Sunday, April 06, 2008

The Challenge of Communication

I'm not one of them anal folks who constipate when they read a grammatically incorrect sentence or a misspelled word..

*Mean look at Munqy.

That's because I suck at both spelling and grammar and more importantly I value 'the big picture'. I don't mind a misspelled word here or there if I can clearly understand the writer's intentions. The language, to me, is only a means of conveying the more valuable concepts and opinions. I do cringe though when people just pee all over 'the big picture' and here's a good example, the English is a bit Frozen Wastelandees but bare with me:

[...] is the company caring about the environment every day. Every day for our sheet of papers dies many trees. Due to this fact we would like to recommend you how to economize this losses in better solution of printing your documents. Step 1: First, before printing think about the trees, Step 2: [...] Step 3: [...] Step 4: If it is possible use douplex printing. Additionally, less printed papers- lower costs and less paper on your desks and in your bag.

The 'big picture' here is that now we have double-sided (duplex) printing at the office and we should use it. But the message does everything to lose the reader on an idea that practically sells itself, for example:
  • Starting with the guilt trip about how for our paper many trees die is too cliche. Those who care are already not wasting paper and those who don't won't read this line and have an epiphany, quite their jobs and join Greenpeace.
  • Moving from a pointless rambling introduction to bullet-point is great. Having the first bullet being 'think about the trees before you print' is...err.. Goto 10?
  • Keeping your main point (duplex printing) to the last point doesn't make sense. Everyone is busy (or acts like it) so hiding your main point wouldn't help.
  • Finally, keeping probably the biggest advantage of duplex printing (less paper on your desk and in your bag) as the last line in your 1-page message... hmm... Goto 30?
Communications, especially in The Corporate Dens of Evil, should cut to the chase. This message could have the same effect if not better if it were sent like this:

All, now we have duplex printing (i.e. double-sided printing). It's fast, it's simple and it does not waste paper. That means less mess on your desk, less weight in your bag and less damage to the environment. Please use it.

12 comments:

Munqy said...

"Quit their jobs and join Greenpeace", not "quite their jobs and join Greenpeace".

Fesh said...

MUST.NOT.REACT.VIOLENTLY...

MUST.BREATH....


*puff*

Jade said...

Erm...
"quite their jobs and join Greenpeace"???

Oh oops - sorry, Munqy's already brought it up... sorry for rubbing it in your face man.

Fesh said...

no no it's fine.. everyone loves a copy-cat :)

Jade said...

Heheheh...
yeah just as everyone loves a bad sport :p

Fesh said...

touche :)

Jade said...

You know I love it...
;)

Nora said...

looks like we're one comment away from the pseudo porn we all love and miss...

So, Jade.. what is "it" that you love?

;)

Jade said...

My "touche"ness...

Fesh said...

That is dirty on so many levels... and I love "it".

(Jade, you forgot that in here I am God)

Jade said...

* Jade bows to the all powerful Fesh...

"Forgive me Master... for I have done wrong... How may I repent? How may I be punished?"

Fesh said...

Well let's see... can you knit me a sweater with "FeshFesh" on the front?