Management homework help

ASSIGNMENT 1
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
Due Week 4, worth 150 points
The ability to effectively communicate is one of the most in demand and sought
after skills in today’s workforce. As a business professional, you will be
expected to not only communicate in a clear and concise way, but to do so
strategically. These communication skills are necessary to manage personnel
effectively and to drive your organization toward its strategic goals and
outcomes. Effective communication starts with planning. By developing a
strategic communications plan you will be more intentional in your messages
and the actions you ask of your audience. This plan is the foundation for
Assignments 2 and 3.
INSTRUCTIONS
Create a written strategic communications plan for the professional communication challenge or opportunity of your choice. Your plan should include the
following components and may be written in a professional report format. See
the formatting requirements for additional information.
1. Description
a) What is your challenge or opportunity?
b) Why is this professionally important to you?
2. Goal
a) What goal or outcome do you want to achieve with
this communication?
i. Is it clear, concise, and actionable?
3. Audience
a) Who is your target audience?
i. What are the professional positions of the
audience members?
ii. What demographic characteristics will the
audience comprise?
iii. What is your relationship to the audience?
iv. What background knowledge and expertise does
the audience have?
v. What does the audience know, feel about, and expect
concerning this communication?
vi. What preconceptions or biases do you possess
that might prevent you from building rapport
with your audience?
b) What information is available about your audience?
i. What research/sources will you use to obtain information
about the audience?
ii. What conclusions have you been able to draw about
the audience?
c) What tone will you use to convey your message?
i. Is the setting casual or formal?
ii. Is the communication personal or impersonal?
4. Key Message
a) What is the primary message you must convey to
your audience?
i. Is the message compelling and memorable?
ii. Is the message clear and concise?
iii. Is the message aligned with your audience’s goals
and needs?
5. Supporting Points
a) What three to four points, reasons, or justifications
support your message?
i. What research/sources will you use to obtain facts/data
about your message?
6. Channel Selection
a) What communication style will you employ
(Tell/Sell or Consult/Join), and why?
b) What channel(s) will you use to deliver your message,
and why will they be the most effective?
c) What purpose is served by each channel you have selected?
7. Action Request
a) Is your call to action you are making to your audience clear,
concise, and easily actionable?
Note: You may create and establish all necessary assumptions needed
for the completion of this assignment. The scenario is yours to explain.
This course requires use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The
format is different than other Strayer University courses. Please take a
moment to review the SWS documentation for details.
POINTS: 150
Criteria
1. Description
Weight: 10%
Does not or
incompletely
describes
challenge or
opportunity
and/or may
not provide
information on
why this topic
is professionallyimportant/relevant.
Partially
describes
challenge or
opportunity
and/or provides some
information on
why this topic
is professionally important/relevant.
Adequately
describes
challenge or
opportunity
and/or
provides
information on
why this topic
is professionally important/relevant.
Fully
describes
challenge or
opportunity
and provides
information on
why this topic
is professionally important/relevant.
The communication goal is
unclear or is
not defined.
The communication goal is
fairly defined.
It is somewhat
clear, and may
need further
refinement to
be concise
and clearly
actionable.
The communication goal is
satisfactorily
defined. It is
mostly clear,
is actionable,
but could be
more concise.
The communication goal is
exceptionally
well-defined. It
is clear, concise, and
actionable.
2. Goal
Weight: 5%
Unacceptable
Below 70% F
Fair
70-79% C
Proficient
80-89% B
Exemplary
90-100% A
ASSIGNMENT 1: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
The communication does
not include an
audience
analysis,
draws irrelevant conclusions about
the audience,
or incompletely addresses
the characteristics, motivations, and
expertise of
the audience.
Does not
identify the
tone to be
used to
convey
message.
The communication
includes an
analysis of the
audience, but
this is insufficient. The
communication includes
some relevant
conclusions
about the
audience, the
characteristics, motivations, and
expertise of
the audience.
Identifies only
one element
of the tone to
be used to
convey
message.
Audience
analysis is
sufficient to
the task. The
author
thoughtfully
considers
most of the
characteristics, motivations, and
expertise of
the audience,
drawing
mostly relevant conclusions. Identifies both
elements of
the tone to be
used to
convey
message.
Audience
analysis is
thorough. The
author
thoughtfully
considers the
characteristics,
motivations,
and expertise
of the audience, drawing
highly relevant
conclusions.
Identifies both
elements of
the tone to be
used to
convey
message.
The key
message is
unclear and/or
is illogical. It
does not align
with the
goals/needs
of the audience.
The key message is fairly
clear, concise,
and logical. It
may be
somewhat
compelling
and memorable and aligns
somewhat
with the
goals/needs
of the
audience.
The key message is mostly
clear, concise,
and logical. It
is sufficiently
compelling
and memorable and is
sufficiently
aligned with
the
goals/needs
of the audience.
The key message is
completely
clear, concise,
and logical. It
is exceptionally compelling
and memorable. It is
well-aligned
with the
goals/needs
of the audience.
3. Audience
Weight: 20%
4. Key Message
Weight: 15%
The communication does
not provide
three or four
points,
reasons, or
justifications
to support the
key message,
and does not
list sources
to be used to
support the
message.
The communication provides three or
four points,
reasons, or
justifications
that support
the key message to some
degree, but
this support is
incomplete,
and may not
list relevant
sources to be
used to support the message.
The communication provides three or
four points,
reasons, or
justifications
that support
the key message sufficiently, and
lists mostly
relevant sources to be used
to support the
message.
The communication provides three or
four points,
reasons, or
justifications
that clearly
support the
key message
in a compelling manner,
and lists
entirely relevant sources
to be used to
support the
message.
The communication does
not identify or
incompletely
identifies the
communication style
and/or communication
channel(s),
while failing to
provide sufficient rationale
for the channel selection(s).
The communication identifies the communication
style and
communication channel(s), but to
an insufficient
degree. Rationale for the
style and
channel selection(s)
explains the
chosen
method of
delivery insufficiently.
The communication identifies the communication
style and
communication channel(s) sufficiently. Rationale for the
style and
channel selection(s)
explains the
chosen
method of
delivery adequately.
The communication style
and communication channel(s) are
thoughtfully
chosen. Rationale for the
style and
channel selection(s)
explains the
chosen
method of
delivery in a
compelling
and thorough
manner.
5. Supporting
Points
Weight: 15%
6. Channel
Selection
Weight: 10%
The request
made of the
audience is
unclear, or
action cannot
be taken
based on the
communication.
The request
made of the
audience is
fairly clear, but
may not be
actionable.
The request
made of the
audience is
sufficiently
clear and is
actionable.
The request
made of the
audience is
thoroughly
clear and
easily actionable.
Writing does
not meet
minimal standards.
Tone is not
professional.
Communication is wholly
lacking in
logic, clarity,
and/or consistent formatting.
Contains
many spelling,
mechanical,
formatting,
citation,
and/or grammatical errors.
Writing is
satisfactory.
Professional
tone is developing.
Shows moderate logic,
clarity, and/or
consistent
formatting.
May contain
more than a
few spelling,
grammar
mechanical,
formatting, or
citation errors.
Writing could
be improved,
but meets
acceptable
standards.
Tone is professional.
Shows logic,
clarity, and
consistent
formatting.
May contain
few or no
spelling,
mechanical,
and/or grammatical errors.
There may be
a small
formatting or
citations
errors.
Writing is
excellent.
Tone is professional and
sophisticated.
Shows logic,
clarity, and
consistent
formatting.
Contains no
spelling,
mechanical, or
grammatical
errors, and
formatting and
citations meet
standards.