Module 3 – Background
Required
Bowman, J. (2002). Writing Negative Messages.
Retrieved on Feb 10, 2015, from http://homepages.wmich.edu/~bowman/badnews.html
Christensen, G. J. (2005) Letters … We Get
Stacks of Letters and Business Notes. Retrieved on Jan 30, 2015, from http://www.csun.edu/~vcecn006/lettr.html
Groopman, J., (2002). Dying words. The
New Yorker. Retrieved on Feb 10, 2015, from http://jeromegroopman.com/ny-articles/DyingWords-102802.pdf
Pearson (2015d). Conveying bad news
messages. Retrieved on August 8, 2015 from http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=12029
Sittenfeld, C. (1999). Good Ways to Deliver
Bad News. Retrieved on Feb 10, 2015, from http://www.fastcompany.com/36993/good-ways-deliver-bad-news
Xerox (2015). Writing an Effective Business
Letter. Retrieved on Jan 30, 2015, from http://www.office.xerox.com/small-business/tips/business-letter/enus.html
Yen, Y. (2008, Nov 11). Laid off? No, you’ve
been ‘simplified.’ Retrieved on Jan 30, 2015, from http://archive.fortune.com/2008/11/10/technology/layoff_terms.fortune/index.htm
Case
Assignment
Negative Communication
In Case 3, you are
required to write two negative letters.
On the TV show “The
Apprentice,” Donald Trump seemed to relish announcing, “You’re
fired” to losing contestants. But most employers recoil from having to
tell employees that they will be “downsized.” To make a difficult job
easier, managers sometimes use euphemisms and jargon to avoid bluntly
announcing that someone has been laid off. In fact, cutbacks have generated new
words like “rightsizing” and “re-engineering.”
Regardless of the language,
an economic tailspin forces organizations to explain to laid-off employees that
what’s bad for them is best for the company. At eBay, 1,500 employees lost
their jobs in a program of “employee simplification.” At Yahoo the
CEO explained layoffs as a way for the company to “become more fit.”
No matter how you look at
it, people are worried about losing their jobs, and those who remain are
worried about whether the company will stay in business.
Experts differ on how to
reveal possible workforce reductions. Should managers disclose the news
indirectly and quietly? Or should they use the direct approach and announce
loudly that they are taking forceful action to strengthen the organization in a
dour economy? Some say that executives should use bland language to minimize
the public relations fallout from mass firings. Vague explanations and even
corporate jargon may be appropriate to reduce the negative effect on remaining
employees and on recruiting new employees when the economy rebounds. Opaque
language and euphemisms may lessen the impact of layoffs.
Part 1:
Your company has decided
to lay off 10 percent of its workforce to maintain profitability. Although
every department has participated in cost-cutting measures, expenses continue
to mount, and sales are not where they should be. Your direct supervisor,
Shirley Schmidt, has asked you to draft an email that goes to the staff whose
jobs are untouched by the layoffs. The goal is to assure key employees that
management is in control of the situation. You need to emphasize that your
company maintains a strong strategic vision, and that management is convinced
of the firm’s rosy future in the tech industry. Still, layoffs are necessary to
make the company more financially stable. Ever mindful of its people, your
company is taking all possible measures to assist those who have lost their
jobs. These reductions will help make the firm stronger, says Schmidt.
In addressing remaining
employees, your message should explain the bad news and strive to preserve employee
morale. Decide whether to use the direct or indirect approach. Apply as many
concepts as possible from the readings. After you’ve written the
letter, write an essay describing how you used the ideas from the
readings.
Part 2:
One part of your company’s
business (again, the same company in the Case Assignments 1 and 2) is website
design and hosting services. Your company values its clients and understands
that the recession has affected everyone. But lately you’ve realized that some
clients are sapping your business’s already stretched resources. One of your
first patrons—Minnie MacElroy of Minnie’s Miniscule Miniatures—has been a
demanding client from the get-go. She asked for changes to the site design she
had already approved, forcing you to put in more hours than your quote covered.
Once the site went live, Minnie consistently badgered you to make other changes
so often that you did them without charge just to get her off your back. When
payment of her monthly hosting fee started becoming erratic, you agreed to let
her slide until her business picked up. But now she’s six months delinquent.
Despite repeated phone
calls and several letters asking her to make a payment, you have received
nothing. As a business owner, you understand how difficult it is to keep your
doors open. You have had to lay off your best Web designer and are now doing
your own bookkeeping instead of paying for that service. The contract MacElroy
signed has a provision that if an account remains unpaid, your company may opt
to render the site nonfunctional. The contract also states that your company
retains the copyright on the design of any site it has created. While you are
hesitant to lose any business in this economic climate, you have decided that
some clients are more trouble than they are worth, and that if MacElroy
doesn’t begin paying the money she owes you, you will exercise your option
of closing her site.
