestyles. The revolution of technology stimulates media convergence. Technology adoption theories and models explain why and how people accept new technology excessively. Additionally, technological and cultural convergence forces the mass media to converge with other mainstream and new media.

Example of Media Convergence

For example, the most popular Indian reality TV show name is "Indian Idol." It is a singing competition Television series. Sony Entertainment Television telecasts the full episodes. Firstly, the candidates need to download the Sony liv app for registration. Sony Television has social media pages to promote the programs. The TV authority uses social media platforms to promote upcoming episodes as most people access new media sites more than traditional media. They also request their audiences to vote for their favorite contestants via smartphones. The active and passive audiences can provide their opinions via social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Sometimes, they use FM and traditional radio to advertise the program. In sum, the program authority merges Sony Television, smartphones, radio, Facebook, and YouTube channel to promote the program successfully. It is an example of media convergence in the digital era.

Media Convergence in Journalism

Media convergence in journalism means mutually utilizing print, broadcast, and online media to promote the news. Journalists use many media to spread the news among the maximum number of people locally and internationally. Media convergence in journalism appears as a significant step toward survival in the new media age.

There are two types of media convergence in journalism: (1) media convergence in collecting news and media convergence in reporting the news. Firstly, journalists collect information from other media and cite the source name when publishing information. It enhances the news value in print journalism. Television channels disseminate news from other channels such as radio, TV, newspapers, and social media.

Secondly, media authority uses multiple media to publish the news. People prefer to read online newspapers from social media sites rather than printed papers. Therefore, journalists publish the news via a printed newspaper and website portal and share them on social media platforms to reach more audiences.

Example of Media Convergence in Journalism

For example, The Star is the most popular newspaper outlet in Malaysia. A journalist for "The Star" has collected information from Malaysiakini. The Star has published the news via printed newspapers and online portals. They have also shared the news link via their Facebook page to reach the news among social media users. The authority has converged a few media to spread the news among a maximum number of audiences.

Technology Convergence

A long time ago, people used to listen to the radio to get news, Television to watch drama, cameras to capture photos, and bookshelves to keep books. Nowadays, people use only smartphones and computers to fulfill all their needs.

Who and when established Media convergence theory?

Henry Jenkins introduced media convergence theory in 2006 via his book Convergence Culture: Where Old and new media collide.

Elements of Media Convergence

The five essential elements of media convergence are technological, social, industrial, textual, and political.

Technological Convergence

Technology convergence has brought computer, communication, and content together, which is called 3 C. Here, 3 C refers to a computer, communication, and content. Computers and smartphones have digitilized the content, and digital content has changed the process of communication. The revolution of new technology and media convergence has changed the way of generating content and distribution. It has influenced the news production and distribution process totally. For example, now, every newspaper outlet has its own social media fan page, providing breaking news. Technology has allowed these outlets to operate live video programs that provide very authentic news for audiences. Therefore, subscribers are getting instant news through new technology convergence. It is definitely a positive impact of convergence in communication outlets.

Social Convergence

Social media convergence has both positive and negative impacts on society. It is called the double edge sword for the communication sector in society. Social media are a computer and application-based networking system that ease human communication through the internet (Kobiruzzaman, Waheed, Yaakup & Osman, 2018). Social media have emerged as the most convenient and popular communication platform, also known as new media. People are adopting social media for entertaining, imparting knowledge, sharing information, and communicating. There are many types of social media such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, WhatsApp, WeChat, Instagram, Zoom, Google meet, TikTok, QQ, Douyin, Sina Weibo, QZone, Snapchat, Reddit, Pinterest, and so more. Social media convergence made the news free of charge, so everyone could watch the news easily.

Many traditional media outlets disseminate the news through social media. For example, a newspaper outlet publishes printed newspapers, and it updates the same news on social media platforms. Thus, anyone can consume news from social media platforms without buying a printed copy of the newspaper. Social media convergence eases the way of reporting news for news reporters and editors. It has enabled news reporters and editors to collect news within a short time and disseminate them. Many journalists share their content on social media so that everyone can know who is the content writer.

Industrial Convergence

Many big industries have been merged into one giant company to dominate the sector. For example, in the 1990s and 2000s, many media companies expanded their business interest and merged with other companies. In the 1990s, industrial convergence is the Viacom-Paramount (1994) and Disney-ABC (1995). In the 2000s, example of the biggest company merger is America On-Line (AOL), Time Warner, Viacom-CBS (2000), and NBC-Universal (2004). They took over the company to expand business in the media sector.

