Each student will prepare two individual papers/memos. The due dates are listed on the calendar section

Each student will prepare two individual papers/memos. The due dates are listed on the calendar section of this syllabus.  The two Individual assignments are: 

1. Write a Persuasive Letter – (refer to Ch. 7). This assignment is on Page 229, #18 – Write a letter to respond to illness at a restaurant.

 Write a letter to respond to illness at a restaurant.

Imagine that you are the customer service manager for a restaurant. Recently, several of your customers became ill, some seriously, from an ingredient that was mishandled by your supplier. Write a letter to the media to communicate your company’s position on this matter and restore the public’s confidence in your restaurant. In your letter, be sure to describe the source of the problem and your company’s response.

2. Write a bad-news Memo – (refer to Ch. 8) This assignment is on Page 263, #15 – Write a memo announcing employee layoffs.

 Write a memo announcing employee layoffs.

You are the SVP of human resources for a financial software company that has 7,500 employees. The company has decided to sell AccountSoft, one of its major products. The software has suffered declining sales for the past two years, and it no longer fits with the new mission of the company, which is to sell to small businesses and individuals, rather than larger accounting firms (currently 95% of AccountSoft’s buyers).

You will have individual conversations with employees who are affected by the layoffs, but first you advise the CEO to send an email to all employees to announce the decision to sell AccountSoft and to prepare employees for the downsizing and what will happen next.

As you write this memo for the CEO to send under his name, consider that not all employees from the AccountSoft division will be laid off. The sales and marketing staff (about 150 people) will be leaving the firm, but the software developers will go to the acquiring firm, Accounting Support Services, Inc. This was your agreement with Accounting Support Services, as part of the acquisition deal.

Write the memo to communicate the decision clearly and help employees understand and accept the message.