Hello, I have Business and Technical Writing paper and it has me a little stumpped. I just don't know how I can fill the requirements of the paper by the detail scenario given. I am assuming that based on the scenario I can adress the problem as a communication malfunction But based on the Step 1 of the Assignment how would I throw it all together??? ... or am I just thinking too far into this???
SCENARIO:
Int the last three months, two of the top two management people (an artist and a account executive) have left the branch. Each for a position with a competitor.
Seven others (3 graphic designers,4 copywriters are threatening to quit because they feel their creative efforts are being rejected or revised without consultation. They want to be part of a collaborative team, not produce work that the art directors and account executives evaluate arbitrarily.
In an attempt to show increased profability, the branch is accepting all potential clients without evaluating the accounts in terms of current project workload. As a result, without being given any notice and without compensation for the additional hours, al employees are working long hours several days each week. Employee moraleand productivity seem to be decreasing with each passing day.
Heres Step 1:
Write down initial problems employes may be facing that could result from this outcome?
Pick one problem (I chose lack of communication)
Now brainstorming further using one problem make a list of "Whys" of that problem to determine the fundemental causes of the problem. (Think of the problem as a set of symptoms of a illness that you need to treat. What disease is causing the symptoms? What areas of the body are affected by the disease?)
Heres Step 1
Well, first off, "lack of communication" is WAAAAYYYY too broad of a topic. You need to narrow that down.
Communication between whom?
Communication about what?
Communication by what means?
Still that'll be far too broad a topic unless you can focus it more tightly.
http://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+focus+a+broad+topic&oq=how+to+focus+a+broad+topic&aqs=chrome.0.57j62l3.7582j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Based on the scenario, it seems like you are on the right track in identifying the initial problem as a communication malfunction. To further brainstorm and determine the fundamental causes of this problem, you can ask yourself "Whys" of that problem.
Here's an example using the lack of communication problem:
1. Lack of Communication:
- Why is there a lack of communication among employees?
2. Ineffective team collaboration:
- Why is there ineffective team collaboration?
3. Work being rejected or revised without consultation:
- Why are the creative efforts of employees being rejected or revised without consultation?
4. Art directors and account executives evaluating work arbitrarily:
- Why are the art directors and account executives evaluating work arbitrarily?
5. Unrealistic focus on profitability without considering workload:
- Why is the branch accepting all potential clients without evaluating the current project workload?
6. Employees experiencing long working hours without notice or compensation:
- Why are employees working long hours without notice or compensation?
7. Decreasing employee morale and productivity:
- Why is employee morale and productivity decreasing?
By asking these "Whys," you will be able to identify the fundamental causes or underlying issues within the organization. This will help you understand the root cause of the communication malfunction and provide a basis for addressing the problem in your paper.