Real Communication Barriers Created by Technology in the Workplace – Annotated Bibliography

Cho, H-K., Trier, M & Kim, E. 2006. “The use of instant messaging in working relationship development: A case study.” Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, vol.10, no.4, doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2005.tb00280.x

This is a research article that focuses on assessing how systems of instant messaging (IM) assist in improving workers working relationship within organizational boundaries which include outside the organization, across departments, and within departments. The research was conduct in a Korean tire manufacturing company where survey questions were issued and interview conducted to 150 respondents in the company. The results indicated that majority of workers used instant messaging to communicate among themselves. This improved working relationships between departments, within departments, and between companies in the provided order. This research demonstrated the effectiveness of using instant messaging in improving and developing working relationships within the organization and across the border.

Sharma, N. 2010. “Communication at work place.” International Journal of Educational Research and Technology, vol.1, no.2, pp. 5-8.

This article discusses the importance of effective communication in a work environment. In the introduction, the article acknowledges different forms of communication and their contribution in promoting interpersonal relationship. The article then reviews on different forms of communication, communication barriers that can influence their effectiveness, and what can be done to enhance communication efficiency while using these methods of communication, especially when communication is fostered between the management and workers. The article guides managers and how they can better their work environment by promoting effective communication. Managers should ensure that they develop trust from workers though effective communication and they improve their skills as communicators.

Mokashi, S. n.d., “Impact of information technology in business communication.”Scibd. Retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/document/111677644/Impact-of-Information-Technology-in-Business-Communication

The article features communication as the third major human civilization revolution after industrial and agricultural evolutions.  It clearly reflect on how the communication technology has been advancing in the last 100 years, and the advancements that have been recorded since then to date in terms of physical technology. The article then discusses information technology and how it is being utilized today to enhance business operations.  It also explains the functionality of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in terms of storing, processing, converting, retrieving and transmitting information. It explains the hardware and software needed to enhance these roles and aspects that information technology concentrates on to enhance effective communication and data processing.

McKenzie, C. L & Qazi, C. J. 1983, “Communication barriers in the workplace.”  Business Horizons, pp. 1-1.

This article discusses how communication breakdown between non-native speaking workers and Native American supervisors influence the work performance and companies’ productivity in various American firms. According to the author, the language barrier makes it hard for workers to understand instructions or to follow them. Although they would not act like they do not understand, supervisors find them standing next to their desks after they are done giving instruction and expecting them to walk out and execute them. This becomes considerably costly as many workers end up losing their jobs, receiving penalties and denied promotion due to errors that cannot be tolerated or job confusion as a result of communication breakdown. 

Perez, C & Soete, L.  “21. Catching up in technology: entry barriers and windows of opportunity.” pp. 458-479.

This is a chapter that focuses on technological advancement in developing nations compared to developed nations. The article analysis some of the unique conditions in which technological imitation and catching up could happen. This discussion is founded on diffusion theory, which gives relevance to industrial development theory. The article starts with a static perspective of technology so as to understand how the actual buying, imitating and developing cost of production technology are impacted by the features of the acquiring company and by those of place.  The article then introduces dynamism of technology and assesses how different elements of the above mentioned costs reduce or increase as evolution of technology takes place to maturity from introduction.

Shachaf, P. “Cultural diversity and information and communication technology impacts on global virtual teams: An exploratory study.” Information & Management, vol.45, no. 2, pp. 131-142.

The article focuses on analysing challenges that are faced by modern organizations in a competitive international economy and turbulence environment. Thisis done by conducting explanatory study paper that enters on determining the ICT and cultural diversity effects on effectiveness of a team. This is done by conducting interviews with 41 members of a team from nine different companies, employed by 500 Fortune corporations. The analysis outcome demonstrated that cultural diversity had a negative impact on communication and positive impact on decision making. It was also established that ICT alleviate the intercultural communication negative impact and support decision making positive impacts.

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