Barriers to Effective Business Communication: An Annotated Bibliography

This annotated bibliography explores the barriers to effective business communication and provides guidelines for improving communication effectiveness. It includes articles on cultural diversity, communication in mergers and acquisitions, the impact of email communication, workplace diversity, and more.

Student Name
INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION(S) |
Part A: Annotated
Bibliography
[DOCUMENT SUBTITLE]

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Barriers to effective business communication as an emerging issue within contemporary
organisations.
Article 1
Adu-Oppong, A. A., & Agyin-Birikorang, E. (2014). Communication in the workplace:
Guidelines for improving effectiveness. Global Journal of Commerce & Management
Perspective, 3(5), 203-213. Retrieved from
https://www.longdom.org/articles/communication-in-the-workplace-guidelines-for-
improving-effectiveness.pdf
This article is published by “Global University for Research and Education” and thus
can be claimed highly authoritative. This paper illuminates this bibliography by discussing
barriers to effective communication along with providing guidelines for improving
communication effectiveness. The authors presented a conceptual model that represents two
of the common elements present in most of the communication exchanges. After discussing
significant environmental and personal barriers to effective communication, the authors show
an urgency to adopt positive actions for overcoming these barriers along with providing
various guidelines that can help its readers in eliminating communication barriers. Similar to
the viewpoint presented by, (Odine, 2015) this article claims that effective communication
shills within workplace can potentially improve administrators’ capabilities while performing
the role of a leader. Hence, this article advices business administrators to create a workplace
environment in which problems, opinions, plans and ideas pertaining organisational tasks are
effectively discussed and handled in more proficient manner.

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Article 2
Almutairi, A. A., Alhaddad, M. A., & Alqahtani, A. A. (2015). Cultural Diversity and
Effective Organizational Communication. Journal of Business and Economics, 6(3),
1136-1140. Retrieved from http://www.academicstar.us/UploadFile/Picture/2015-
9/20159291037130.pdf
This article has been prepared by scholars within a department of educational
management college who signifies that cultural diversity have become a widely debated topic
among organisational communication where most of the researchers argue that different mind
people contributes in bringing cultural contributions besides cognitive aspects. After defining
culture as a shared behaviour, the author defines communication as exchange of information
which assists in fostering relationships along with its outcomes. However, the author like
(Evans, Suklun, & Nunn, 2017) claims that cultural diversity can prove ‘double edged sword’
for workplaces and has been considered as a key to great failures or successes. This article
can illuminate this bibliography extensively as the article contains published literature along
with various observations which indicates that though communication in diversified culture
workplaces provide organisational productivity, it can drive internal competition within
workplaces. This paper can assist business managers as the authors made remarkable
suggestion for understanding and handling cultural diversity during the phase when
communication among diverse groups creates issues within organisations.
Article 3
Angwin, D. N., Mellahi, K., Gomes, E., & Peter, E. (2014). How communication approaches
impact mergers and acquisitions outcomes. The International Journal of Human

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Resource Management, 27(20). Retrieved from
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09585192.2014.985330
This article has been written by university professors who finds that communication is
most commonly viewed as crucial component in acquisitions and mergers (A&M) of
organisations, still very little research has been made to examine the connection between
organisation communication approaches and outcomes of A&M. After conducting a
methodical study between A&M outcomes and communication approaches, this article
evaluated that impacts of communication in selected developing countries answers a call for
encompassing A&M research beyond technologically advanced countries practices. The
authors confirm the significance behind communication approach especially during A&M
phases similar to the study conducted by (Neill, 2018) of change management. Although this
paper majorly discussed link between employee’s commitment within A&M and strategy
communication, this paper aims at recommending top managements to understand
communications strategy so that failures in mergers due to communication barriers can be
eliminated along with providing organisations with strategic directions.
Article 4
Derks, D., & Bakker, A. B. (2010). The Impact of E-mail Communication on Organizational
Life. Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 4(1). Retrieved from
https://cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/4233/3277
This article has been written by university professors concerning matters related to
‘Computer-mediated communication’ (CMC) which has become conventional among
workplace individuals. This article raises a question regarding what impacts computer
mediated communication have on daily life of organisational people. Since e-mails have been