Textual Convergence

Textual convergence refers to the merging of printed media into online news media. For example, books and newspapers have been converted into social media-based writing and reading practices, also known as digital journalism. Anyone can contribute to the media industry by commenting on social media platforms. It is called textual convergence in media. Journalists are earning knowledge and improving themselves through convergence. Now journalists can view others' content easily because of convergence. They are getting ideas and improving themselves. It lets them learn more about generating media content's rules and regulations. Media convergence creates a new way to interact between media practitioners and audiences. Readers comment to express their opinion. So, it allows for making interactive communication atmosphere.

Political Convergence

Convergence has managed to increase the similarity between political parties worldwide. It brings the similarity between political parties and policies inside the parties.

Characteristics of New Media

Audiences According to Don Tapscott (2008), new media audiences have the following characteristics:

New media audiences want liberty in everything they do—for example, freedom of choice and expression.
New media audiences love to customize, scrutinize, and personalize.
They look for corporate integrity and openness when deciding what to buy and where to work.
New media audiences want entertainment and play in their work, education, and social life.
They are collaborative and relationship generation.
Audiences are innovators.

Social media availability has formed the characteristic of new media audiences.
In Conclusion, If someone asks me to do I think convergence is essential or not? I will answer: Yes, I think change is always good. Change is part of the natural adoption process that drives the communication industry. The problem will occur when we avoid change. So, we cannot avoid the pace of change.

Citation For This Article (APA 7th Edition)

Kobiruzzaman, M. M. (2023). Media Convergence Definition, Example Types & Elements. Newsmoor- Educational Website For Online Learning. https://newsmoor.com/media-convergence-example-elements-of-media-convergence-in-communication/

5 Gap Model of Service Quality With Examples

5 Gap Model of Service Quality With Examples. Gaps Model. Service Quality Gap Model Example. Gap Model of Customer Satisfaction.

Gap Model of Service Quality

The gap model of service quality refers to the five gaps model that describes gaps in service quality of the organization's customer experiences and service quality. In 1985, four scholars, A. Parasuraman, Valarie Zeithaml, and Leonard L. Berry, introduced the gap model of service quality in the Journal of Marketing manuscript titled "A Conceptual Model of Service Quality and Its Implications for Further Research." It is also known as the service quality gap model.

This model articulates the gap between customers' expectations and the organization's service. It assists service-providing companies in identifying customer satisfaction in different stages of the service delivery process. The service quality will be high when the customers' perception meets the expectations, but the quality is low when the customer's perception cannot meet the expectations. The five-gap model of service quality ensures the organization's total quality management thoroughly.

Servqual Gap Model

SERVQUAL model evaluates the gaps between clients' expectations and perceptions of service quality with five major service dimensions: reliability, assurance, tangibles, empathy, and responsiveness. The Servqual model of service quality assesses the customers’ expectations and perceptions; therefore, many scholars call it the Servqual gap model. Hence, many service-providing companies utilize the gaps model to identify and improve clients' satisfaction. The Servqual gap model or the five gap model of service quality represents a customer-satisfaction framework. However, the Survqual model is also known as the five service quality dimensions.

5 Gap Model of Service Quality

The 5 Gaps in Service Quality are

Knowledge Gap
Policy Gap
Communication Gap
Delivery Gap
Customer Gap

5 Gap Model of Service Quality With Examples

Gap- 1. Knowledge Gap

The knowledge gap in service quality refers to the gap between customers' expectations of the company and its action of providing that service. It identifies what customers want from the industry and what the company typically offers to the customers. This gap can grow if management doesn't thoroughly focus on the customer's expectations.

Many reasons can increase the knowledge gap, for example:

Firstly, the knowledge gap in service quality increases when the industry does not carefully focus on what customers expect. Secondly, the knowledge gap increases due to a lack of upward communication and customer interaction. Thirdly, the preliminary market analysis also raises the knowledge gap.

The additional reasons for increasing the knowledge gap:

Less focus on relationships.
Failure to understand customer complaints.
Lack of interaction between management and customers.

