Preview: Deus Ex: Human Revolution
We're still a good long way away from the release of Deus Ex: Human Revolution , so keep in mind that it's hard to say if what I saw inside Square-Enix is truly representative of what we'll get when the game finally releases. But the small sliver of combat and social puzzle solving I saw looked extremely promising for series stalwarts and newcomers alike. Gallery: Deus Ex: Human Revolution ...

Many of today's organizations represent the global society we currently live in. Many of these Organizations could incur communication problems, because of a lack of basic cultural understanding.

What are the six ways can we can effectively combat communication failure?

1. Simplifying Language

Even if different cultures can speak one language, their understanding of the language can be misinterpreted. In many cultures communication is spoken rather than written, and based on how we interact with each other. Simplifying explanations, and using visual images like videos, and photographs, could cut down any communication difficulties.

2. Fairness

The concept of fairness and equality is common in most societies, but all societies deal with this concept differently. All Employees may want to be accepted, and fairly treated, but often misunderstandings arise on how this concept is communicated.

Those used to a more structured authoritarian background, may be confused when instructions are dealt with in a casual manner, whilst people used to working in a more open system resent being ordered instead of asked- leading to communication failure, and eventual resentment.

3. Cutting Down on Code Noise

Imagine the same email being sent from person to person, this simple email could be interpreted differently, leading to communication failure at its worse. The use of jargon could even confuse but make the message sound different, creating complete communication failure.

4. Information Retention

There is a "big picture," and then a series of "smaller pictures," within the big picture. As a message is sent around an organization, it often reaches those who only know the "smaller picture," and many people only see how it affects them- not the whole organization. This could lead to eventual information blockage, and even a complete misinterpretation of the original message.

5. Perceptual factors

One fault many people have is stereotyping, and most of us are guilty at one time or another of having a fixed view on people. In some societies the habits of the so-called "uneducated" may be viewed in a different light.Bob the builder may have great ideas in some societies, but in others he would be considered too uneducated to know anything.

Perceptual factors are important in organizations. A more liberal manager could fail in a conservative environment, because of a simple habit, or accent. The more narrow-minded the environment, the more it is open to communication failure. The messenger has to be accepted, and respected, otherwise the message no matter how informative, and correct- could be ignored, or even seen as an insult.

6. "Crabology"

Some people simply do not like the ideas of others getting ahead. Imagine a bucket of crabs, one tries to crawl out the bucket, but the rest of the crabs always pull it back down. This can happen in organizations, were some groups are in their comfort zone, and see as a threat an idea or a person who is getting on. Communications from that person or section, could be deliberately ignored, or even fought against, pulling that person down down to their level.

Multi-Cultural workplaces are going to be increasingly common in today's brave new World. Our governments are already multi-cultural, as are many corporations that survived the economic crisis. Understanding basic human nature, perceptual factors and the way different groups communicate, is the key to running a successful, innovative organization today.

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