Developing a Communication Plan

Developing a Communication Plan

According to: Hieran.com, (2015). How to Develop a Communications Plan. [online] Available at: http://www.hieran.com/comet/howto.html

A Communication plan is a written document explaining

-what you would like to achieve with your objectives
- ways to accomplish those objectives ( ex. goals)

- who your audience is that the objectives will be presented to

- how the objectives can be accomplished, using what tools/timetables

- and how you will take care of the evaluation

1.    What is the structure of an effective communication plan, what important elements are there?

source: Sridhar, R. (2013). Business Communication Training – Using Visual Graphics Effectively - PowerPoint Design Services – Presentation Designers. [online] PowerPoint Design Services – Presentation Designers. Available at: http://www.24point0.com/powerpoint-business-templates/powerpoint-business-communication/

source: Cadic-guideline.org, (2015). CADIC: Cluster Communication Guideline. [online] Available at: http://www.cadic-guideline.org/cadic-toolbox/cluster-communication-guideline/

     
--> I watched an interview of Kelly Rossman(CEO of The Rossman Group) on youtube.com: YouTube, (2015). communication plan basics with Kelly Rossman-McKinney. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_gEevOykqw

·         communication plan- “it’s like having a map, your communication plan really indicates your destination, and helps you determine your vehicle and the roads you’re going to take to reach your destination”-

·         “you need to put a lot of strategic thinking”

Key elements a communication plan should contain according to Kelly Rossman:

·      **-  identifying your goal “destination”

    **those objectives you want to achieve to reach to your goal.

·      ** Understanding your target audience-determining what their attitudes are,

·      ** what you can do to build on those attitudes or influence those attitudes.

·        **  figuring out what messages you need to deliver.

·       **figuring out your big message, and your messengers.

·       **  communication tools/tactics used to deliver message.

- Examples of communication plans that stand out/ that are very well structured?

None found

- Any examples of bad/failed communication plans?

No examples found

1.    What processes are involved in creating a communication plan?

Source: Mindtools.com, (2015). Communications Planning: Getting the Right Message Across, in the Right Way. [online] Available at: http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/CommunicationsPlanning.htm

#1 Star with thinking about your overall communication objectives- what, when and why you want to achieve?
#2 Identify & list different audiences, and for help you could start with doing a stakeholder analysis.
#3 Identify the objectives for each audience separately

#4 Think about all the possible communication channels that could be used.
#5 Then start planning the message for each audience group and its good to start with the broadest audience group.

 Table Examples below:

Communications Plan For……………………
Overall Communication Objective:
Audience	Communication Objectives	Message	Channel	Timing

3. How can you measure the effectiveness of your plan?
- Are there any specific methods usually used for testing this?

The evaluation can take the form of:

• a monthly report on work in progress,
• formalized department reports for presentation at staff meetings,
• periodic briefings of the chief staff executive and the department heads, and
• a year-end summary for the annual report.
  
  According to source: Hieran.com, (2015). How to Develop a Communications Plan. [online] Available at: http://www.hieran.com/comet/howto.html