Ep 7. Tower of Babel

In Dilbert season 1 episode 7, titled "Tower of Babel," the focus is on the communication breakdowns that happen in the workplace. The episode centers around the company's decision to build a new headquarters, known as the "Tower of Babel." When the architects and construction crew start to work on the tower, they encounter a series of mishaps due to misunderstandings caused by language barriers.

Dilbert, the main protagonist, is put in charge of coordinating the construction efforts. He quickly realizes that there are many different departments involved in the project, each with their own jargon and methods of communication. The engineers, design team, construction workers, and even the janitorial staff all have their own unique way of speaking, making it difficult for everyone to understand each other.

Things start to go wrong when the architects design a building that is physically impossible to build. Dilbert tries to explain the issue to them, but they don't seem to understand what he is talking about. Similarly, when the construction workers try to explain their concerns to Dilbert, he has trouble understanding them.

As the misunderstandings escalate, the project falls behind schedule and over budget. Despite the mounting problems, the company's upper management is still determined to complete the Tower of Babel. This leads to a hilarious sequence of events where the project is outsourced to a company that speaks a different language, resulting in even more miscommunications and mistakes.

Throughout the episode, Dilbert tries to find ways to bridge the communication gaps between the various departments. He suggests hiring a translator or developing a universal language, but these ideas are shot down by the higher-ups. Finally, Dilbert comes up with a unique solution that involves creating a system of hand signals that everyone can understand. This leads to a successful completion of the tower, and the company's management is impressed with Dilbert's ingenuity.

Overall, "Tower of Babel" is a comedic take on the challenges of communication in the workplace. It highlights the importance of clear communication and the pitfalls of assuming that everyone speaks the same language. Through Dilbert's struggles, the episode shows that even the most complex projects can be successfully completed with the right approach to communication.