Document for Analysis: Barriers to Communication
The following memo is from an exasperated manager to her staff. Obviously, this manager has no secretary to clean up her writing.
Your Task. Comment on the memo's effectiveness, tone, and potential barriers to communication. Revise the memo, improving its tone, grammar, and organization.
DATE: Current
TO: All Employees
FROM: Albertina Sindaha, Operations Manager
SUBJECT: Cleanup! You were all suppose to clean up your work areas last Friday, but that didn't happen. A few people cleaned their desks, but no one pitched in to clean the common areas, and you all saw what a mess they were in! So we're going to try again. As you know, we don't have a big enough custodial budget anymore. Everyone must clean up himself. This Friday I want to see action in the copy machine area, things like emptying waste baskets and you should organize paper and toner supplies. The lunch room is a disaster area. You must do something about the counters, the refrigerator, the sinks, and the coffee machine. And any food left in the refrigerator on Friday afternoon should be thrown out because it stinks by Monday.
Finally, the office supply shelves should be straightened. If you can't do a better job this Friday, I will have to assign individuals to a specific cleaning schedule. Which I don't want to do. But you may force me to.