COM510: Business Communications

Business managers and employees use  written communication every day. Opportunities for written communication  in the business world include everything from reports, memos, and  documentation to emails, instant messaging, and social media. Effective  written communication can help build and grow business relationships,  accelerate results, solicit input and feedback, rally personnel toward  shared goals, and improve personal lives. Your ability to write messages  that are clear and concise, while positioned strategically and  presented professionally, will distinguish you in your field and  personal lives.

In this assignment, you will develop a  written communication for the targeted audience you identified in the  outline for your business pitch, workplace problem/solution, or mini TED  Talk. The written proposal needed to fulfill this assignment will  depend on the information you developed in your outline, and your  further research and writing. Take the ideas from your outline to turn  your plan into a written proposal. Use subject headings and write  paragraphs that give full detail and support from your sources, urging  your audience to take action based on your proposal.

Instructions

Step 1: Begin Drafting the Assignment

Review the Feedback Template to make a list of your instructor’s  feedback from Assignment 1, as well as feedback from the discussions to  revise your outline. Incorporate the feedback into all parts of the  outline. You will write about the feedback in Part II of the assignment.

Do additional research to convince your audience that the proposal  will be successful and fulfill the five sources required for the  assignment.

Use the tell style to inform and the sell style to persuade.

Use the join style to collaborate with members of the audience.

Part I: This is where you write the plan for your target audience. What will you communicate to them?

Provide the necessary information and build credibility to build  your case for your audience. This section of your proposal might  include background information and include some of your five sources.

The subject heading might be “Background Information.” Again,  match your subject headings with the main point of your content. The  length of this section will depend on how much background information  your audience needs to understand what you are proposing.

Key Message:

Continue writing your proposal by presenting your key message  with three or four supporting points or reasons. This is where you will  bring in some of your sources, to back up your ideas and gain  credibility with your audience. Subject headings will help guide your  audience through reading your supporting sections of your proposal.  Again, how many paragraphs you will need to write depends on what you  have to provide for your audience to understand and what you are  proposing.

End your proposal with a clear call to action for your audience.  Now that you have given enough information to your audience members to  convince them that your proposal is a good one, tell them what to do  with your information. Make sure that you are direct and passionate  about your request for action and that it is clear and actionable.

Use the

Week 8 Assignment Feedback Template [DOCX]

 and feedback from the discussions to write about how you used feedback  to improve your communication plan. Write this in paragraph form.

