Case Study Scenario:
You are the Operations Manager for a local medium-sizedpublic relations agency located in Dubai. It has come to your attention through news media reports that an employee in your department recently posted disparaging remarks on social media about your company and its staff. The employee called your company CEO a nut-job and referred to fellow employees sissies, and alleged that the company was swindling customers in what was claimed day light robbery by white collar criminals. The employee later deleted the postings few hours later, but they were already picked up by the local news networks. It has come to your attention that your employee has violated the social media policy and you have to write a letter to terminate the job.
You need to acknowledge the employees strengths to the company such as hard working, excellent time management, and good team work skills. You also need to be aware that the employee has been warned before over the careless use of social media and discussion of company matters in public. Basically, the employee has caused massive embarrassment to the company and its reputation. Even though the employee deleted social media postings few hours later showing remorse, but the damage was already done by sensational news reports.
Instructions:
Step 1: Write a clear and concise letter based on the details provided. Use Block Layout, and make up the details you need to format and address your letter appropriately. Feel free to add any clarifying and realistic details you think are necessary, as long as you do not change the existing scenario parameters. As you edit and revise, consider you-attitude, positive emphasis, and tone carefully. Proofread for grammar, spelling, and mechanics.
Use Arial or Times New Roman font, and size 12. Think carefully about your purpose and your receiver as you make decisions about the organization of your message. Specifically, think about whether to use direct or indirect approach, what reasons are relevant and appropriate to the receiver, how the bad news should be presented, and whether there are any alternatives.
Step 2: Submit the letter in Assignment 2 Moodle (Negative letters). Please remember that if you upload more than one file, only the most recently submitted file will be retained and graded.
Reminder: You must submit this letter via Moodle for the assignment to be considered received. Please note that if you have a legitimate reason to need an extension to deadline, you must contact me a reasonable amount of time prior to the deadline to discuss the possibility of an extension (and watch for my reply so we can have a conversation about it).
Please, I will grade only what has been submitted to Moodle and checked via Turnitin. If you have any questions about this assignment, please feel free to contact me via e-mail up to 2 business days before the assignment is due.
Grading Rubric
Formatting/2
? Block Layout: align on LH margin only, single-spaced, extra space between all elements.
? All required letter elements are present.
? Letterhead is visually distinct and contains the company name, mailing address, and at least one piece of contact info (and no personal details).
? Recipients information contains required, appropriate details in correct order and format.
? Formal greeting with appropriate name is used.
? Formal sign-off with signature is used.
? If present, subject line is labelled and is visually distinct.
? Standard margins & font size is used.
? Appropriate paragraphing is used.
Content and Organization/3
? Content matches scenario requirements.
? Content meets audiences needs.
? Uses appropriate organizational approach (direct/indirect) effectively.
? Buffer is appropriate and connects to message; does not include any negatives.
? Reasons/explanations offered are relevant and appropriate.
? Negative appears only once and is clear and appropriately placed within the message.
? Reader objections are addressed through appropriate alternative(s).
? Message ends with a goodwill, forward-focused statement and next steps (with required information to move forward) linked to the alternative(s).
? All content in body paragraphs is logically sequenced and organized.
? Appropriate transitions are used.
? Overall message length is appropriate for channel.
Writing Style/3
? Uses a conversational but professional writing style.
? Makes accurate, appropriate, ethical, and familiar word choices.
? Uses active vs. passive verbs appropriately.
? Uses concise language (avoids redundancies and wordiness).
? Avoids biased language.
? Uses an appropriate tone, including politeness, you-attitude, and positive emphasis.
? Overall, message is conveyed effectively and builds goodwill.
Spelling/Grammar/Mechanics/2
? Correct spelling and capitalization throughout.
? Correct punctuation throughout.
? Grammatically correct throughout.
? Is readable at a quick glance; avoids awkward syntax.