Next week, you will submit Assignment 2. Your research for this discussion question will be a part of that assignment. Read the Assignment 2 instructions before beginning to work on this discussion question.
Go to The Wall Street Journal using the link in the course menu and find an article about a crisis that occurred at an organization in the last year. The organization could be in any sector and can be for-profit or not-for-profit.
Considering the course materials for this week, respond to the following:
- Describe the crisis faced by the organization and post a link to the article.
- What communication tactics did the organization use to address the crisis?
- Refer to both Jack's and Warren's guidance for dealing with crises.
- To what extent was the organization's crisis communication plan effective? If you were a senior leader in the organization, would you have responded differently? Explain.
This week and next, continue to research this crisis as you prepare for Assignment 2.
For your discussion posts, please review, integrate, and cite course materials to illustrate your application of sound business communication practices, support for your position(s), and demonstration of thought leadership.
NAVIGATING A CRISIS
Assignment #2 – Navigating a Crisis
[Write Your Name Here]
Jack Welch Management Institute
JWI505: Business Communications and Executive Presence
[Write Your Professor’s Name Here]
[Write the Date Here]
Part One: Memo Outline
Your 1-page outline is your “game plan” for your memo. Bullets and sentence fragments are permitted. Keep the outline format and simply answer the questions asked to organize your messaging creating a roadmap for your memo.
The Crisis Faced by [Write the Company Name Here]
1. The Nature of the Crisis
a. What are the 2-3 most critical points that must be presented in the memo to accurately summarize the nature of the crisis without going into non-essential details?
b. Why are you focusing on these points?
2. The Factors That Led to the Crisis
a. What key circumstances – decisions, mistakes, timelines, personnel, and/or departments caused the crisis?
b. Why are you focusing on these?
3. The Impact on Stakeholders (both Internal and External)
a. What are the most important adverse outcomes you want to highlight in your memo?
b. Why are you focusing on these?
c. Are there any outcomes you do NOT want to include in the memo? Why?
4. The Plan to Resolve the Crisis
a. What are the critical next steps to get through the crisis?
b. Who will own these steps, and what are the timelines?
c. What do you need from your team?
d. Why are you focusing on these actions?
Part Two: Memo
You will write your 1–2-page memo from the perspective of a leader within that company. The memo will be addressed to your team members and will communicate information about the crisis and your response. Your submission should be typed, double-spaced, with a blank line between paragraphs, using a professional font (size 10-12). Use headings to guide your memo. The headings below should be updated as needed to apply to your content. Application of course material or other resources is needed. References and in-text citations must be included and provide appropriate information that enables the reader to locate the original source. Use the JWMI Writing Standards Guide in Course Documents to guide you in the formatting of your citations. Follow the format below.
Memo
TO: All Domestic Employees of [Write the Company Name Here]
FROM: [Write the Chosen Leader’s Name Here]
DATE: [Write the Date Here]
RE: [Write a Subject Line Here]
Heading 1 – The Nature of the Crisis
In a paragraph summarize the nature of the crisis, highlighting the 2-3 most critical points. Be focused and concise.
Heading 2 – The Factors That Led to the Crisis
In a paragraph discuss what led to this crisis.
Heading 3 – The Impact on Stakeholders
In a paragraph discuss that the impact on internal and external stakeholders was.
Heading 4 – The Action Plan
In a paragraph discuss the next steps to get through this crisis. Include will own these steps and what are the timelines. Let your team know what you need from them.
References (examples below; this goes on the last page)
1. JWI505. Week 5. Lecture Notes
2. JWI505. Week 6. EoP Video. Jack Welch
3. Jack Welch. 2005. Winning
4. Heather Haddon. August 10, 2020. McDonald’s Sues to Recover Severance from Fired CEP, Claiming He Lied About Affairs with Employees. The Wall Street Journal. https:// www.wsj.com/articles/mcdonalds-sues-to-recover-severance-from-fired-ceo- claiming-he-lied-about-affairs-with-employees-11597064924
5. Jack Garson. October 1, 2019. Crisis Management: Do You Have the Right Plan?. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackgarson/2019/10/01/crisis-management-do-you-have- the-right-plan/#27e3138b4907
In-text Citing Examples (based on the examples above)
Quotes:
In the Week 5 EoP video Jack states that he likes to “plan for a crisis and act with haste before it gets out” (Welch, 2). Jack also says to “get all the brains in the game” (Welch, 3).
Paraphrased Research: As we refocus our planning on guiding our company through this time of crisis it is critical that we all have a voice and share our ideas (Welch, 3).
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JWI 505 Assignment 2 Template (1232) Page 1 of 5