“The Costs of Poor Communication” Presentation

This is a presentation-only assignment on any type of poor communication that you may have been involved in, have witnessed, read about, or have heard about in a workplace environment. Please follow the outline below.

No one knows exactly how much poor communication costs businesses, industries, and the government each year, but estimates suggest billions. A recent estimate claims that the cost in the U.S. alone is close to $4 billion annually! Poorly worded or inefficient emails, careless reading or listening to instructions, documents that go unread due to poor design, hastily presenting inaccurate information, and sloppy proofreading — all of these examples result in inevitable costs. The problem is that these costs aren’t usually included on the corporate balance sheet at the end of each year, so often the problem remains unsolved.

The waste caused by imprecisely worded regulations or instructions, confusing emails, long-winded memos, ambiguously written contracts, and other examples of poor communication is not as easily identified as the losses caused by a bridge collapse or a flood. But the losses are just as real—in reduced productivity, inefficiency, and lost business. In more personal terms, the losses are measured in wasted time, work, money, and ultimately, professional recognition. In extreme cases, losses can be measured in property damage, injuries, and even deaths.

Your task is to conduct research on communication failures in business or the workplace and create a presentation for your classmates.

Choose one major failure that you find interesting and continue your research on that specific incident. In your presentation, you will provide the details of the incident, how or why communication was the reason for the failure, your personal thoughts and ideas on how the incident could have been avoided, and any final outcomes/verdicts from the case (i.e.-final court proceedings, disasters, death tolls, criminal charges, etc.).
You will then create your presentation of at least 10 slides on the major points and pertinent information.
You must include at least 2 images depicting the incident. Each slide should contain audio (or video clips, if available) with your original thoughts, ideas, or concepts.
A works cited or reference slide should be included at the end of your presentation that includes all research references.

1 answer

The Costs of Poor Communication Presentation

Slide 1: Title Slide

  • Title: The Costs of Poor Communication in the Workplace
  • Subtitle: Case Study: The 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Disaster
  • Your Name
  • Date [Background Image: Fukushima Nuclear Plant]

Audio: Introduction to the presentation's topic and its significance in today’s work environments.


Slide 2: Overview of Fukushima Incident

  • Bullet Points:
    • Date: March 11, 2011
    • Location: Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Japan
    • Event: Tsunami and earthquake led to core meltdowns. [Image: Map of Japan highlighting Fukushima]

Audio: Brief description of the Fukushima disaster, emphasizing its scale and impact.


Slide 3: Communication Breakdown

  • Bullet Points:
    • Delayed warnings and information dissemination.
    • Lack of clear communication among government and TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company).
    • Inadequate emergency response coordination. [Image: Image of TEPCO headquarters]

Audio: Explanation of how poor communication led to a chaotic response during the disaster.


Slide 4: Consequences of Poor Communication

  • Bullet Points:
    • Loss of public trust in governmental and organizational systems.
    • Evacuations delayed, putting lives at risk.
    • Long-term environmental and health impacts. [Image: Image of evacuation sites]

Audio: Discussion of the broader impact on society and the environment stemming from poor communication.


Slide 5: Personal Thoughts on the Incident

  • Bullet Points:
    • Importance of clear and timely communication in crisis management.
    • The role of proactive planning and risk assessment.
    • How organizational culture affects communication channels. [Background Image: Emergency response team]

Audio: Personal reflections on how I believe effective communication could have mitigated the crisis.


Slide 6: Lessons Learned

  • Bullet Points:
    • Establish protocols for crisis communication.
    • Train employees in effective communication skills.
    • Foster a culture of openness and feedback to improve information flow. [Image: Image of a communication training session]

Audio: Summary of lessons that can be applied to prevent similar crises.


Slide 7: Communication Tools & Techniques

  • Bullet Points:
    • Use of modern communication technology (e.g., instant messaging).
    • Importance of clarity in message formulation.
    • Implementing regular communication drills. [Image: Image of communication technology in use]

Audio: Discuss the potential tools and techniques that can enhance communication in high-stakes environments.


Slide 8: Conclusion

  • Bullet Points:
    • The Fukushima disaster exemplifies the costs of poor communication.
    • Collective responsibility for improving communication practices.
    • Encouragement to advocate for clear communication in all areas of work. [Background Image: Diverse workplace team]

Audio: Recap of the presentation’s key points and a final thought on the significance of communication.


Slide 9: Final Outcomes

  • Bullet Points:
    • Immediate response efforts and subsequent cleanup challenges.
    • Investigative reports and policy changes.
    • TEPCO faced lawsuits, reparations, and regulatory changes. [Image: Image of protest against TEPCO]

Audio: Overview of the outcomes and changes that resulted from the disaster.


Slide 10: Works Cited

  • Sources:
    • [Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the Article. Journal/Website. URL]
    • [Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the Book. Publisher.]
    • [Government or Organizational Report Title. (Year). URL] [Background Image: Books or study resources]

Audio: Encourage classmates to explore the references provided for deeper insights.


Final Instructions:

  • Ensure each slide's audio is recorded clearly.
  • Practice the presentation for smooth delivery.
  • Verify that images are of high quality and relevant to content.

This presentation aims to not only inform but also engage the audience with a compelling narrative that highlights the necessity of clear communication in critical situations.