Strategic Communication Approach

The communication made use of the open forums to convey the strategic plan message to concerned people. The forums entailed key informational platforms such as the company media and many other channels. According to the approach, the message was conveyed to many people found on the platform. The forums provide an important platform where the information can be accessed by many people. They also have the provision of giving people room to participate in the subject. The employees can freely express their opinions, views and concerns in regard to the proposed strategic plan (Hargie, 2016). Therefore, the forums are important in helping to collect the feedback which can be utilized to deliver a robust strategic plan communication.

The decision to use the open forum communication was mainly compelled by its advantages associated with message conveyance to people. Firstly, the forums as a channel of communication have a robust feature of feedback collection which is important in effective communication. The stakeholders find an opportunity to express their views in regard to the suggested plan (Silverman et al., 2016). A communication system without feedback is not effective in nature. The feedback is important for helping the leader to perfect the plan, because people are likely to help correct the possible issues within it. By so doing, it makes it possible to deliver an appropriate plan that is acceptable and effective in nature. Also, the forums are highly accessible, and hence, many people can easily find them and take a contribution. Some channels have limits of access, hence hindering effective communication.

The Style employed in the written communication and its Justification

The communication style employed in the strategic communication plan is the sell approach. According to the method, the messages are conveyed in a way of seeking support from the audience. The approach expresses the manager’s opinion or suggestion while giving people the opportunity to take it as it is, or correct and accept it. The sell approach expresses the proposal freely for the people to buy it (Burgoon et al., 2016). In many cases, the approach is used as a way to win the support of people to take up the idea and implement it successfully. It is one of the most powerful methods that are effective in the execution of the plans that help to place people to work together for effectiveness.

The choice of the style as the sell approach aligns with the strategic communication goals of the plan and the general organization. The goals communicated in the plan need an involvement of various parties for their success. Open forums will bring them together for discussion and give them an opportunity to express their opinions and views depending on the skills, expertize and the role that they hold in regard to the strategic goals implementation. The goals needed to be achieved through the identification and conducting of the periodic pipeline repairs can only be communicated well through the sell style (Anderson et al., 2016). Also, the objectives of reducing damages and preventing failures can only be achieved through the involvement of people.

The sell approach is suitable for use because it has the power of winning people’s support. The fact that the method allows for the user participation through the airing of the views and the opinions. The scenario is one of the powerful ways of making people develop a sense of belonging to the plan, hence their support. They develop the feeling of ownership in the project because their opinions are treasured. It helps them to give their best to the project which is important for the successful implementation of the project. Cases, where the communication style does not offer people the opportunity to express themselves, make it difficult for the stakeholders to support the plan. The fact is true because they are not fully involved in the plan. Usually, the situation leads to resistance which increases the failure of failure in the plan implementation.

Additionally, the sell approach of communication has the advantage of increasing the receptiveness of the message to people. Unlike other approaches that tend to make the people feel like the message or the strategic is imposed upon them, the sell approach makes them realize that they the one designing the plan (McNair, 2017). When channeled through the forum, the communication style is effective in promoting the implementation of the plan. It helps to overcome the negative reception of the message that could otherwise increase the chances of resistance to the message.

Use Feedback to Refine the Communication

Description of the feedback Received in the Written Communication

There are various opinions and views that were received from other parties in regard to the strategic message that was communicated. Some of the key feedback that was obtained include the opinions that more parties should be integrated into the project. Diverse skills and expertise are needed for the effective management of the pipelines at the Enbridge Company. Unlike the earlier communication that only targeted the Project Control Department to handle the entire project, feedback revealed that there is a need to ensure that more people are included in the exercise for effectiveness. There was a suggestion that a multi-disciplinary team should be formed to oversee the task for better results. The decision will significantly help to win support and benefit from different skills and roles played by different people in the team. Within the team, the top leaders should be included for effectiveness.

Also, as feedback from the audience, there was the urge that the schedule should be designed and officially integrated into the strategic plan. The aspect is foreseen to ensure that the pipeline is maintained effectively according to the plan. They contribute towards making the project successful because the schedule acts as a reminder and as a guide for a successful project. Besides, there was feedback for increased financial support for the project for effectiveness. Insufficient financial support makes the project to fail, hence must be considered to increase the chances of success.

Additionally, feedback was obtained which stated that there is a need to integrate more communication channels. There should be diversification in the approaches through which people can access the information on the strategic plan. The strategy will ensure that all people get to hear the information and know there different roles that they need to consider for effectiveness (Ellis & Beattie, 2017). Some channels such as memos were to be used to provide an official communication for the implementation process. Memos as a communication channel are important for the efficient internal communications that can help the organization to inform people on their respective roles that they need to undertake within the project.

How Feedback was used to revise and improve the Message

Feedback played a critical role in enhancing successful implementation of the project plan. The urge for more parties to be incorporated into the project of managing the pipeline was important in enhancing the success of the project. The feedback helped to incorporate the actualization of the plan, is helping to establish the key elements that are important to drive it towards success. Some of the other aspects of feedback that contributed to the project actualization include the suggestions to determine the schedule to guide the team in managing the pipeline of the company. Also, the emphasis on the financial support and allocation was critical because it helped to increase the chances of success of implementing the plan (Sekaran & Bougie, 2016). Unlike in the earlier communication of the plan where these key project actualization factors had not been considered, the revision of the communication helped to improve it through the incorporation of these key elements.

Also, the feedback on the communication channels to use helped to provide weight after the revision. The feedback called for the diversification of the channel types that were used to convey the message to the audience. The suggestion was important because it played a critical role in enhancing the message passing to all the targeted audience within the company. The opinion to use the memos to convey the message in a formal way that actualizes the action in the company. These communication aspects were incorporated into the plan to deliver a better way of conveying the message to people. Generally, feedback was an important factor that refined the entire strategic communication plan ensuring that it suits the prevailing environment and the targeted, hence propelling for its successful implementation.

References

Anderson, E., Buchko, A. A., & Buchko, K. J. (2016). Giving negative feedback to Millennials: How can managers criticize the most praised generation. Management Research Review, 39(6), 692-705.

Burgoon, J. K., Guerrero, L. K., & Floyd, K. (2016). Nonverbal communication. Routledge.

Ellis, A. W., & Beattie, G. (2017). The psychology of language and communication. Routledge.

Hargie, O. (2016). Skilled interpersonal communication: Research, theory and practice. Routledge.

McNair, B. (2017). An introduction to political communication. Routledge.

Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: A skill building approach. John Wiley & Sons.

Silverman, J., Kurtz, S., & Draper, J. (2016). Teaching and learning communication skills in medicine. CRC press.