When diversity is valued, the different experiences of coworkers and their different ways of seeing things and talking about things combine to make the group more effective and work a more rewarding experience. The globalisation of the economy is an increasingly important feature of our work and everyday lives. The local diversity of workforces can be used in a linguistic and cultural resource to make global connections. This is another way in which, in the most productive and efficient organisations, diversity is used as a resource for getting the job done and getting it done well. Talking Work Organisations at the cutting edge are aware of the new language and communication demands that they are facing.
Computer interfaces require new forms of literacy.
Informal, conversational language now has a critical role to play in the making of organisational culture. With teamwork, technical communication now needs to be closely related to personal and group communication. Consultative committees and team meetings require oral and written communication skills. And all communication has to be sensitive to different ways of speaking and different ways of hearing - differences among the members of the organisation and among its clients. The Centre for Workplace Communication and Culture is a world leader in organisational communication and applied linguistics.