Write a letter informing
Minnie that you are closing down her site if she does not pay the money she
owes you. Should you fully explain that she has been a difficult customer, or
should you rely on her lack of payment as your reason for threatening to break
the contract?
Address your letter to
Ms. Minnie MacElroy,
27694 Bay Point Lane,
Bonita Springs, FL 34134.
(Assignment derived from
Dr. Guffey’s Business Communication Newsletter)
In both letters, include
a discussion to explain your approach in each case.
Submit your assignments
by the module’s due date.
Assignment
Expectations
Case Expectations
In the email and letter
from Part 1 and Part 2, you are expected to apply the concepts on negative
communication to demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively in written
forms. Please use proper English. Sentences must be properly constructed and
free of grammatical and typographical errors. No citations are needed the
written communication.
In your summary, you are
expected to explain why and how you incorporated the principles you used in
writing your email and letter. Your explanation should make use of at least two
sources from the required readings. It should be analytical and sufficiently
rigorous to demonstrate synthesis of the concepts. The summary is to be
prepared as an academic essay. Content should be clearly presented with a
logical flow. Formal citations are required, along with a formal bibliography.
Case General Expectations
In the Case Assignments,
students will assume the role of a Manager in Employee Communications at a
large service firm, such as a bank, or an advertising or consulting firm.
Students will assume this role throughout the Case Assignments and be
challenged with different scenarios, requiring written and verbal
communication.
Formal citations and a
bibliography are required unless otherwise stated.
Submit your assignments
by the module’s due date.
Rejecting Opportunities
Strategically
In this SLP, you are
given two scenarios that require you to reject opportunities using written
communication. These scenarios are a continuation of your job search, begun in
SLP 1. In your submissions, you are expected to apply the concepts covered in
this module. ***The
job I used for SLP 1 is found on this website:https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/408535500.
(1) You have been
approached by a head hunter who has a job for you. However, for various reasons
(which you will invent for this exercise), you decided to decline the
opportunity, and go for the job you really want (the one you identified in SLP
1). Write an email to the recruiter explaining your reasons for declining the
opportunity. Be sure to apply the principles covered in this module.
(2) The company you are
currently working for has decided to increase your responsibilities by adding
you to a newly established committee for a new project. Your manager feels that
your experience and skills are suited for the position on the committee. You
are currently overwhelmed by work, and given the lack of incentives (neither
added compensation nor a promotion), you have decided to politely decline.
Write an email to your General Manager explaining the situation. (Note: this is
not a letter of resignation. You are merely declining the added responsibility
while still remaining at your current job).
In both cases, include a
discussion explaining the concepts applied. Proper citations and a bibliography
are necessary.
SLP
Assignment Expectations
Both emails are expected
to be formally and professionally written. Please use proper English. Proper
salutations are required. Citations and a bibliography are not required for
this part.
In your summary, discuss
the approach you took. Explain why and how you incorporated the principles of
negative communication. Please be sure to use references, which may include the
assigned readings, to support your discussion. Formal citations are required,
along with a formal bibliography. The summary is to be prepared as an academic
essay. Content should be clearly presented with a logical flow.
SLP General Expectations
For the SLP, you are
expected to assume the role of a job seeker. You are to identify a job that
interests you in Module 1. The SLPs will take you through the job search and
application process, presenting you in different scenarios requiring you to
demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and professionally.
Formal citations and a
bibliography are required unless otherwise stated.
Submit your assignments
by the module’s due date.
Required
Atkinson, C. & Mayer, R. E., (2004).Five Ways to
Reduce PowerPoint Overload. Retrieved on 27 Feb 2015 fromhttp://www.paeaonline.org/index.php?ht=a/GetDocumentAction/i/158368
Atkinson, C. (2004a).The Cognitive
Load of PowerPoint: Q&A with Richard E. Mayer. Retrieved on
Feb 13, 2015, fromhttp://www.marketingprofs.com/4/atkinson10.asp.
Atkinson, C., (2004b).Five Experts
Dispute Edward Tufte on PowerPoint.Sociable Media.
Bowman, J. (2002). Presentation Skills. Retrieved on Feb 10,
2015, fromhttp://homepages.wmich.edu/~bowman/c6dframe.html
Doumont, J. (2005). The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint: Slides
Are Not All Evil.Technical
Communication, 52(1), 64-70.Retrieved from ProQuest.
Graves, J. A. (2012). 6 résumé writing tips for business school
grads. U.S.News & World Report. Retrieved on Feb 10, 2015, fromhttp://www.usnews.com/articles/education/top-business-schools/2012/04/11/6-resume-writing-tips-for-business-school-grads.html
Healthy Dining Finder (2015). Healthy Diet Finder homepage.
