DCL 600M Decisive communications

Step 1: Prepare to Think CriticallyIn this first step, you will prepare to respond to your boss’s request for
an analysis of a problem in your organization. You realize that this will
require careful thinking. So, you need to take time to review the
process of critical thinking and problem analysis, as well as key habits of
master thinkers and ethical decision making.
When you have finished your review of the learning resources, move
on to the next step to identify the problem.
Step 2: Identify the Problem
Now that you have reviewed the process, apply that to the problem at
hand by reviewing the appropriate case from this list and preparing a
critical analysis of the issues.
Your first task is to figure out how the circumstances resulted in a
problem for the organization. Remember the direction from your boss is
to “apply your critical thinking and analytical skills to figure out what
happened, what we know and don’t know, and how the organization
might remedy this situation.”
What is the problem that resulted from the circumstances, and why
might there be different interpretations of the facts? Outline the points
that you want to make in the first two sections of your paper
(introduction and explanation), and draft those sections.
Next, you will analyze the information.
Strategic Communications Critical Thinking
Scenario
As you drive in to work on a misty Friday morning, you’re looking
forward to a quiet day before taking off for home and a relaxing
weekend around the house.
As soon as you sit down in your office with that first cup of coffee, you
get a call from the COO’s office. They need you in the C-suite right
away. You let your three-person team know. Leadership is already there
with the union rep and the company’s crisis manager, so you hurry to
join them.
About 15 minutes ago, the company lost communications with its plant
in western Nebraska. One minute later, the security company called to
say alarms were going off at the transportation warehouse and live
video showed smoke; they notified the local police and fire
departments. A minute after that, the union steward there reported
absolute chaos at the plant: There was an explosion, windows smashed,
and employees inside bloodied and crying for help.
The plant manager is on the phone. He doesn’t know what happened,
but he says the Operations Manager came by and told him four
employees are missing from the transportation warehouse. You inquire
about other injuries and damage. He doesn’t know for sure, but he
thinks the main plant is okay except for the loss of electricity and
broken windows. He also mentions that from what he can see, the
building is being evacuated according to plan.
You are getting a lot of calls, and the regional press is all over your
Twitter account. You hear rumors are spreading through the office.
Employees on the scene are telling your counterpart there that a shed
outside the transportation warehouse caught on fire and took down a
wooden electrical pole, which ignited an aboveground natural gas line,
which blew up.
You want to set up a news conference but you’re not sure yet how,
where, or who should attend. Your boss wants to know what to say in
15 minutes. You have to respond, so you report to your boss a possible
explanation that you heard from your 2 crew: They heard that an
employee was smoking in the shed and that may be the cause of the
fire. Your boss states this in the news conference when he is asked.
Thirty minutes after that, your counterpart calls with another update:
All four missing employees have been found! Two are injured and the
other two are heroes who brought them to safety. All four have been
taken to the local hospital. Meanwhile, you receive a phone call from a
woman saying that she is afraid that her husband is planning to blow up
the building. He told her he planted some explosives on the property,
but she doesn’t know where.
Later in the day, you learn damage to the plant was minimal, but the
transportation warehouse was destroyed. You also hear the union rep
wants to speak to management about working conditions at the plant.
He also wants to discuss medical costs for employees above what
workers’ compensation and insurance cover.
What are your reporting priorities for all this information, and how will
you present what you know and don’t know to your boss?
Step 3: Analyze the Information
Now that you have some understanding of the nature of the problem
and the parties involved, it’s time to gather and analyze information.
The problem analysis resources will aid your analysis and development
of the third section of the paper.
Outline the points that you want to make in Section 3: Analysis of the
Information, then draft that section.
In the following step, you will consider other viewpoints, conclusions,
and solutions.
Step 4: Consider and Analyze Other
Viewpoints, Conclusions, and Solutions
Once you have completed your analysis of the incident, the next step is
to consider other viewpoints, conclusions, and solutions. To do this, you
will need to apply ethical decision making skills. If you missed it earlier,
we also recommend that you read Randolph Pherson’s “The Five Habits
of the Master Thinker,” a paper written for intelligence analysts, but
applicable to all analytical thinking and reasoning.
Outline the points that you want to make in Section 4: Analysis of
Alternative Viewpoints, Conclusions, and Solutions, and draft that
section of your paper.
When you are finished, move to the next step, which involves
developing your conclusions.
Step 5: Develop Well-Reasoned
Conclusions
Now that you’ve considered various viewpoints, you’re ready to
develop your own personal conclusions and suggest solutions that your
boss can bring to leadership in briefing them about the situation.
Remember, you may need to consult outside references, but this is not
a research paper. It should be investigative in nature about the facts of
the case. Cite any outside sources carefully.
Now, outline your argument and draft Section 5: Conclusions and
Recommendations, the final section. Your boss is expecting to receive a
concise, focused paper to prepare for further meetings. Stay focused on
the main points, although you may have many facts that could be used
to answer any questions. You will submit your paper in the final step.
Step 6: Submit Critical Thinking Paper
The final paper should be no more than five double-spaced pages,
excluding the cover page and references page(s). Organize the paper in
accordance with your preparatory steps, using these subheadings:
Title of Paper (centered and bold) There is no heading named
“Introduction”
Explanation of the Issue (centered and bold)
Analysis of the Information (centered and bold)
Consideration of Alternative Viewpoints, Conclusions, and
Solutions (centered and bold)
Conclusions and Recommendations (centered and bold)
If you have used any outside sources, you will include a References
page in proper APA 7 format.
Here are some tips for success:
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Consider outside sources if they inform your case. However, stay
on task.
Use APA style for in-text and reference citations. At this point,
your citations should be error-free.
Consider these best practices for a paper:
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An effective introduction grabs the reader’s attention and sets the
tone and direction for the rest of the paper.
Supporting paragraphs move the reader from the general
introduction to the more specific aspects of your analysis.
Body paragraphs provide support for your argument.
A conclusion leads to a natural closing for what you have
presented.