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one of the most prevalent form of communication in organisational life, this paper focussed
majorly upon e-mail communication systems and issues pertaining from it. Consequently, the
authors interpreted research results and showed the aspects behind e-mail communication
within business communication technologies, and considers it as a demand and resource
system along with complicated process in daily life. The author informs its readers and
organisations that costs of e-mail can seem disproportionally loaded upon recipients as they
have to manage excessive number of e-mails on regular basis along with replying them as
soon as possible. On contrary to viewpoint presented by (Evans, Suklun, & Nunn, 2017) this
article illuminates this bibliography from another view considering technology for effective
communication which is neither a resource nor it is demanded, rather it is something
workplace individuals need to deal with.
Article 5
Evans, A., Suklun, H., & Nunn, S. (2017). Workplace diversity and intercultural
communication: A phenomenological study. Cognent Business and Management,
4(1). Retrieved from
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23311975.2017.1408943
This peer-reviewed journal article conducted a phenomenological study to examine
impacts of workplace diversity and its implications on business communication. The authors
examined contextual history behind women residing in US to compare them with native
English speakers with ones who spoke non-native English for communicating with each
other’s. The authors selected 16 participants who described their professional and individual
experiences through which they had to face various criticisms and violations for conducting
any miscommunication occurred because of them. This study will help international

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companies which comprises diversified workforce since this article reflects upon critical
factors like increasing value behind diversity in workplace and its implications to diversity
management that may hinder the progress of individuals. As said by (Adu-Oppong & Agyin-
Birikorang, 2014) this article authors also suggest that making a comparison between
communication medium among all the employees can potentially reduce communication
conflicts.
Article 6
Femi, A. F. (2014). The Impact of Communication on Workers’ Performance in Selected
Organisations in Lagos State, Nigeria. Journal of Humanities and Social Science,
19(8), 75-82. Retrieved from
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/da0b/f54bf14beb03508ad87242401aa211e0bcb4.pdf
This journal article is been written by an author holding a doctorate certificate and
belongs to ‘Department of Sociology’. This article proposes to examine significant
relationship between workers performance and communication effects within few selected
organisations in Nigeria. The author intends to put in front of its readers some critical
information pertaining communication level in contemporary workplaces, its impact on
workers performance, how communication influences employee’s productivity and how
communication effects workers commitment. The author collected data from 10 respondents
and exposes a positive relationship between communication and employees performance
along with organisational productivity thereby recommending that managers needs to
communicate with employees on regular basis for eliminating barriers present in its current
communication practices. Like (Odine, 2015), this article suggests that organisations must

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eliminate communication barriers and create participative, competent and translucent
communication medium that can effectively improve organisational productivity.
Article 7
M, N. N., Foysol , K. M., & Adnan, S. M. (2017). The Role and Impact of Business
Communication on Employee Performances and Job Satisfactions: A Case Study on
Karmasangsthan Bank Limited, Bangladesh. Arabian Journal of Business and
Management Review, 7(3), 1-8. Retrieved from https://www.omicsonline.org/open-
access/the-role-and-impact-of-business-communication-on-employee-
performancesand-job-satisfactions-a-case-study-on-karmasangsthan-bank-li-2223-
5833-1000301.php?aid=91849
This scholarly article has been presented by academicians belonging to Bangladesh
country. The authors states that in present era, information technology have made many
companies change their industrial relationships between employees and management and thus
business communication through digital means has become very significant for bringing
success to businesses. The author reveals that communication gap among employers and
employees have created mass issues among various organisations. The authors adopted a
mixed methodology to reveals that human environment must understand principles behind
effective communication to avoid communication gaps especially considering change within
human resource practices in organisations.

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Article 8
Neill, M. S. (2018). Change Management Communication: Barriers, Strategies & Messaging.
The Public Relations Journal, 12(1), 1-26. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327057178_Change_Management_Commu
nication_Barriers_Strategies_Messaging
This journal article comprises remarkable viewpoints concerning business
communication issue especially during organisational change. The author is an assistant
director in the department of Journalism who characterises world to be a place full of
constant changes. The author conducted in-depth interview of 32 participants to provide a
new insight concerning effective strategies and how communication barriers affects change
management within firms. This article can specifically assist change management leaders and
organisations who are considering change within their firms since the author revealed critical
barriers that affects change processes including lack of effective planning, change fatigue and
multiple culture issues impacts business communication. As said by (Almutairi, Alhaddad, &
Alqahtani, 2015), this article also reveals that even strong organisations that comprise strong
communication leadership, employees show reluctance to abandon their previous vision and
strategic priorities to support new company objectives. This article again illuminates this
bibliography by putting forward key messages for effective communication that includes
what are the reasons behind changes along with providing six best practices that can create
effective management communication during change within companies.
Article 9
Odine, M. (2015). Communication Problems in Management. Journal of Emerging Issues in
Economics, Finance and Banking, 4(02), 1615-1630. Retrieved from

