Dårlig kommunikasjon skaper problemer.

Because kommunikasjon is being used in a general, abstract sense here, like communication in English.

So Norwegian says:

• Dårlig kommunikasjon skaper problemer. = poor communication creates problems

not:

• En dårlig kommunikasjon ... if you mean communication in general

You would use an article if you were talking about one specific instance:

• Den dårlige kommunikasjonen skaper problemer. = the poor communication is causing problems
• En dårlig kommunikasjon mellom lederne skapte problemer. = a poor communication/communication setup between the leaders caused problems

In this sentence, the bare noun sounds natural because it is a general statement.

Dårlig is the adjective form used here before a singular indefinite noun used generically.

Compare:

• dårlig kommunikasjon = poor communication
• den dårlige kommunikasjonen = the poor communication
• dårlige vaner = poor habits

So dårlige is typically used with:

• definite nouns
• plural nouns

In this sentence, kommunikasjon is singular and indefinite, so dårlig is the expected form.

Skaper is the present tense of å skape = to create.

So:

• å skape = to create
• skaper = creates / create

Examples:

• Jeg skaper = I create
• du skaper = you create
• de skaper = they create

Unlike English, the verb does not change depending on the subject. Norwegian uses the same present-tense form for all persons.

Problemer is the indefinite plural of et problem.

• et problem = a problem
• problemet = the problem
• problemer = problems
• problemene = the problems

The plural is natural here because the sentence is making a broad statement: poor communication usually causes more than one kind of problem, or problems in general.

You could say skaper et problem, but that would usually mean one specific problem, which is a narrower idea.

Yes. This sentence is:

• Dårlig kommunikasjon = subject
• skaper = verb
• problemer = object

So it follows a simple subject–verb–object pattern, just like English:

• Poor communication creates problems.

However, Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb normally comes in the second position. In this sentence, the subject comes first, so the result looks very English-like.

For example, if you start with another element, the verb still has to stay second:

• Ofte skaper dårlig kommunikasjon problemer. = Often, poor communication creates problems.

For practical Bokmål, you can safely treat kommunikasjon as an en noun:

• en kommunikasjon
• kommunikasjonen

But in this sentence, the gender does not visibly matter, because there is no article and no definite ending. The noun is being used in a general, abstract way, so you just see kommunikasjon.

This is common in Norwegian with abstract nouns.

Yes, you might hear that, and it would be understandable. But skaper problemer is more natural and idiomatic in a general statement like this.

Very roughly:

• skaper problemer = creates problems
• lager problemer = makes problems

Norwegian often prefers skape problemer in formal or standard phrasing when talking about causing difficulties.

So the original sentence sounds very natural.

A useful approximation is DOHR-li.

A few key points:

• å sounds roughly like the vowel in British-style law
• the stress is on the first syllable: DÅR-
• the final g is usually not pronounced as a strong hard g

So it does not sound like English door-lig with a fully pronounced g at the end.

You do not need a perfect accent right away, but getting the å sound right is especially helpful.