Bad-News Messages Critique Paper
Introduction and Alignment
This is the fourth of five weekly Business Communication Analysis papers you will complete in this course. This exercise is designed to deepen your understanding of the business communication process. As you learned in Workshop Three, the AIM planning process can be used to help with many different types of business correspondence. This assignment gives you another opportunity to hone your skills!
Upon successful completion of this assignment you will be able to:
- Apply the AIM planning process to critique a company's bad-news messages to individuals or the public.
Resources
- Textbook: Business Communication: Developing Leaders for a Networked World
- Media: Communicating Bad News
- Media: Video Exercise: Writing Negative Messages: Orange Photography
- Website: Reference Point Software
http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/21270567066/
- Website: Indiana Wesleyan University's Off Campus Library Services (OCLS)
http://www2.indwes.edu/ocls/
Background Information
Bad-news refers to information which usually has a negative impact upon the recipient. It can range from a loss of employment, a poor professional evaluation, or the recall of a defective product sold into the market.
Businesses often receive scrutiny not only for the content of the bad-news message but also for the tone and approach by which the bad-news message is delivered. Although delivering a bad-news message is never a positive experience it can be an opportunity for increasing credibility when handled correctly.
In this assignment you will apply the AIM planning process for the communication of bad-news messages, where you will consider:
1. Audience analysis for bad-news messages
2. Idea development for bad-news messages
3. Media structure for bad-news messages
Instructions
1. In your textbook, Business Communication: Developing Leaders for a Networked World, read:
a. Chapter 11, "Bad-News Messages"
i. Pay particular attention to the section: "Applying the AIM Planning Process for Bad-News Messages ."
2. View the media Communicating Bad News. This lesson presentation covers the communication of bad news messages and different types of negative messages.
3. View the media Video Exercise: Writing Negative Messages: Orange Photography.
a. View the video interview that discusses how the company handles conveying negative messages. Then check your understanding by completing the five-question multiple-choice quiz (not graded).
4. Go to Indiana Wesleyan University's Off Campus Library Services (OCLS) website at http://www2.indwes.edu/ocls/
a. Find an article about a company that had to deliver a communication of bad-news to its constituents or the general public. The bad-news message could be a result of one of the following situations:
i. A product defect or failure
ii. A reduction in workforce
iii. An under-performing financial quarter
iv. A new but unpopular policy such as a pricing strategy
5. Write a 600 to 800 word paper demonstrating clear, insightful critical thinking on the proper approach to delivering bad-news messages. Review the components of bad-news messages: ease in with a buffer, provide a rationale, deliver the bad news, explain impacts, focus on the future and show goodwill. (see LO 11.3 Components of Bad-News Messages).
a. Which components are included in the bad-news message you are reviewing? Which are missing that should have been included? Explain.
b. How well did the bad-news message meet the needs of the victims and other stakeholders?
c. Do you believe the communication was completely fair? Explain.
d. What are three aspects of the bad news message that could have been improved? Explain.
6. As you write your paper, use the Reference Point software tool to improve and refine your paper.
a. Go to the Reference Point Software site at http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/21270567066/
b. Reference Point Software is a robust tool that can help you improve the APA style dimensions of your paper. It will only work if you use it; the tool will not do your work for you.
7. Take a screenshot of the title page wizard's first window, showing your running head and paper title in the Reference Point software tool. Insert the image after the References page in your paper.
8. When you have completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself and submit a copy to your instructor with the Reference Point screenshot at the end of your paper using the Dropbox by the end of the workshop.