Babies Bounty: Crisis Communication

Posted: November 7th, 2023

Public Relation Theory and Practice

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Public Relation Theory and Practice

Babies Bounty: Crisis Communication

The crisis communication plan’s primary objective is to ensure identified problems are rectified and that they do not grow into bigger problems, such as the loss of customers. Given that the cause of the defect has been discovered, the next course of action will be to determine the crisis response strategies to apply to the scenario. The goal is to identify the communication strategy that will make consumers perceive the company as transparent, thoughtful, and working towards a lasting solution (Walker, 2011). Transparency is essential to allow stakeholders to see how the company conducted due diligence that led to the discovery of the fault. Transparency enhances authenticity and accountability and is a good way to address customer concerns.

The next course of action is to establish communication channels for engaging with customers who raise claims regarding the defective product. Foremost, the company will use text messaging to contact each customer who purchased the crib to alert them of the potential defect. The text message will outline the company’s regret and provide information for customers to receive relief. Secondly, the company will release a statement on its official website. The statement will convey the same information as the text message but in more detail. Lastly, the company should respond to reviews and comments regarding the defective product in its various communication channels.

The most effective and appropriate approach for Babies Bounty is to convey sincerity while providing relief to purchasers of its defective baby cribs. Communication strategies need to emphasize directness and a tone of regret. The company should focus on rebuilding its reputation, which is why transparency is emphasized throughout the crisis communication plan. The company should not shy from engaging with negative reviews and comments as it addresses grievances about the defective product. Babies Bounty’s communication should highlight a change in the manufacturing process to help restore stakeholder confidence.

Buy Mart: Employee Relations

Buy Bart desperately needs to improve its internal communications, given the quality of communication inside the workplace reflects the organization’s attitude and health. The first phase in improving internal communication is to promote open dialogue with the leadership team (Gennart & Judge, 2005). Leadership is responsible for setting the standards for workplace interactions. The next step is to check in with the employees to attempt to identify the root source of the problem. According to the case text, Buy Bart workers have taken too many sick days while behaving rudely to customers. Management needs to get in touch with the workforce and plan in-person and group meetings to discuss the issues and potential changes. Encourage the employees to share their experiences, opinions, and thoughts for a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying issues (Gennart & Judge, 2005). The next step is to establish a formal platform for collecting employee feedback. The information will play a crucial role in creating new and open communication methods that facilitate continuous improvement.

Creating a long-term strategy for improving employee communication starts with an internal analysis of existing communication strategies, including channels used and types of messages conveyed. The analysis should cover the current performance, where the organization wishes to be, how the company plans to reach there, who will be involved, and how long it will take (Gennart & Judge, 2005). The next step is to set realistic objectives and timelines for the communication plan. Goals need to be SMART, which means specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. Each goal should have specific metrics for the company to track and monitor the success of the communication plan (Gennart & Judge, 2005). The next step is to create an approval process to ensure the employees do not reject each change. The metrics highlight the progress and areas that need optimizing while the approval process ensures changes adjust per employee needs and requirements.

FIFA World Cup Qatar: Non-Profit

The FIFA World Cup is normally a huge event, drawing massive media attention and scrutiny for the hosts. FIFA’s decision to hold the 2022 tournament in Qatar drew much criticism with allegations of potential human rights violations, bribery, and financial mismanagement. As a Muslim nation, Qatar’s restriction of LGBTQ practices created controversy, with western media citing the act as a violation of human rights. However, even before the tournament started, the host faced other human rights allegations. According to Hassenstab (2022), Qatar is in the middle of a controversy over its treatment of labourers who helped deliver the World Cup. There are claims that the Qatari government has left migrant workers at the mercy of brokers who are known to exploit them. Some workers claim physical abuse, while others claim they are victims of wage theft (Hassenstab, 2022). The exploitation of workers and the restriction of LGBTQ practices all trickle down to social justice issues related to diversity and inclusivity in the global society.

If Qatar succeeds in hosting the World Cup tournament, it also becomes successful in presenting an inclusive image of Islam and the Arab world. Qatar has employed the event as a tool for public diplomacy, with people worldwide entering the country for the tournament. Fischberger (2022) states that the country has invested heavily in domestic and foreign media, using the World Cup as a national branding campaign. Media agenda compounded by a successful tournament will go a long way in changing public perception of the Arabian gulf, helping counter some of the stereotypes propagated by western media over the years.

Communication Director for LA City Council Woman

The Los Angeles local government is amidst a political scandal, with several council members under public pressure to resign. The administration’s public image has been gradually declining, with a substantial portion of the local populace losing confidence in its leaders. LA’s leadership needs to strategically leverage public relations to rebuild its relationships with communities under its influence. Unlike in advertising, where there is paid media, PR relies on earned media, which gives it more power to influence public sentiment. A robust public affairs strategy requires council members to adopt PR concepts and theories to build effective relationships that provide greater opportunities for long-term success.

LA’s city council needs new and creative ways of engaging with its residents to subvert attention from the ongoing scandal. Public relations are the critical intermediary that creates strategic communication between local leadership, organizations, and the general public (Richardson, 2016). PR strategies will help the LA office develop stronger two-way communication between officials and city residents. Enhanced interaction will result in improved joint working and partnerships in public service. PR is the key to management functions identifying, establishing, and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholders on whom the success of policies depends (Richardson, 2016). The more local government collects information, the better it becomes at winning and retaining sympathy, understanding, and support for its initiatives.

Strategic communication in public affairs is very important in enhancing public trust to be left to a communications team alone. The inclusion of public relations is important in ascertaining communication is geared toward the formation of influential and long-lasting relationships. PR-driven communication is equally key in generating sufficient public rapport, trust, and sympathy to support public initiatives. There was a time when local funding and politics were sufficient to drive local development. Times have changed as local projects are more complex, requiring public influence and support to reach completion. 

References

Fischberger, E. (2022, December 11). Will Qatar emerge victorious in the World Cup image war. Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, https://jcpa.org/will-qatar-emerge-victorious-in-the-world-cup-image-war/

Gennard, J. & Judge, G. (2005). Employee relations. CIPD Publishing.

Hassenstab, N. (2022, October 12). The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is about more than soccer. American University of Washington, https://www.american.edu/sis/news/20221012-the-2022-world-cup-in-qatar-is-about-more-than-soccer.cfm

Richardson, T. (2016). Public relations in local government. Elsevier.

Walker, D. C. (2011). Mass notification and crisis communication: Planning, preparedness, and systems. CRC Press.