Knowledge Gap in Service Quality Example-1

The user of Netflix wants to see the upcoming movie trailers on Netflix's official website. However, Netflix shows only the movie list on the site without knowing the customer's expectations. Netflix would suffer this knowledge gap if it did not provide upcoming movie trailers on the site. Netflix's organizational management fulfills the gap between customer perception and expectation to achieve competitive advantages.

Knowledge Gap in Service Quality Example-2

Consider a hotel chain that prides itself on offering exceptional customer service. The management team conducts regular customer satisfaction surveys to gauge guests' perceptions of their stay. However, despite consistently receiving positive feedback on staff friendliness and cleanliness, the surveys reveal a recurring complaint about slow response times to guest requests.

Upon further investigation, the management team discovers a knowledge gap between guests' expectations and the organization's understanding of those expectations. While the hotel staff is trained to prioritize tasks based on urgency, they may not be fully aware of guests' specific expectations regarding response times for requests such as room service, housekeeping, or maintenance.

Gap 2: Policy Gap

The policy gap is the difference between management perceptions of customer needs and the translation of those perceptions into service delivery policies and standards. This policy gap appears because of the dissimilarity between what the customer wants and what management provides for the customers.

Many reasons can grow the policy gap, for instance:

Firstly, the policy gap in service quality rises when the company is not committed to providing quality services. Secondly, the lack of task standardization extends the policy gap. Moreover, the lack of goal setting raises this gap.

The additional reasons for increasing the policy gap:

Shortness of customer service standards.
Inadequately described service levels.
Failure to continually update service level standards.

Policy Gap in Service Quality Example- 1

Netflix will suffer from a policy gap if it uploads the upcoming movie trailers after releasing the movie. People want to watch the movie trailer before releasing the film. Netflix should be more responsive to the customers and commit to uploading the film trailer soon.

Policy Gap in Service Quality Example- 2

For example, a telecommunications company that advertises 24/7 customer support to assist subscribers with any service-related issues. The company's policy dictates that customers should be able to reach a live representative at any time, regardless of the day or hour. However, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that there is a policy gap between what is promised and what is delivered.

Customers frequently report difficulties in reaching a live representative outside of standard business hours. Despite the company's policy of round-the-clock support, they often encounter long wait times, automated messages directing them to visit the website or call back later, or even outright unavailability of customer service agents during evenings and weekends.

To address this policy gap and improve service quality, the telecommunications company implements the following measures:

Staffing Adjustments: The company hires additional customer service representatives to cover peak call times, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. This ensures that there are enough agents available to handle customer inquiries promptly.
Technology Upgrades: The company invests in advanced call center technology, such as interactive voice response (IVR) systems and chatbots, to handle routine inquiries and provide basic assistance outside of regular business hours. This helps reduce wait times and improve the overall customer experience.
Training and Empowerment: The company provides comprehensive training to customer service representatives on effective communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution techniques. Agents are empowered to resolve issues quickly and efficiently, even during non-standard hours.
Monitoring and Feedback: The company implements systems to monitor call volume, wait times, and customer satisfaction levels in real time. Management regularly reviews this data to identify trends, address bottlenecks, and make continuous improvements to service delivery.

By closing the policy gap between its stated commitment to 24/7 customer support and the actual provision of that support, the telecommunications company can enhance service quality, build customer loyalty, and maintain a competitive edge in the market. This example underscores the importance of aligning organizational policies with customer expectations to deliver consistent and reliable service.

Gap 3: Delivery Gap in Service Quality

The delivery gap is the dissimilarity between the standard of the company's service delivery policies and the service's actual delivery. The delivery gap in service quality arises when the company cannot maintain the standard of products and services provided to customers. This gap may occur because of the communication gap, poor technology, and inappropriate supervisory on productions in the industry.

This gap occurs because of many reasons in the industry, for example;

Firstly, the lack of teamwork to deliver services or products triggers an increasing delivery gap. Secondly, the employee's lack of knowledge about the product or service grows the delivery gap. Thirdly, insufficient human resources extend this gap.

The additional reasons for increasing the policy gap:

Role ambiguity and role conflict are unsure of your remit and how it fits others.
Poor employee or technology fit - is the wrong person or system for the job.
Inappropriate supervisory control or lack of perceived control - too much or too little control.

Delivery Gap in Service Quality Example-1

Netflix may experience this gap if it uploads a lower video-quality film. Customers prefer to watch movies with high-quality regulations like HDR. However, Netflix streams films with 4K at 2160p, which reduces the delivery gap.

