Assignment 4: "Bad News" Message Due February 13, 201 742204

Assignment 4: "Bad News" Message DUE February 13, 2014 by midnight EST. Write a release using the direct approach to deliver bad news to a community of stakeholders who care, and care quite a bit, about the bad news. You may design the situation yourself; examples include— ï‚· informing shareholders of a drop in profits; ï‚· informing employees of mandatory furlough days; ï‚· informing members that a community organization is slated for shut down; ï‚· informing employees of imminent layoffs. You need to accomplish two items in the main with this assignment: (1) deliver truly bad news in a professional and ethical manner, and (2) make sure it is truly bad news. Delivering lukewarm bad news will not push your skills as much as a writer. An example of lukewarm bad news is informing employees that due to budget cuts there will be no travel this year. An example of genuinely bad news is that due to budget cuts no contracts of temporary employees will be renewed. TASK . Read through the “Cases on p. ,â€(attached PDF) and select one of interest and/or value to you, and then complete. So that you are free to choose the “Case†that does interest you the most, you are free to adapt the instructions in this manner: all posts here should be one substantial paragraph . If the “Case†you like asks for a one-page response, only write one paragraph.

The purpose of this assignment is to craft an effective and ethical bad news message aimed at a specific community of stakeholders. The task involves selecting a scenario that involves delivering genuinely bad news—such as announcing significant layoffs, the closure of a community organization, or a major financial downturn—and communicating this news using a direct approach. The tone must be professional and empathetic, recognizing the emotional impact on the audience while maintaining clarity and honesty. Achieving the balance between transparency and sensitivity is crucial, as the message must be clear about the severity of the news without causing unnecessary distress or confusion. For example, informing shareholders of plummeting profits constitutes truly bad news that warrants straightforward communication, as opposed to news like the cancellation of optional staff travel, which may be deemed lukewarm. The task is further clarified by a requirement to select one case from provided materials, read and understand it, and then compose a succinct, one-paragraph message that effectively delivers the chosen bad news. This exercise aims to develop skills in delivering difficult messages in a manner that is both ethical and professional, emphasizing honesty and respect for the audience’s emotional response. Your message must be well-reasoned, clear, and concise to demonstrate mastery of effective bad news communication within a professional context. This assignment encourages critical thinking about the ethical implications of bad news delivery while honing writing skills for sensitive corporate or organizational communication.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Dear Shareholders,

It is with deep regret that we inform you of a significant downturn in our company's financial performance. Despite our ongoing efforts to stimulate growth, the recent quarter has seen a drastic decline in profits, primarily driven by unforeseen market challenges and declining sales. This development necessitates difficult but necessary decisions to ensure the long-term sustainability of our organization. Consequently, we regret to announce that we will be implementing a reduction in workforce, including the termination of approximately 15% of our staff, effective immediately. Additionally, we will be restructuring our operations, which may include selling off some assets and reducing discretionary expenditures. We understand that this news may cause concern and uncertainty, and we wish to emphasize that these measures, while painful, are critical steps toward stabilizing our financial health and positioning the company for future recovery. We remain committed to transparency and will provide ongoing updates as we navigate this challenging period. We appreciate your continued support and understanding as we work through these difficult circumstances.

References

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• Kliman, R. (2021). Delivering Bad News with Empathy and Clarity. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/07/delivering-bad-news-with-empathy
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