Business Writing

For this assignment, you are asked to collect real-life examples of barriers (inhibitors) to communication that occur in your work or community environment. The examples of communication barriers that you collect can be from documents, conversations (face-to-face or digital), email messages, or meetings.

This assignment consists of four parts:

Part I:

During the first week of this course, collect real-life examples of barriers (inhibitors) to written and verbal communication occurring in your work environment. The communications you collect can be from documents, conversations (face-to-face or digital), emails, or meetings.

Then write one or two paragraphs of 100-125 words describing your workplace or community setting you are analyzing, the types of communication in that setting that you are describing, and other details you think might be relevant to the context.

Types of communication inhibitors and examples of them can be found in the four articles that are available to you through eReserves. These communication barriers include but are not limited to:

connotative meanings of words personal censors and filters

noise (real and semantic)

audience expectations communication structure (or lack of) direction of communication

physical barriers cultural barriers experiential barriers perceptual barriers motivational barriers emotional barriers organizational barriers

linguistic barriers

nonverbal barriers

competitive barriers

lack of writing purpose, organization, support or clarity

artificial voice

forced collaboration faulty level of technicality faulty level of formality faulty direction

poor timing

excessive subjectivity

Part II:

After you've collected at least 5-10 communication samples, identify the inhibitors they represent and define the inhibitors in a bulleted list. The definition you provide should identify the general characteristics of the inhibitor and how it works to impede communication. The definitions should not reference your specific work environment.

Please consult the video on this assignment to see a demonstration on how this part might be written.

Part III:

Analyze the communication samples you have collected in a table with three columns:

1. the communication example either as a direct quote or paraphrase

2. the name of the inhibitor(s) at work in the sample

3. a justification of your selection of the inhibitor(s)

Part IV:

Using a scale of 1 to 100, rank your organization's communication effectiveness. Justify and explain the score you award.

Reading Material to Draw Upon for this Assignment:

For this assignment, you will want to draw on the following reading materials about communication inhibitors.

• "10 Barriers to Communication"
• "Communication Barriers"
• "Physical Barriers in Communication"
• "The Barriers to Effective Communication".