The Following Example Has Been Adapted From ChatGPT 3.5

Delivery Gap in Service Quality Example-2

A delivery gap in service quality occurs when the actual service delivered to customers falls short of what was promised or expected.

For example, you order a package online and the estimated delivery time provided by the company is two days. However, the package doesn't arrive until four days later. In this scenario:

Expected Service: The company promised a two-day delivery service.
Perceived Service: You perceive the service as poor because it took four days instead of two.
Delivery Gap: The difference between the promised two-day delivery and the actual four-day delivery represents the delivery gap in service quality.

Factors contributing to this delivery gap could include logistical issues, delays in processing orders, or inefficient delivery routes. Such gaps can lead to customer dissatisfaction, reduced loyalty, and negative word-of-mouth.

Gap 4: Communication Gap

The communication gap refers to the difference between what the company advertises about the products and what the customer delivers. It occurs when the company cannot provide services or products according to the commitment. It is an essential dimension to maintain because it may lead to customer disappointment. The employees have to ensure an effective communication process is inevitable to reduce the communication gap in service quality.

This communication gap occurs for many reasons in the industry, including;

Over-commitment.
Lack of integration between communication and production department.
Inadequate communications between the advertising teams and the operations department.

Example of Communication Gap in Se

Netflix may suffer this gap if it cannot telecast the HDR video it promised to offer. So, Netflix should not commit to customers if they cannot stream HDR video on the site.

Example Adapted From ChatGPT 3.5

Communication Gap in Service Quality Example

A communication gap in service quality occurs when there's a disconnect or breakdown in communication between the service provider and the customer, leading to misunderstandings, unmet expectations, or dissatisfaction.

For example, you visit a restaurant and inquire about the ingredients of a dish because you have food allergies. The server assures you that the dish is free of certain allergens. However, when the dish arrives, you notice one of the allergens listed in the ingredients.

In this scenario:

Expected Communication: You expected accurate and clear information about the dish's ingredients to ensure it's safe for you to consume.
Perceived Communication: The information provided by the server was incorrect or incomplete, leading to a misunderstanding.
Communication Gap: The disparity between what you were told by the server and the actual ingredients of the dish represents the communication gap in service quality.

Factors contributing to this communication gap could include a lack of training for staff on ingredient awareness, miscommunication between kitchen and service staff, or inadequate systems for conveying accurate information to customers. Communication gaps like this can erode trust, lead to customer frustration, and harm the reputation of the service provider.

Gap 5: Customer Gap in Service Quality

The customer gap is the difference between customer expectations and perceptions of the service. This customer gap might appear if customers cannot understand the importance of the services and products.

In sum, the customer gap in service quality refers to the difference between customer expectations and perceptions of the service provided. It highlights how customers' perceived service quality may deviate from their expected service quality. The customer gap also arises when clients misunderstand the service quality. Many organizations are unaware of this gap, losing many customers overnight.

Example of Customer Gap Adopted From ChatGPT

Customer Gap in Service Quality Example

For instance, you book a hotel room for a weekend getaway. Before booking, you expect the hotel to provide clean rooms, friendly staff, and efficient service based on their website information and reviews. However, upon arrival, you find the room to be dusty, the staff indifferent, and the service slow.

In this scenario:

Expected Service: You expected a clean room, friendly staff, and efficient service based on the information provided by the hotel.
Perceived Service: The experience of finding a dusty room, encountering indifferent staff, and experiencing slow service.
Customer Gap: The difference between your expectations and perceptions represents the customer gap in service quality.

Factors contributing to this customer gap could include misaligned expectations due to misleading advertising, inconsistent service delivery, or failure to meet basic customer needs. Addressing this gap involves understanding and managing customer expectations, ensuring consistent service delivery, and actively seeking feedback to improve the customer experience.

Conclusion

The five gaps in service quality are Knowledge, Policy, Communication, Delivery, and Customer. The five gaps model of service quality is known as the gap model. The gap model of service quality analyzes gaps and problems between organizations and their customers. Customer gratification will come out if the industry adopts the gap model diagram, which is a significant factor for continual improvement as well as the business. Therefore, the service provides industries like hospitals, hotels, restaurants, entertainment & recreational companies, and education consultants and tourism agencies focus more on the gap model to improve customer satisfaction.