Conducting a needs assessment is essentially the same. The communicator wants to know the purpose of communicating that may include considering five essential elements: the sender, the message being transmitted, the medium used to carry the message, the receiver of the message, and the interpretation given to the message (Hodgetts 2002). By conducting a needs assessment, the communicator would be best prepared to convey the meaning to the receiver using an appropriate and efficient encoding system, proper medium, and target a more promising decoding possibility or interpretation of the message by the receiver. To communicate effectively means that one has met the needs of the intended individuals, groups, organizations, and communities in all aspects.