COM510
Week 8 Assignment Guidance
As you work on your Week 8 Assignment, please consider the following:
Part I: This is where you write the plan for your target audience. What will you
communicate to them?
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State your key message clearly.
o Do not “bury the headline”—the main point should be presented directly.
o Your key message must be clear and concise.
Provide the necessary information and build credibility.
o Provide an appropriate amount of background information for the audience,
given the type of communication.
o Get to the point without unnecessary verbiage.
o Build your position as an expert or trusted colleague.
Present your key message with three or four supporting points or reasons.
o Supporting points should be appropriate for the context and needs of the
audience.
o Reasons should be compelling and relevant.
o Research should be part of the support (5 sources)
End your proposal with a clear call to action for your audience.
o Use strong verbs to start your call to action.
o Give your audience members a reason why they should take the desired action.
o Use words the provoke emotion or enthusiasm.
Write professionally.
o Communication should be clear and concise.
o Communication should build logically.
o Sentences should flow smoothly, using appropriate transitions and varying
sentence structure.
o Employ appropriate formatting for ease of reading and clarity of message
(headers, bullet points, etc.).
Demonstrate professional presence in your writing.
o Be authentic and genuine in your communication.
o Use the appropriate tone and vocabulary for your audience.
o Establish rapport to connect with your audience and grow the relationship.
© 2020 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may
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COM510
This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards. For assistance and information,
please refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course. Check
with your professor for any additional instructions.
© 2020 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may
not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.
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Week 4 Assignment – Strategic Communications Plan
Outline
Antoine: Thank you for submitting your outline. I hope you get this job! Next are the 3
key arguments and 5 sources due in the week 6 template; the written plan is due in
week 8. Your plan is the script for the 5-minute or less video you create for week 10.
You are writing the plan for the audience you chose, so keep that in mind when you
write your plan.
Please note that I put comments in your paper as well. Check your gradebook for how
your points were earned.
Your challenge, goal, and key message need to be about you and your candidacy–more
specifically. A personal value proposition statement would be stronger: I am the perfect
candidate for this job because I have Z, Y, and Z and will accomplish A, B, and C. A
value proposition statement is like a personal mission statement. You are stating who
you are, what you do, and the value-added you bring to your customers/organization.
Additionally, do you have any future plans for this role? Can you look on the company
website, see its forward, and future direction, and show how your ideas for the role will
help the company meet its goals? Therefore, one of the references would be the
company’s website (news page).
You need 5 sources for this plan. You can have a section on strategies for the interview,
which you obviously would not use in the video you create. That section could help you
get in all your sources. You might look into mentoring, for example, or use some of the
sources I mention below in my handout. You can look at your upper-level colleagues’
LinkedIn profiles to see how they moved up the company’s ranks and see about finding
a mentor.
Use the “Steps to Prepare for a Job Search or Internal Promotion” to help you with a 2minute, introductory “Tell Me About Yourself” and how to prepare behavioral questions
with the STAR Method. There are also resources on getting comfortable in an
interview.
Finally, you must get into the habit of using Grammarly on your work. Many
of the sentences you wrote here are incomplete. Install Grammarly on all your browsers,
and it will improve your professional, personal, and college communication.
I look forward to the day you call me and say, “Dr S, I got the job!” All best, Dr S
Feedback to Learner 2/18/23 10:57 AM
Antoine: Good job with your arguments and sources for your plan.
Please note that your 3 arguments are the same: pick the best candidate. You need different
arguments such as internal candidates to increase company morale, they also provide
onboarding cost savings, and they already know the company’s culture, so they are apt to stay.
Also, please use the SWS citation style: SAMPLE of SWS: ( Fall 2020 Strayer Writing Standards
Guide ) https://library.strayer.edu/ld.php?content_id=57732769
The work is the important part of any writing assignment. According to Smith, “writing things
down is the biggest challenge” (1). This is significant because…
The other side of this is also important. It is noted that “the act of writing isn’t important as much
as putting ideas somewhere useful” (2).
Sources
1. William Smith. 2018. The Way Things Are. http://www.samplesite.com/writing
2. Patricia Smith. 2018. The Way Things Really re.http://www.betterthansample.com/tiger
Note that the author’s first then last name are part of the SWS style.
Please look at the model plans I sent to you via email to give you an idea of what you might do.
When you write your plan, you will be writing the arguments/details to sell your ideas to your
audience depicted in your outline.
You need 5 sources for this 3-5 page plan (due Feb 26). Use the Strayer Writing Standard for
your intext citations and sources (directions below). The written plan is your video script for
your 5-minute or less video due at the end of week 10 (March 12). All best, Dr S
1
Communication Plan
Antoine McClendon
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Proposal For New Job Opportunity Interview
Name: Antoine McClendon
Date: January 24, 2023
1. Description:
a. What is your challenge or opportunity?
The opportunity under consideration is the prospect of getting a new job. This is an
opportunity for a job interview, and I have all it takes to get the job. I would be glad
to work for this organization.
b. Why is this professionally important to you?
The new position presents a chance to learn new abilities like organization,
presentation skills, and customer support. The opportunity to learn new, beneficial
