6-2 Memo: The Importance of Clarity and Conciseness

IT 520 Module Six Memo Guidelines and Rubric This course includes five short business memos. These are designed to actively test your understanding and to apply that knowledge to potential real-world situations. These writing activities also provide practice in communicating your reasoning in a professional manner. The Importance of Clarity and Conciseness (Module Six) As the new communications manager for International Gadgets, you have come across many examples of ineffective communications, including some older directives that were never carried out, mostly because of their unclear nature. One example included an email stating that the recipient (within the R&D team) was to “create a presentation discussing the new product and send it to interested departments.” Others included a request from Sales to Technical Support for “a list of the biggest problems with our hot products” and a memo from Finance to all departments to “reduce the number of suppliers being used to better control costs.” In a memo to your team, describe what is wrong with directives such as these and how to improve these messages so that they are delivered to the recipient with clarity and conciseness.

Guidelines for Submission: Review the Purdue Owl: Memo website for suggestions and formatting guidelines on memo structure.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Description of Directive

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and ideas are substantiated with specific and relevant details

Accurately describes areas of the directive that lack clarity and conciseness and uses specific detail in explanation

Accurately describes areas of the directive that lack clarity and conciseness, but lacks specific details in explanation

Does not describe the directive 30

Recommendations Meets “Proficient” criteria with substantial detail for the rationale

Provides a discussion highlighting the recommendations with sufficient detail for rationale

Provides a discussion highlighting the recommendations, but lacks sufficient detail for rationale

Does not provide a discussion highlighting the recommendations

30

Conclusions Meets “Proficient” criteria, and conclusions are substantiated with specific and relevant research

Draws informed conclusions that are justified with evidence

Draws logical conclusions, but does not defend with evidence

Does not draw logical conclusions

30

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to- read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

10

Earned Total 100%