business scenario.

Overview

For this project, you and one or two partners will practice several types of business messages that we modeled and discussed during the previous class meetings. This practice will take place within the context of a business scenario.

Let’s jump right in…

The Scenario

We will pretend that you and your partner(s) are co- CEO’s of a company called “Scorpio-No-More” (SnM). SnM is a publicly-traded, multi-national pest extermination supply company that last year netted over 100 million dollars in sales of products killing everything from ticks to sewer rats. SnM’s sales rank it as the second-most profitable pest extermination supply company in the world (behind Vermin-Away Enterprises), and your organization enjoys a reputation as an ethical business and employer.

Over the past six months, SnM has had a run of bad luck. Your most popular product, “Beetle Rum,” has been linked to the development of severe rashes and skin irritation by its users—to the point that you are now facing several expensive lawsuits as well as a variety of adjustment claims from your customers. You are surprised, as “The Rum” has previously been a certified problem free product. As you consider the issue, however, you strike on a likely cause. Last March, SnM made the decision to alter the chemical components of Beetle Rum so that the new formula, while still deadly, was less expensive to manufacture. You conclude that your cost-cutting new formula might be the cause of your customers’ difficulties, forcing you to confront a series of exciting legal and rhetorical challenges:
Unfortunately, Pinchpenny is not the only one that takes advantage of the situation. When you review the bill from Morgan Cashman, your recently-hired specialist attorney, you notice that she has over-billed SnM by 22 hours. Compose a message requesting a refund adjustment for the amount that she over-billed your company.

Rules:

In addition to the completed project, you will need to document your pre-writing process. Each piece of correspondence will be submitted individually. At the foot of each message, answer the following:
Justify your choice of message type. Why did you select the format that you did for the message? Remember—you will have your choice of blog posts, instant messages, web site announcements, emails, memos, and formal business letters as modes of communication. Why did you feel that the format that you chose was appropriate for the particular situation? Be very specific.
Your audience analysis. Explain who they are, what their relationship is to you, what they know, how they will use the information. You will also explain how you have adapted the message for this audience. Again… be specific!
You will provide all of the “extra” details—addresses, etc. You will have full license to supply any missing details that you deem necessary to complete your messages.