Retrieved on Feb 26, 2015, fromhttp://www.healthydiningfinder.com/home
Khoo, V. (2012). How to… write winning cover letters and
résumés.Charter, 83(5), 44-45.
Retrieved from ProQuest.
Microsoft (2015). Record and add narration and timings to a
slide show. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2015, fromhttp://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint-help/record-and-add-narration-and-timings-to-a-slide-show-HA010338313.aspx
Norman, D. (2004). In Defense of PowerPoint. Retrieved on Jan
30, 2015, fromhttp://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/in_defense_of_powerp.html
Pearson (2015e). Oral presentation skills. Retrieved
on August 8, 2015 fromhttp://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=12352
Rogers, P. (1998) TeknoSport:Communicating
to Prevent Change.Business
Communication Quarterly, 61(1), 139-145.
Tufte, E., (2003). PowerPoint Is Evil. Power Corrupts.
PowerPoint Corrupts Absolutely.Wired.
Retrieved on Feb 10, 2015, fromhttp://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html.
TUI (2015).Oral
communication rubric. Document in support of Business
Communication (BUS303). Available from Trident University International, 5757
Plaza Drive, Cypress, CA 90630.
Presentation
Create a PowerPoint slideshow as described here. Add audio to
your presentation by using the “Record Narration” option under the Slide Show
tab in PowerPoint. You will need a microphone, which should be built in on most
computers. (There is no need to have a real audience, unless you want to.)
If you have difficulty recording, submit a full script in the
notes section of your PowerPoint slides that reads the way the narration would
have, had it been presented. Your submission will be assessed based in part on
this script. You may include colloquial expressions that you would use (if any)
if speaking to a real audience.
The presentation must have at least 9 slides, including the
opening and ending slides which should not be blank. Include the appropriate
recorded narration for these slides.
You are acting as a nutrition consultant to the restaurant.
Address your presentation to Mr. Adrian Hammersmith, owner, and his staff at
Adrian’s Steak House, 974 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA 30060. You will
explain information about the Healthy Dining program which can be found at the
Healthy Diet Finder (2015) home page (http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/home).
The home page is primarily for diners. A link at the bottom of the page,
labeled “Nutrition Services,” takes dietitians and restaurateurs to information
about nutrition and other services. Your presentation should provide the
audience with an overview of the program, including information about the
services provided by and benefits of Healthy Dining. Additionally, you should
have at least one slide that describes the impact on the staff that adopting
the Healthy Dining practices will have.
Save your PowerPoint presentation with recorded narration as a
slideshow. Submit it by the module’s due date.
Assignment Expectations
The PowerPoint slideshow must be professionally prepared and include
narration. (PowerPoint presentations should not be larger than 10MB.) Record
the presentation as a slideshow and submit it.
Your slideshow will be graded according to the TridentOral
Communication Rubric(TUI,
2015).
No citations and formal bibliography are necessary for Case 4.
Case General Expectations
In the Case Assignments, students will assume the role of a
Manager in Employee Communications at a large service firm, such as a bank, or
an advertising or consulting firm. Students will assume this role throughout
the Case Assignments and be challenged with different scenarios, requiring
written and verbal communication.
Resume and Cover Letter
***The job I used for SLP 1 is found on
this website:https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/408535500.
Using the job you identified in Module 1, following the
guidelines from the above readings, write a resume and a cover letter applying for
the job. Submit your resume and cover letter. Remember and apply what you’ve
learned so far on persuasion and writing letters. Using materials from Module 1
on goodwill communication and from Module 2 on persuasion will be helpful. In
addition, materials from Module 3 on negative communication may come in handy
to prevent negative impressions. Please avoid re-stating your resumes on your
cover letters. Focus on your strengths and make your case a compelling one.
Submit your assignments by the module’s due date.
SLP Assignment Expectations
Your submission should include a well-written resume and cover
letter. These documents should apply what you have learned in the course. Both
are to be formally written in a professional way. Please use proper English. Your
resume and letter will be graded on overall effectiveness and how much and how
well you applied ideas from the readings. This includes their ability to
generate goodwill and convince your prospective employer on your strengths,
while preventing potential negative impressions. Achieving these would make a
compelling case for your application and hence, give you an opportunity to be
interviewed.
No citations and formal bibliography are necessary for SLP 4.
SLP General Expectations
For the SLPs, students are expected to play a role as themselves
in the job market. You are to identify a job that interests you in Module 1.
The SLPs will take you through the job search and application process,
presenting you in different scenarios requiring you to demonstrate your ability
to communicate effectively and professionally.
