BUS101 Report: Analyzing Communication Challenges in Australia

This report examines the communication challenges faced by businesses in Australia, focusing on the impact of direct versus indirect communication styles and the issue of information overload. It highlights the importance of understanding Australian business culture, which values directness and open-mindedness. The report discusses how information overload, stemming from various communication channels, can disrupt work schedules and lead to missed deadlines. It proposes solutions such as streamlining communication through business-only email policies and emphasizes the need for businesses to address communication problems promptly. The analysis incorporates insights from relevant literature, including the works of Buckley, Caves, Cavusgil, and Terpstra, to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic.

Running head: BUSINESS 1
Communication Difficulties
Student’s Name
Institution
Date

BUSINESS 2
Introduction
Effective communication is one of the most important tools when it comes to business. As an
owner, communication problems are bound to cause massive losses to the organization (Buckley,
2010). Australia values formality in the business communication process and effective
communication is considered to foster increased positive relations and effective negotiations
between different parties.
Communication difficulties facing Australian business
Communication styles in Australian business context differ as compared to those of other
nations across the globe. The style of communication used when doing business in Australia is
determined by three basic factors which include; direct versus indirect communication (Caves,
2011). These include the concise brief messages, as compared to those that entirely make use of
body language of different parties. In the case of contextual versus the brief communications.
The amount of background information that individuals need to understand is put into
consideration, for the message recipient to feel content and satisfied with the message. Finally,
business communication also involves the use of nonverbal language.
In this case, messages are conveyed through the position of the body, tone of the voice,
gestures, and eye contact between parties. In the Australian contemporary business culture,
communication is considered to be fairly direct. Despite the fact that nonverbal communication
does not also play a significant role between two parties, business parties are used to touching
shoulders or the arm of another person, which is acceptable (Caves, 2011). However, this cannot
be done too often unless a close relationship exists between the parties. Australians on the other
hand, stand at arm’s length of each other when communicating. Open-mindedness is highly

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respected, rather than concealing information from each other. A common communication
problem facing business in Australia includes information overload.
There are so many ways to communicate in contemporary business structures. These
include; texting, face to face communication, and the internet among others (Cavusgil et al.
2015). Employees in different organizations have pressing deadlines to meet, as well as targets.
This, in turn, makes them ignore most of the communication devices which alert them to new
messages and sources of information. Disengaging is considered a way of ensuring that work
deadlines are met first. However, in the process, failure to constantly check emails and important
messages may land the organization into trouble. Meetings also end up being missed, and
problems are highlighted, but not seen. The problem of communication and information overload
should not be shunned especially in contemporary business.
There is a need to, therefore, streamline all communication channels. Business
communication in Australia for example could be transmitted only through email. In this case,
personal and business emails ought to be differentiated (Cavusgil et al. 2015). A business only
policy for communication in the workplace should thus be embraced. This way, it will be easy
for personnel to filter importance communication, and ignore the irrelevant messages which in
most cases, end up disrupting their work schedule. Australia, just like any other country, should
put in place laws and policies to ensure that personnel maintain their focus and exemplary
courtesy, especially when communicating with business counterparts and different stakeholders
(Cavusgil et al. 2015). Communication difficulties are bound to arise, and ought to be dealt with
promptly. The problem of communication overload should be prioritized and handled in the most
effective manner (Terpstra, 2008).

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References
Buckley, P.J., 2010. Problems and developments in the core theory of international business.
Journal of International Business Studies, 21(4), pp.657-665.
Caves, R.E., 2011. Research on international business: Problems and prospects. Journal of
International Business Studies, 29(1), pp.5-19.
Cavusgil, S.T., Knight, G., Riesenberger, J.R., Rammal, H.G. and Rose, E.L., 2015.
International business: The New Realities. Pearson Australia.
Terpstra, V., 2008. The cultural environment of international business. Cincinnati: South-
Western Publishing Company.