In response to your classmates, evaluate their choices and reasoning.

Discuss risks associated

with delivering news via an oral, interpersonal message and suggest a scenario at your workplace
in which a written memo or letter would be the best medium for sharing information.

Hi Courtney,
I agree that although technology makes it easy and convenient to quickly release a message,
face-to-face conversations allow people to pick up on nonverbal cues that are not present in
online or written communications. Being able to see each other's nonverbal communication cues
helps us more easily understand what the other person is saying (Wooll, 2022). There is so much
about communication that depends on nonverbal cues. Senders can see when someone is
uncomfortable or checked out of a conversation when they are face-to-face with them. Seeing
these nonverbal cues can allow senders to adjust their message to better suit the receiver's needs.
As you said, 15 is a small enough number to have those intimate face-to-face conversations. I
believe addressing an issue such as faulty products should be had in person, if possible. It
establishes your company as respectable, caring, and customer oriented.
There are some risks associated with delivering news orally. One risk is the emotional
intelligence of the sender. The emotional IQ of a person determines the ease and comfort with
which they can communicate with others (Toppr, 2022). When a sender is passionate or
emotionally connected to a message, sometimes they can let their emotions get the best of them,
which can cause their message to be affected. For a message to be perceived properly, senders
have to put their emotions aside and take into consideration the emotions of others.
Written memos are also an excellent medium for sharing information internally. They tend to be
more formal and a great way to inform one's staff of important information. A memo
communicates something of immediate importance to people within a business or organization
(Mclaughlin, 2010). For example, when a policy is updated following a crisis at work, a formal
memo would be the best medium to use to update the staff on the changes.
References
Mclaughlin, M. (2010). Business Memo. Western Technical College.
https://www.westerntc.edu/sites/default/files/student-life/documents/OWC/BusinessMemo.pdf
Toppr. (2022). Barriers in Communication. https://www.toppr.com/guides/business-
correspondence-and-reporting/communication/barriers-in-communication/
Wooll, M. (2022, January 11). Why face-to-face communication matters (even with remote
work). BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/face-to-face-communication
Hi Brayan,
I agree that the channels the sender chooses will have a significant impact on rather the company
will suffer backlash or damage to its reputation. The medium has been found to be more
important than the message itself, so organizations must consider multiple mediums when
communicating their message, especially on social media (Schultz et al., 2011). As with the
medium, timing is also critical in a communications crisis. The sooner you respond to a crisis,
the sooner you regain control and the least negative repercussions your brand will suffer (Agnes,
2013). You mentioned you would speak to the affected parties before releasing a message to the
public. Although speaking with the affected parties is important, I believe getting a message out
to the public should be the first course of action. News can spread like wildfire, so getting on top
of the issue as soon as possible is key to keeping your brand's reputation intact. Your message
can even include a note about reaching out to the selected parties as soon as possible. This will
let the affected parties know the company will be in touch with them soon.
Speaking to people face-to-face in crisis situations can be very beneficial. Face-to-face
interactions allow senders to see the nonverbal behaviors of their receivers. However, verbal and
interpersonal messages can present some risks. When oral messages are presented in a formal
way, this can cause the receivers to be uncomfortable or unsure of what to say. Feedback is often
more difficult to obtain in a formal setting because questions may seem inappropriate or the
questioner may be shy, making their feedback more challenging to read (Veltsos & Hynes,
2021). In a crisis, the sender must be mindful of their approach and tone when speaking face-to-
face with the affected parties. Senders should ensure they create a safe space for those affected to
voice their opinions and give feedback.
Aside from oral communication, sending a written memo can be an excellent medium to use
when communicating internally. After a crisis, policies may be altered, announcements of
actions may be released, or staffing may be changed. These changes and announcements will be
best received if released by a formal written memo. This allows employees to keep track of the
information and read it at a time that's most convenient for them. Business people can produce
and deliver memos unobtrusively, and employees can read the memo at their leisure
(Thibodeaux, 2019). Using memos as a medium will allow operations to remain efficient.
References
Anges, M. (2013, July 8). What is your ideal crisis response time? Melissa Agnes.
https://melissaagnes.com/what-is-your-ideal-crisis-response-time/
Schultz, F., Utz, S., & Göritz, A. (2011). Is the medium the message? Perceptions of and
reactions to crisis communication via Twitter, blogs and traditional media. Public Relations
Review, 37(1), 20-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2010.12.001
Thibodeaux, W. (2019, January 11). The disadvantage of a standard memo for communication
in business. Small Business. https://smallbusiness.chron.com/disadvantage-standard-memo-
communication-business-23564.html
Veltsos, J. R., & Hynes, G. E. (2021). Managerial communication: Strategies and applications
(8th ed.). Ingram. vbk://9781544393315