Friday, July 11, 2008

No short cuts, please

There was a game which people played earlier.
They used to stand in a large circle each person some distance from the other.
The game was to start by one person whispering something in the ear of his neighbour.
The second person was supposed to whisper that same sentence in the ear of the next person.
This would go on from person to person until it reached the last person.
The last person would then say what he/she had heard.
This would be compared would what the first person had said.
Natuarally, what the last person had heard was a completely distorted version of what the person had said.
That had happened in verbal communication.
But did you know this happens in written communication as people are too lazy to write properly and prefer short cuts.
I am giving below an example to prove my po
int.

Memo from CEO to Manager:
Today at 11 o’ clock there will be a total eclipse of the sun. This is when the sun disappears behind the moon for two minutes. As this is something that cannot be seen every day, time will be allowed for employees to view the eclipse in the parking lot. Staff should meet in the lot at ten to eleven, when I will deliver a short speech introducing the eclipse, and giving some background information. Safety goggles will be made available at a small cost.

Memo from Manager to Department Head:
Today at ten to eleven, all staff should meet in the car park. This will be followed by a total eclipse of the sun, which will appear for two minutes. For a moderate cost, this will be made safe with goggles. The CEO will deliver a short speech beforehand to give us all some information. This is not something that can be seen every day.

Memo from Department Head to Floor Manager:
The CEO will today deliver a short speech to make the sun disappear for two minutes in the form of an eclipse. This is something that cannot be seen every day, so staff will meet in the car park at ten or eleven. This will be safe, if you pay a moderate cost.

Memo from Floor Manager to Supervisor:
Ten or eleven staff are to go to the car park, where the CEO will make the sun disappear for two minutes. This doesn’t happen every day. It will be safe and as usual, it will cost you.

Memo from Supervisor to Staff:
Some staff will go to the car park today to see the CEO disappear. It is a pity this doesn’t happen every day.

I know, many people would love their CEO to disappear, but this is no way to go about it.

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