Localizing Employee Communications

Book excerpt: Global content in English doesn't get noticed. Localizing Employee Communications is a practical guide to ending conventional communication practices that stand in the way of effectively reaching employees around the world. Adapting for language and culture is critical to reach customers, and the same is true for busy employees. This book shows you how to navigate some of the biggest challenges in cross-border employee communications by partnering with local business units. This book argues that the ideal organization translates almost nothing. Instead, global headquarters provides only back-end support to local business units, who create and deploy employee content that's appropriate for their culture and local business realities. Localizing Employee Communications draws on the insight of nearly 30 experts from a variety of communications disciplines, including Deborah S. Bosley, Gerry McGovern, Alan Oram, Jonathan Phillips, Alan J. Porter, Ann Rockley, Carmen Simon, and Val Swisher. Inside the Book Part I. The Landscape In Country Part II. Leadership, Governance, and Budget Part III. Low- and No-Cost Strategies Part IV. Capabilities and Resources Glossary Interviewee Biographies Index