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http://globalbizresearch.org/economics/images/files/54946_ID_S528_JEIEFB_Mauri
ce%20Odine.pdf
This research article has been prepared by Associate Dean of “School of Journalism
& Graphic Communication” where that author finds that “Management can only thrive in the
prevalence of communication” (p. 1615). After making a close survey of around 1,104
employees in United States organisations, the author finds that only 17% of managers
communicated effectively and thus, a possible constructive mechanism is suggested by the
author to business managers for disentangling business communication areas which acts as a
barrier between effective communication in contemporary organisations. In fact, the
qualitative research made in the paper reveals in front of its target audiences’ behavioural
range and their perception which drives with specific issue like effective business
communication. This article can be compared to the findings made by (Adu-Oppong &
Agyin-Birikorang, 2014) as both of the articles illuminates this annotated bibliography by
reflecting upon communication problems that remains omnipresent factor in organisations
due to absence of research along with barriers in comprehending effective communication
outcomes.
Article 10
Shonubi, A. O., & Akintaro, A. A. (2016). The Impact Of Effective Communication On
Organizational Performance. The International Journal of Social Sciences and
Humanities Invention, 3(3), 1904-1914.
This scholarly research article aims at looking upon impacts of effective
communication on firm’s performance based on discussions made on various empirical
studies consisting organisational performance and communication. The research finding

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claims that there is a positive relationship between communication approach and effective
organisational productivity like the work conducted by (Neill, 2018) on organisational
change. This article presents various factors that act as a barrier to effective communication
like inadequate planning and semantic barriers, technical jargons and information overload
along with noise and poorly expressed messages. This article illuminates this bibliography by
providing its readers and business managers with various models of communication like
David Berlo Model and Harold Lasswell’s Communication model along with identifying
various communication theories like Cognitive Dissonance, Communication
Accommodation, Groupthink theory, etc. Both (Femi, 2014) and this article authors
concludes after recommending there is still more room for bringing better performance
through improved communication.

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References
Adu-Oppong, A. A., & Agyin-Birikorang, E. (2014). Communication in the workplace:
Guidelines for improving effectiveness. Global Journal of Commerce & Management
Perspective, 3(5), 203-213. Retrieved from
https://www.longdom.org/articles/communication-in-the-workplace-guidelines-for-
improving-effectiveness.pdf
Almutairi, A. A., Alhaddad, M. A., & Alqahtani, A. A. (2015). Cultural Diversity and
Effective Organizational Communication. Journal of Business and Economics, 6(3),
1136-1140. Retrieved from http://www.academicstar.us/UploadFile/Picture/2015-
9/20159291037130.pdf
Angwin, D. N., Mellahi, K., Gomes, E., & Peter, E. (2014). How communication approaches
impact mergers and acquisitions outcomes. The International Journal of Human
Resource Management, 27(20). Retrieved from
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09585192.2014.985330
Derks, D., & Bakker, A. B. (2010). The Impact of E-mail Communication on Organizational
Life. Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 4(1). Retrieved from
https://cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/4233/3277
Evans, A., Suklun, H., & Nunn, S. (2017). Workplace diversity and intercultural
communication: A phenomenological study. Cognent Business and Management,
4(1). Retrieved from
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23311975.2017.1408943

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Femi, A. F. (2014). The Impact of Communication on Workers’ Performance in Selected
Organisations in Lagos State, Nigeria. Journal Of Humanities And Social Science,
19(8), 75-82. Retrieved from
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/da0b/f54bf14beb03508ad87242401aa211e0bcb4.pdf
M, N. N., Foysol , K. M., & Adnan, S. M. (2017). The Role and Impact of Business
Communication on Employee Performances and Job Satisfactions: A Case Study on
Karmasangsthan Bank Limited, Bangladesh. Arabian Journal of Business and
Management Review, 7(3), 1-8. Retrieved from https://www.omicsonline.org/open-
access/the-role-and-impact-of-business-communication-on-employee-
performancesand-job-satisfactions-a-case-study-on-karmasangsthan-bank-li-2223-
5833-1000301.php?aid=91849
Neill, M. S. (2018). Change Management Communication: Barriers, Strategies & Messaging.
The Public Relations Journal, 12(1), 1-26. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327057178_Change_Management_Commu
nication_Barriers_Strategies_Messaging
Odine, M. (2015). Communication Problems in Management. Journal of Emerging Issues in
Economics, Finance and Banking, 4(02), 1615-1630. Retrieved from
http://globalbizresearch.org/economics/images/files/54946_ID_S528_JEIEFB_Mauri
ce%20Odine.pdf
Shonubi, A. O., & Akintaro, A. A. (2016). The Impact Of Effective Communication On
Organizational Performance. The International Journal of Social Sciences and
Humanities Invention, 3(3), 1904-1914.

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