AET/560

1. COMMUNICATION
PLAN
K R I S T A J A C K S O N
A E T / 5 6 0
F E B R U A R Y 1 5 , 2 0 1 6
D R . N O R T Z

2. INTRODUCTION TO MCGRAW
ELEMENTARY
• McGraw Elementary is implementing
organizational changes to the way it
instructs learners.
• They are implementing iPads and the
Promethean Board into classrooms to
assist in learning
• To help the school and teachers,
McGraw Elementary needs a
communication plan.
• Communication is essential to the
success of the organizational change.

3. FOUR REASONS FOR A
COMMUNICATION PLAN
1. To infuse the need for change
throughout the organization.
2. To enable individuals to understand
the impact that the change will have
on them.
3. To communicate any structural and
job changes that will influence how
things are done.
4. To keep people informed about
progress along the way.
• (Tupper, Deszca, & Cynthia, 2012, p.
319)

4. COMMUNICATION PLAN PHASES
1. Preapproval Phase
2. Develop the Need for Change Phase
3. Midstream Change Phase
4. Confirming the Change Phase
• (Tupper, 2012, p. 320)

5. HOW TO LAUNCH THE
COMMUNICATION PLAN : 1
1. Preapproval Phase: McGraw
Elementary had to get top
management approval to start a
different way of teaching.
2. Develop the Need for Change
Process: McGraw Elementary teachers
need to know why the changes are
occurring, and communication
through the whole process is the key
to success in their organizational
change.

6. HOW TO LAUNCH THE
COMMUNICATION PLAN : 2
3. Midstream Change Phase: McGraw Elementary will
email and have meetings about progress during the
organizational change.
 Feedback is encouraged and needed during this
phase from teachers because the organizational
changes cannot be a success without feedback.
4. Confirming the Change Phase: McGraw Elementary
will have a celebration when the organizational
changes are done.
 There will be more changes to come, so everything is
cohesive, and small issues are fixed.
 The employees should be proud and acknowledged
for their excellent work.
3. Midstream Change Phase: McGraw
Elementary will email and have meetings
about progress during the organizational
changes.
 Feedback is encouraged and needed during
this phase from teachers because the
organizational changes cannot be a success
without feedback.
4. Confirming the Change Phase: McGraw
Elementary will have a celebration when
the organizational changes are done.
 There will be more changes to come, so
everything is cohesive, and small issues are
fixed.
 The employees should be proud and
acknowledged for their excellent work.

7. TECHNOLOGY NEEDED TO
ACCOMPLISH THE PLAN : 1
• Employees need the iPads for the
communication, class, training, and the
communication plan.
• An app for training purposes for the
organizational change is required on the
iPad.
• The app will have a section for
communication and feedback for the
communication plan.
• Promethean Board is needed for training
and communication.

8. TECHNOLOGY NEEDED TO
ACCOMPLISH THE PLAN : 2
• School emails are necessary to have an
email specifically for McGraw
Elementary.
– The emails are private, and they provide
a safe place for employees.
• Webcams are useful for video meetings
or conferences.
• Telephones or cell phones are needed to
communicate with employees when they
are not able to meet in person.
– Phones can be in their office at school, or
a plan for work cell phones can be
established.

9. HOW TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS
AND IMPACT : 1
• An after-action review can be conducted,
which includes the questions:
 What were the intended results?
 What were the actual results?
 Why did the actual results happen?
 What can be done better, next time?
 (Tupper, Deszca, & Cynthia, 2012, p. 328)
• Assessments will take place after the
organizational changes to answer these
questions.

10. HOW TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS
AND IMPACT : 2
• Each employee will have a chance to
voice opinions during a meeting after
the organizational changes.
• Classrooms will be evaluated with the
organizational changes to see the
effectiveness.
• Students will be able to express
opinions, innovative ideas, and show
proof of the effectiveness of the
organizational changes.

11. HOW TO GENERATE FEEDBACK FOR
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT : 1
• Anonymous surveys of feedback and
opinions should be given out to
teachers.
• The organizational change should be
assessed to make sure it is effective,
and that it is being used in the right
manner consistently.
• Setting new goals to continue
improvement in the organization
change will help teachers adjust to
continuous smaller changes.

12. HOW TO GENERATE FEEDBACK FOR
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT : 2
• Open door policy will be implemented
because teachers need a safe place to
ask questions.
• Monthly meetings will be held for the
teachers and stakeholders to address
any feedback.
• One-on-one meetings will be
requested by the school or instructor
for questions or feedback to improve
the organizational changes.

13. HOW TO ADDRESS NEGATIVE RESPONSES
OR COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THE
CHANGE : 1
• Communication is essential during the
change process to combat negative
responses.
• Face-to-face communication is always
good to help with two-way
communication.
• Keep all of the teachers inspired and
involved because participation helps with
negative responses.
• A focus on collaboration can bring the
teachers together to reduce negative
responses.

14. HOW TO ADDRESS NEGATIVE RESPONSES
OR COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THE
CHANGE : 2 • Change agents should engage with
employees experiencing conflicting
emotions to build trust.
• Change agents should be timely with
their information to reduce rumors and
negative reactions.
• Change agents should offer support to
teachers having difficulties to combat
negative responses.
• Change agents should address any
communication errors that could be
occurring with teachers.

15. HOW THE COMMUNICATION PLAN CAN
AFFECT ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE : 1
• The communication plan will reduce
stress, anxiety, resistance, and rumors.
• The communication plan will
invigorate, inspire and motivate
teachers during the organizational
changes.
• Teachers will feel safe and supported
during the changes.

16. HOW THE COMMUNICATION PLAN CAN
AFFECT ORGANIZATION CHANGE : 2
• The communication plan for McGraw
Elementary will affect the
organizational change in a positive
way for everyone.
• The communication plan will help
foresee any issues that may occur in
the future to prepare for them.
• It will lead the way to the smaller
changes that will occur after the
organizational change.

17. CONCLUSION
• McGraw Elementary will use the four communication plan phases.
• McGraw Elementary will implement the technology used in classrooms for the
communication plan.
• An after-action review will be conducted after the communication plan is complete.
• McGraw Elementary will use continuous changes and continuous feedback.
• McGraw Elementary will address negative responses quickly and professionally.
• They will celebrate the success of the organizational changes, and the communication
plan after everything is finished.

18. REFERENCES
•Tupper, C., Deszca, G., & Cynthia, I. (2012). Organizational change: An action-oriented
toolkit (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.