skills is another benefit of the new position. The more I grow professionally, the more
windows of opportunity I will have to progress. I will avoid boredom, stay motivated,
and find fulfillment through learning.
2. Goal:
a. What goals or outcomes do you want to achieve with this communication?
i.
Is the communication goal clear, concise, and actionable?
This communication aims to present me as a worthwhile candidate for the job
interview. I need to create a good impression that will convince the hiring
committee that I am the most qualified and fitting candidate for the job.
3. Audience:
a. Who is your target audience?
The target audience is the overall recruitment department in the organization, with a
special focus on the human resource department. I also want to communicate with the
organization’s top executives and the department managers where I will be posted.
i.
What are the professional positions of the audience members?
1. Human resource manager
2. Chief executive officer
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3.
4.
Director
Chief Finance officer
ii. What demographic characteristics will the audience comprise?
The demographics are extremely diverse. Business people, top white-collar
administration, blue-collar office workers, and office personnel exist among
the audience. Given the prevalence of technology in modern workplaces,
email communication is a skill that everyone has mastered (Munter, 2019).
Additionally, their gender orientations vary. They are mostly baby boomers.
iii. What is your relationship with the audience?
I have no close relationship with the audience. In this case, I am a job
candidate wishing to get interviewed for the job. All the people in this group
are, therefore, new to me. I, however, look forward to creating a strong
connection with them.
iv.
What background knowledge and expertise does the audience have?
The people making the audience are highly qualified in business management.
They are top-level managers with years of experience in top-level business
management. The human resource managers and the recruitment committee
also have vast experience in hiring (Hamza et al., 2021).
v.
What does the audience know, feel about, and expect concerning this
communication?
The top management and the hiring committee believe that the organization
needs the most qualified person to fill the position. The human resource
manager expects a productive and cost-effective candidate.
vi.
What preconceptions or biases do you possess that might prevent you
from building rapport with your audience?
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I have no preconceptions about the managers. I expect the hiring committee
and human resource manager to be tough, making it difficult for me to create
a rapport.
b. What information is available about your audience?
1. Preferred communication channels
2. Typical vacation schedules
3. Humor styles they like.
4. The level of productivity they admire.
i.
What research or sources will you use to obtain information about the
audience?
1. The website of the organization
2. Biographies
ii. What conclusions have you been able to draw about the audience?
1. They are very serious about getting the best for the organization.
2. They are obsessed with the overall performance of the organization.
c. What tone will you use to convey your message?
I will use a respectful and official tone to portray seriousness.
i.
Is the setting casual or formal?
The setting will be formal. I will convince them that I am the best candidate.
ii. Is the communication personal or impersonal?
The main objective is to personalize this communication. The more relatable I
can create, the more receptive the audience will be to speaking. Furthermore,
top executives will become more welcoming, and the likelihood that I will be
hired will increase the further along the staff I can advance.
4. Key Message:
a. What is the primary message you must convey to your audience?
The primary message is that I am the best candidate for the job offer.
i.
Is the message compelling and memorable?
The message is very compelling; I will convince the committee that I should
be given the job offers. I also intend to make it as memorable as possible by
creating a long-term impression on the audience.
ii. Is the message clear and concise?
The message is clear and concise.
iii. Is the message aligned with your audience’s goals and needs?
The message is specifically aligned with the audience’s intention of getting
the best person for the job.
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5. Supporting Points:
a. What three or four points, reasons, or justifications support your message?
1. The company requires the best candidate for the position.
2. The company’s productivity, stability, and expansion will benefit
from having the best candidate.
3. The organization needs new blood, and it is best to have someone
familiar with the role.
ii.
What research or sources will you use to obtain facts and data about
your message?
I will draw on my prior job-related experience. Knowing what is expected will
be made easier by considering previous jobs’ work packages. In order to learn
more about the position, I will also use the information on the company’s
website.
6. Channel Selection:
a. What communication style will you employ (tell/sell/consult/join) and why?
I will use the tell/sell because it will help me convey my qualifications to the
audience.
b. What channels will you use to deliver your message, and why will they be the
most effective?
An email will be used because it will allow me to send clear and concise messages.
c. What purpose is served by each style and channel you have selected?
To inform the audience clearly and transparently. They will also help to convey the
message and create a positive impression (Buckman et al., 2020).
7. Action Request:
a. What is your action request?
The action request is to get the job position on offer.
b. Is your action request to your audience clear, concise, and easily actionable?
The action request is very concise and easily actionable. The audience will easily
decide on the most qualified candidate.
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References
Buckman, D. G., Johnson, A. D., & Alexander, D. L. (2020). Job Interviews: Hiring of
executives to administrators. Journal of Educational Administration.
Hamza, P. A., Othman, B. J., Gardi, B., Sorguli, S., Aziz, H. M., Ahmed, S. A., … & Anwar, G.
(2021). Recruitment and Selection: The Relationship between Recruitment and Selection
with Organizational Performance. International Journal of Engineering, Business, and
Management, 5(3), 1-13.
Munter, M. (2019). Guide to Managerial Communication, 10th Edition.