BUS311 – Managerial Communications Persuasive and Negative Messages

Overview: The ability to write a persuasive message in business communication is an important skill. Occasionally, you will need to deliver bad news within your message. In this assignment, you will practice the skill of writing a persuasive memo containing negative news.

 Instructions: 

• Choose one of the following options to complete:

 o You are a member of the Finance Department for Post Corporation, as well as a trusted colleague and CEO. Upon analysis of the financial statements, you have determined that the amount of debt the company has is too much to come back from using normal business procedures given the declining performance in recent years, due to alternative purchasing methods by customers. Your task is to write a persuasive memo to the CEO explaining why you feel that the best action to take going forward is to close the stores. Focus on the tone of the memo. You can use outside resources to help prove your point – be sure to cite any outside sources in APA format.

 o You are the CEO of Post Corporation and you have just received the report from the Finance Department regarding the inability of the company to pay off its debt. Reluctantly, the only option is to liquidate all the inventory in order to salvage as much money as possible before closing the stores. Your task is to compose a memo directed to the organization’s stakeholders, which includes employees, the Board of Directors, senior management, customers, and/or suppliers. In the memo, focusing on the tone, explain the rationale for the decision to close the stores.

 Requirements:

 • Use memo format to communicate a clear message.

 • Write your memo in a professional style and tone. 

• Cite resources using APA format.