21st Century Communication Trends

21^st Century Communication Trends

What direction is business communication moving towards? Does the generational workforce have anything to do with trends in communication? I believe the generational differences contribute as a trendsetter.

Borgatti’s Five Trends:

Stephen P. Borgatti identifies five organizational trends; globalization, diversity, flexibility, flat, networked. Business communications need to have a quality communication system that functions globally. The increase global sales market, manufacturing, research and management cause the trend of globalization. Businesses are locating their offices globally. They need effective communication. Sales markets have expanded to the point the borders for sales are invisible.

On the other hand, the workforce is visibly showing diversity. Businesses need their communication systems to cope with different styles of interaction and be aware of innovation and conflict communication issues. Businesses’ communications have to be sensitive to some of these example issues heterogeneous personal partners, racism, and differences between cultures. My current employer has recently developed a “Diversity” office. All employees have opportunities to learn more about diversity. I have seen an increase of diversity taking place at my place of employment. I, also, have noticed more flexibility with my employer I some areas. Flexibility encourages independence, relationship building, lifetime employability and permits enhancement to the rate of changes in technology and markets.

In the midst of rapid changes in technology and global market, the trend flat empowers workers to make decisions with fewer levels of management. Conscientiously time is of essences in the globalize market where competition is powerful. Businesses need to be networked. Due to the time and competition, direct communication and cross-unit teams is important. Businesses need to consider the open computer systems for information sharing publicly and a closed system such as an intranet to stay abreast to customer needs persistently changing.

Generational Workforce:

Currently, our workforce is made up of three generations; Baby Boomer (born 1946-1964), Generation X (born 1965-1980) and Millennial or Generation Y (born 1980-2000). Each individual, no matter where the individual is born on the continuum of time, have generational traits that affect business communications and the organizational trends mentioned above. Each contributes to the trends businesses tend to take. And I clearly see how Borgatti's identified organizational trends are effected by generational workforce.