Read: Discussion Background

You receive the following email from your office manager about a new initiative that will be implemented by your employer:

Attention Staff,

We need your help! After analyzing the data obtained from our yearly client-satisfaction survey, we determined a need to work towards improving our relationships with clients. The goal of this initiative is to improve the overall satisfaction of our clients and foster an atmosphere of trust and confidence within the organization. As you are aware, the vision of this company is: "To provide quality services to every client through practice, education, and research."

According to the data collected on the survey, only 74% of our clients felt that they received quality service at our facility. Furthermore, 19% of our clients reported that they felt that the institution lacked professionalism. In order to ensure that we are aligning our practices with our vision, we will implement the following practices as non-negotiables at the facility effective immediately:

Satisfaction surveys will be provided for clients to complete upon exiting the facility.
Suggestion boxes will be prominently displayed for clients and employees to offer ideas to improve relations.
All employees will complete a 2-hour, yearly workshop to foster professionalism in the workplace. Upon completion of the course, each employee will be rewarded a $25.00 Visa gift card.
Yearly evaluation criteria will now include a component for professionalism in the workplace.
Optional future professional development activities will be available to help employees feel confident in fulfilling the requirements of this initiative moving forward.
We are excited to start this new initiative and improve relations with our clients. We will discuss this in depth at our next staff meeting. Please come prepared with any questions, comments, concerns, and suggestions. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
The Management Team
Questions
What is the purpose of this writing? What strategies does the author use to persuade the readers to embrace the company's new initiative? Explain why you do or do not believe this writing communicated the message effectively.

1 answer

The purpose of this writing is to inform and persuade the readers (the staff) about a new initiative that will be implemented by the company in order to improve client satisfaction and professionalism within the organization.

The author uses several strategies to persuade the readers to embrace the company's new initiative. First, they provide data from the client-satisfaction survey to highlight the need for improvement. By stating that only 74% of clients felt they received quality service and 19% felt the institution lacked professionalism, the author appeals to the readers’ desire for better performance and reputation.

Second, the author aligns the initiative with the company's vision, reminding the readers that the company's goal is to provide quality services through practice, education, and research. This helps to emphasize the importance of the initiative and its alignment with the overall mission of the company.

Third, the author presents a clear plan of action and specific measures that will be implemented. The inclusion of concrete steps such as satisfaction surveys, suggestion boxes, workshops, evaluation criteria, and professional development activities shows the readers that the initiative is not just a vague idea but a practical and well-thought-out strategy.

Finally, the author invites the readers to actively participate and contribute to the discussion at the upcoming staff meeting. By encouraging them to come prepared with questions, comments, concerns, and suggestions, the author is indicating that their input is valued and that this is not a top-down imposition without room for feedback.

Overall, this writing effectively communicates the message by presenting the need for improvement and aligning the initiative with the company's vision. The use of data, clear action steps, and invitation for participation helps persuade the readers to embrace the initiative.