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Purpose
This assignment will familiarize students with the direct writing approach and plans for informative messages whether electronic or paper-based. First, students will learn how to format a business report based on paragraph sequence. Second, students will use a direct strategy for writing paragraphs. Direct approach messages are routine; they help workers conduct everyday business. Such routine messages include simple requests for information or action, replies to customers, and business reports. The report in this assignment is a short formal business report.
Business reports are official documents containing data, research, information, and other necessary details to help decision-makers form plans and objectives to help the company. Depending on the topic, a formal business report could be several pages long and include extensive information. For example, a justification or recommendation report proposes an idea or project results to management. The body will include sections like risks, costs, and benefits. An example would be a proposal to buy a machine for the workplace. In this example, to convince the decision-maker to buy the machine, you would create this report to make a compelling argument.
Knowledge
This assignment will also help you to become familiar with the following important content knowledge in this discipline:
Critical thinking
Business communications and writing skills direct approach
Techniques related to editing, revising, and proofreading skills
Tasks
Please read the enclosed From Microsoft to New Heights Tech: The Case of Wearable Technology in the Workplacecase study to compose your assignment. As a consultant to the Talent Development team, you have been asked to write internal policy for all employees on the use of wearable technology for their wellbeing. The policy should inform employees to complete the training within one week along with other guidelines while reinforcing the benefits of the wellbeing initiative. Use an audience-centered approach. NHT does not want to discourage employees from participating in the wellbeing initiative. Your task is read the case and use the associated policy template to write your report.
The policy report should include 6-7 pages as shown in the criteria for success, excluding cover page, TOC, references. Be creative and realistic with your answers and do your best to research and find reliable answers. The template has the titles as Level-2 headings to help organize your answers. Please follow it closely.
Training and Education
Social Etiquette
Guests and Visitors
Professional Conduct
Privacy and Data Security
Confidentiality
Distraction Management
Health and Safety
Compliance with Policy
From Microsoft to New Heights Tech:
The Case of Wearable Technology in the Workplace
Recently, Microsoft made a commitment to improving employee health and wellbeing by using a holistic
wellness approach – and it paid off. Microsoft employees reported a 47% increase in physical activity and a 5%
reduction in body mass (Bihani, 2023). Microsoft understands the importance of a holistic health and wellness
approach that involves not only an employee’s physical health, but also their financial, mental, and emotional
wellbeing (Kawamoto, 2023). Employee health and wellness initiatives have also proved to be beneficial to the
organization. Some organizations have reported a decrease in lost days work and worker’s compensation
claims (Berry et al., 2010). Healthy employees can save an organization money. These impressive results have
inspired other organizations, like New Heights Tech, to invest in health and wellness incentives for employees.
New Heights Tech
New Heights Tech (NHT) is a mid-sized organization with 250 employees located throughout the Midwest. NHT
specializes in providing internet, TV, phone, and home security services to residential and commercial
customers. Recognizing the majority of their employees are engaging in sedentary work, NHT chose to invest
in their employees by way of a new health and wellbeing initiative. The initiative focused on physical, mental,
emotional, and financial health by way of technology-driven software and wearable devices.
Implementation of New Initiative
At the beginning of the year, NHT employees were provided access to the new software platform and issued
their own smart watch to track their individual goals via the platform. NHT leveraged the technology to gamify
the new wellness initiatives. The overwhelming majority of employees embraced the gamified approach and
were motivated to actively participate in the initiative. What could go wrong?
Unexpected Consequences of Wearable Devices
NHT provided training for how to use the wellness software platform and how to actively participate in the
wellness initiative. Most employees were wearing their smart watch all day – including in meetings with
coworkers or customers. A number of customers have complained about NHT employees being distracted.
There was one instance of an NHT employee inadvertently taking a personal phone call from their smart watch
in front of a customer.
Your Assignment
NHT understands the benefits of their new health and wellbeing initiative. They have invested in their
employees and want to see the program continue. However, NHT is considering ending the use of wearable
devices if the devices continue to negatively impact the customer experience and office culture.
The NHT Talent Development Department created a training on best practices for using wearable devices. This
training includes adapting smart watch settings, smart watch etiquette, and NHT expectations for using the
wearable device. As a consultant to the Talent Development team, you have been asked to write internal policy
for all employees on the use of wearable technology for their wellbeing. The policy should inform employees
to complete the training within one week along with other guidelines while reinforcing the benefits of the
wellbeing initiative. Use an audience-centered approach. NHT does not want to discourage employees from
participating in the wellbeing initiative.
You are welcome to use evidence from this case or evidence you have found on your own to help support your
message. Your message must follow email conventions, use professional tone and style, and persuade
employees.
References
Berry, L. L., Mirabito, A. M., & Baun, W. B. (2010). What’s the hard return on employee wellness programs?
Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2010/12/whats-the-hard-return-on-employeewellnessprograms
Bihani, V. (2023). Beyond water coolers: Empower employee wellness with smart technology. Forbes.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/06/23/beyond-water-coolersempoweremployee-wellness-with-smart-technology
Kawamoto, D. (2023). 5 important takeaways from Microsoft’s HR strategy. Human Resource Executive.
Microsoft. (2022). Microsoft new future of work report 2022.
https://www.microsoft.com/enus/research/uploads/prod/2022/04/Microsoft-New-Future-of-WorkReport-2022.pdf
Microsoft to New Heights Tech:
Wearable Technology Policy
Introduction
Objective
Scope
Guidelines
1. Training and Education
2. Social Etiquette
3. Guests and Visitors
4. Professional Conduct
5. Privacy and Data Security
6. Confidentiality
7. Distraction Management
8. Health and Safety
9. Emergency Situations
10. Prohibited Activities
11. Accessibility Considerations
12. Compliance with Policy
13. Battery Usage
Policy Enforcement
Review and Modification
Approval Date
[Signature]
[Name of the Responsible Officer or Department]
