Effect of Language Barriers on Task Completion by Local Employees in Multinational Construction Materials Companies

This study examined how language barriers affect task completion among local employees of Company X, a multinational construction materials firm in Cross River State, Nigeria. Specifically, it explored their impact on task execution, assessed organisational responses, identified employee coping strategies, and proposed culturally informed communication solutions. Organisational Information Theory (OIT) provided the analytical lens, explaining how organisations manage information under uncertainty and enabling examination of communication breakdowns in multicultural workplaces. Using an interpretivist philosophy and an inductive approach, the research adopted a single-case study design. Fourteen operational employees, including engineers, safety officers, logistics staff, machine operators, and maintenance personnel, were purposively and snowball-sampled for semi-structured interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive method. Findings showed that language barriers hinder task completion through misinterpretations, workflow delays, and safety breaches. Existing organisational responses, such as ad hoc peer translation, were inconsistent, leaving employees to rely on coping strategies like observation and guesswork. The study recommends structured peer language support, visual communication tools, a communication support officer, and a mobile translation and learning app. These measures offer practical strategies for multilingual construction sites and deepen theoretical understanding of how language barriers shape operational performance in multinational settings.