English

Bad News Message

Process Instructions:

1. Select a Writing Task from the options listed

2. Plan Your response. To create an effective bad_news Message, consider these questions:

· How should a bad news message be organized: Inductively or deductively?

· What are some communication strategies that can help you soften bad news?

3. Create a draft.

Criteria

Organization:

· Appropriate organization plan for a bad news message

· Opening effectively begins with a neutral idea

· Appropriate placement(s) of bad news statements

Rationale:

· Logical reasons for the bad news are clearly and positively explained

Audience Appeal:

· Effective application of I/YOU- centered views

· Strong good will: counter-proposal, silver-lining, focus shift to future relationship

· Strategic sentences/de-emphasis techniques (passive, complex, etc)

Formatting:

· Document is formatted appropriately per type of message (e.g. memo, letter)

· Length is 150-300 words.

Option 1:

Like many companies, your business is currently by the slow economy and is looking for ways to operate more economically rather than having to resort to more drastic measures like cutting benefits or even losing personnel. After doing some research, senior leadership at your company has determined that it would be economical for the company to shut down during the first week of July (over the 4th of july holiday) since that time period is particularly low in productivity. Therefore, your company is planning on instituting a furlough- a time where employees need to take wither paid leave or unpaid leave if they have no vacation hours accrued. You need to write a 150 to 300 word memo to your staff so that they are aware of the new policy and can plan accordingly.

Option 2:

Rosie Perkins is wishing to either return some purchased merchandise or cancel a service she ordered (Choose the option most appropriate to your business). She has written an email inquiring about the correct process to either return her purchase or cancel her order so that she can secure her refund. She explains that she has never had to return a product or cancel a service at your company in the past, which is why she is unsure of what steps to follow. The problem is that Rosie’s expectation for a refund is not in compliance with the company’s return policy that requires purchase returns or service cancellations within 30 days of the original purchase date ( a policy that is communicated on the receipt). Since the timing of her request is after 30 days, only a credit or voucher can be issues, which can be put towards future purchases at your company. Write an effective bad-news email to communicate this news to Rosie.

Option 3:

Each year, the company has a fairly extravagant holiday party to celebrate the ending of a successful year and to begin a new year on a positive, energetic note. The event has always been a catered, sit-down dinner with two entrée choices and plenty of excellent side dishes and desserts. It is also traditional to hire musicians to supply dinner and dancing music. Due to the growing size of your company and challenging economic times, your company will not be able to afford this type of lavish spending for this year’s holiday party. The dinner must be an economical buffet and musicians cannot be hired. You need to notify the committee who organizes this yearly party so that they can make appropriate plans. They will be greatly disappointed in this budget cut, so you must write an email that eloquently expresses this bad news.

Option 4:

Each year, you and other colleagues participate in a golf outing and silent auction event that raises money and awareness for a local charity. Your company is always happy to participate in this event because it is a great cause and provides an ideal chance to network with many clients. Unfortunately, due to a visit from some important overseas clients, neither you nor any other members of your company can leave the office to participate in the charity event this year. You must write a letter to the organizer, Glen Ross, to communicate this news in an effective manner.

Bad News Message

Process Instructions:

1.

Select a Writing Task from the options listed

2.

Plan Your response.
T
o
create an effective bad_news Message, consider these questions:

·

How should a bad news message be organized: Inductively or deductively?

·

What are some communica
tion strategies that can help you soften bad news?

3.

C
reate
a draft.

C
riteria

Or
ganization:

·

A
ppropriate
organization plan for a bad

news message

·

O
pening
effectively begins with a neutral idea

·

Appropriate placement(s) of bad news statements

Rationale:

·

L
ogical
reasons for the bad news are clearly and positively explained

Audience Appeal:

·

E
ffective
ap
plication of I
/YOU
–

centered views

·

Strong good will: counter
–
proposal, silver
–
lining, focus shift to future relationship

·

S
trategic
sentences/
de
–
emphasis

techniques (passive, complex, etc)

Formatting:

·

Document is formatted appropriately per type of message (e.g. memo, letter)

·

Length is 150
–
300 words.

Option 1:

Like many companies, your business is currently by the slow economy and is looking for ways to operate
more economically rather than having to
resort to more drastic measures like cutting benefits or even
losing personnel. After doing some research, senior leadership at your company has determined that it
would be economical for the company to shut down during the first week of July (over the 4
th

of july
holiday) since that time period is particularly low in productivity.
T
herefore,

your company is planning
on instituting a furlough
–

a time where employees need to take wither
paid leave or unpaid leave if they
have

no vacation hours accrued.
Y
ou
need to write a 150 to 300 word memo to your staff so that they
are aware of the new policy and can plan accordingly.

Bad News Message
Process Instructions:
1. Select a Writing Task from the options listed
2. Plan Your response. To create an effective bad_news Message, consider these questions:
 How should a bad news message be organized: Inductively or deductively?
 What are some communication strategies that can help you soften bad news?
3. Create a draft.

Criteria
Organization:
 Appropriate organization plan for a bad news message
 Opening effectively begins with a neutral idea
 Appropriate placement(s) of bad news statements
Rationale:
 Logical reasons for the bad news are clearly and positively explained
Audience Appeal:
 Effective application of I/YOU- centered views
 Strong good will: counter-proposal, silver-lining, focus shift to future relationship
 Strategic sentences/de-emphasis techniques (passive, complex, etc)
Formatting:
 Document is formatted appropriately per type of message (e.g. memo, letter)
 Length is 150-300 words.

Option 1:
Like many companies, your business is currently by the slow economy and is looking for ways to operate
more economically rather than having to resort to more drastic measures like cutting benefits or even
losing personnel. After doing some research, senior leadership at your company has determined that it
would be economical for the company to shut down during the first week of July (over the 4
th
of july
holiday) since that time period is particularly low in productivity. Therefore, your company is planning
on instituting a furlough- a time where employees need to take wither paid leave or unpaid leave if they
have no vacation hours accrued. You need to write a 150 to 300 word memo to your staff so that they
are aware of the new policy and can plan accordingly.