Effective Business Communication

Student Name
Abdulai, Ibrahim, & Mohammed.
(2017). Communicating across
cultures in multinational Ibis West
Africa. International Journal of
Intercultural Relations, 58, 42-53.
Effective
Business
Communicatio
n
Institutional Affiliation(S)

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Essay
The globalisation of businesses has increasingly diminished the significance behind
borders that impacts the mobility of labour and have benefitted various countries with
political, social and economic wellness. In this context, Abdulai, Ibrahim, & Mohammed
(2017) observed that in 21st century, making direct contacts within cultural environment
requires skilful and knowledgeable minds so that effective intercultural communication can
be seen within global citizens. The author makes an examination of effective communication
at Ibis in West Africa. After conducting a qualitative research, the authors find that amidst
multi-varied cultures, many misinterpretations and misconceptions from both non-verbal and
verbal communications created differences in the meaning of messages and interactions made
between local staff and Ibis expatriate workers. After making a case analysis of organisations
in Ibis, the authors reviewed literature related to concepts behind effective communication
which will be analysed in this essay from different authors perspectives. Alongside, this essay
intends to make discussion on five selected and key themes/definitions to evaluate the article
critically from academic lenses.
Intercultural communication can be defined as a process in which sending and
receiving of messages takes place between people who belongs to diversified cultures and are
driven by certain situations to interpret verbal and non-verbal messages differently
(Malhotra & Arora, 2014). Cross-cultural communication, on the other hand has become a
new trend that developed due to modern technology and internet. Such interventions have
opened various opportunities for businesses to promote and allow marketing in new
geographic regions and cultures. Since, working in a global atmosphere has become much
easier now, cross-culture has become an increasingly new norm in multinational
organisations. Though cross-cultural communication deals with involving people from
diversified cultures to establish and maximise strong cultural relationships, it comes with
additional failures also. Many international companies face conflicts and communication
issues that creates cultural differences and thus hinders the overall organisational behaviour.
Similar issue has been identified by Abdulai, Ibrahim, & Mohammed (2017) in Ibis that have
made the company focus upon, “empowering the poor and the marginalised no matter social
status, race, gender and ethnicity” (p. 43). Arguably, Kei & Yazdanifard (2015) states that
previous studies made on intercultural communication illustrates how poor communication
results in impacting organisational performance negatively, and how communication is
crucial for every employee including both executives and subordinates. However, the ability