Language in a wok place: Article

Methodology:

The questions they wanted to investigate were: 1. “Given the language requirements of horizontal communication in MNC’s, what kind of problem do staff experience?” 2. “Given modern language and communication training methodology, how could in-company language training be harnessed to improve international horizontal communication in an MNC? * * They analyzed a Finland based MNC (Kone Elevators?) where the corporates official language is English. * * The Reasons were they wanted to gain in-depth understanding of different ways communication goes between subsidiary staff (lower staff) in different countries. * * * Interviews: * * The interviews were with Kone staff, and there was an analysis of the company’s language and communication training program. * * The interviews were made with levels 1. Top management 2. Middle management 3. Operating management * * The Interviewees were from different countries (Europe, Mexico, and the far east.) and the interviews were spoken in different languages depending on the nationality who they were asking questions to. * * The Kone key informants (person who gives information to others) where interviewed on the telephone and email: 1. The specific role that language is perceived to play in horizontal communication. 2. Language training in Kole * * Those informants intervewees represented: 1. Human resources 2. Language training 3. Management development 4. Technical training 5. Customer Service * * * The company: * * Who is Kone Elevators? * It is one of the leading business in the world for elevators and escalators. * In 2000 the companies net sales totaled to 2.6 Billion EUR which is about 13 Billion AED. * 67% of the companies employees were non-native speakers of English (Year 2000). * The official company language was English since the 1970’s. *