This communication plan outlines steps for launching an organizational change initiative, including gaining support from management, educating staff on the need for change, and enabling individuals to understand how the change will impact them. It recommends establishing "Change Process Teams" for collaborative work and information sharing. The plan also describes methods for keeping people informed throughout the process, such as collecting and sharing feedback, and addressing negative responses to the change through democratic discussion and differentiation in presentations. The overall goals are to increase opportunities for input, teamwork, and a stronger organizational culture through an inclusive process focused on continuous improvement.

1. Communication PlanNick Taylor
July 7th, 2016
AET/560
Natasha Spellman

2. How to launch communication
plan
Pre-approval phase
 Become the expert
 Use well researched best practices
 Present using charts, diagrams, and other visual aids
 Coordinate high level administration
 Must gain management teams’ support
Infuse the need for change
 Educate staff
 Provide background knowledge
 Discuss Best Practices
 Make reassurances
 Use interpersonal skills to assuage fears

3. How to launch (cont.)
Enable individuals to understand the impact that the change
will have on them
 Clarify processes and protocols (structural job changes)
 Task Realignment Theory
 Coordinate Skill sets
 Orient tasks toward ultimate goals
 Assign responsibilities
 Create “Change Process Teams”
 Used for collaborative work and information dissemination
 Incentives Programs
 Include fiscal benefits, as well as incentives that create
community, increase individual power, and create a sense of
satisfaction

4. Keeping people informed
Traditional methods
 Transparency of collected data
 Collect customer feedback continuously
 Analyze data within “Change Process Teams”
 Share conclusions across disciplines
 Committee work
 Brainstorm Initiatives for improving customer feedback
 Design SMART goals
 Specific, Measurable, Action-Based, Relevant, Time-bound
 Shared reflection/Celebration
 Events surrounding success
 Generate shared analysis

5. Keeping people informed
(cont.)
 The technology needed to accomplish the plan
 Online Calendars and FAQs
 Digital Stakeholder Forums
 Audience Response Technology (Phone apps)
 Collects information from participants simultaneously
 Analyzes collected data and presents findings
 Can be used with equipment provided by school
(ipads/computers) or from devices owned by students (i.e.
smartphones)
 Supporting communication and voting in administrative
environments

6. Shifting Focus
Generating feedback for continuous improvement
 Collect feedback from various sources
 Surveys and questionnaires
 Town hall style meetings
 Committee discussions
 Direct interpersonal contact
 Use information from all stakeholders
 Employees
 Customers
 Management

7. Shifting Focus (cont.)
How to address negative responses or
communications about the change
1. Democratic discussion
• Include as many stakeholders
as
Possible
• Actively listen to concerns
2. Create “dissatisfaction”
• Sharing competitive information
• Benchmarking the organization's
performance against others
• Challenging inappropriate
behaviors through highlighting
their impact
3. Differentiation in presentation
• Audiences learn in different ways
• Catering to various learning
modalities can assist with
understanding/acceptance
4. Increased interpersonal contact
• Building relationships enhances
buy-in
• Creates opportunities for
Conversations
• Supports the conflict resolution
process

8. How plan helps organizational
change
 Increases opportunities for employees to give input
 Both through traditional and digital methods
 Increases teamwork and committee work
 Provides incentives to build stronger culture
 Employee receive additional support and power through the
included democratic process
 Celebrates success supported by well crafted research
 Available data collected through ethical practices bolsters
support of initiatives
 Focuses attention on reasonable, measurable goals
 Provides both opportunity and accountability